Artificial sweetener is a sugar substitute that contains less energy than sugar. The artificial sweetener contains amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Amino acids are chemicals found in plants and animals to make proteins. Aspartic acid is also an amino acid isolated from asparagus juice. Phenylalanine is also an amino acid that has the same formula as that of yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus) seedlings. Now I'm going to talk about the three main steps in chemically creating an artificial sweetener. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayThe first chemical process to create an artificial sweetener is called fermentation. A sample from a pure culture of bacteria is placed in a test tube containing the nutrients necessary for its growth. After that, the bacteria begin to multiply. When their population is large enough, they are transferred to a seed tray. The seed reservoir provides an ideal environment for growing more bacteria. These are necessary for bacteria to synthesize large quantities of the desired amino acid. The seed tank is equipped with a mixer that keeps the growth medium moving and a pump that supplies filtered compressed air. When sufficient bacterial growth is present, the contents of the seed tank are pumped to the fermentation tank. Here bacteria can grow and produce large quantities of amino acids. Since pH control is vital for optimal growth, ammonia water is added to the tank as necessary. When sufficient amino acids are present, the contents of the fermentation tank are transferred so that isolation can begin. This process begins with a centrifugal separator, which isolates a large portion of the bacterial amino acids. The desired amino acid is then separated and purified in an ion exchange column. From this column, the amino acids are pumped to a crystallization tank then to a crystal separator. They are then dried and prepared for the synthesis phase of aspartame production. The second step in creating artificial sugar is synthesis. Amino acids derived from the fermentation process are initially modified to produce aspartame. Phenylalanine reacts with methanol, resulting in a compound called L-phenylalanine methyl ester. Aspartic acid is also modified in ways that protect various parts of the molecule from the effects of subsequent reactions. Once the amino acids have been modified appropriately, they are pumped into a reactor tank, where they can mix at room temperature for 24 hours. The temperature is then increased to approximately 149°F (65°C) and maintained for an additional 24 hours. The reaction is then cooled to room temperature. It is diluted with a suitable solvent and cooled to approximately 0°F (-18°C), causing crystallization. The crystals are then isolated by filtration and dried. These crystals are an aspartame intermediate that needs to be further modified. The intermediate is converted to aspartame by reacting it with acetic acid. This reaction is carried out in a large tank filled with an acidic aqueous solution, a palladium metal catalyst, and hydrogen. It is mixed thoroughly and left to react for approximately 12 hours. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Get a personalized essay The final step of..