Difference Between Lactic Fermentation and Alcoholic Fermentation

The main difference between lactic acid fermentation and alcohol fermentation is that lactic acid fermentation is the metabolic activity in which glucose is metabolized into metabolic components i.e. cellular energy and lactic acid whereas alcohol fermentation is the metabolic activity by which glucose is metabolized into carbon. dioxide and ethanol.

Lactic acid fermentation vs. alcoholic fermentation

Lactic acid fermentation is the metabolic process by which glucose is converted into metabolic components, that is, cellular energy and lactic acid; On the other hand, alcoholic fermentation is also the metabolic process by which glucose is converted into metabolic components, i.e., ethanol and carbon dioxide. Lactic acid fermentation converts pyruvate to lactic acid; On the other hand, in alcoholic fermentation, pyruvate is converted to ethanol and carbon dioxide.

In lactic acid fermentation different enzymes are used i.e. lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate decarboxylase while in alcoholic fermentation the enzymes used are i.e. alcoholic dehydrogenase and pyruvate decarboxylase. Lactic acid fermentation is used to produce cheese and yogurt; on the other hand, alcoholic fermentation is used to produce bread, vinegar, wine, and beer. Lactic acid is usually produced in muscle cells when we exercise intensely, while alcoholic fermentation occurs in yeast cells, producing beer, wine, and vinegar.

Lactic acid fermentation usually occurs in a bacterial cell and muscle cells of humans; On the other hand, alcoholic fermentation is used in yeast cells and converts glucose into energy. In lactic acid fermentation, pyruvate molecule is converted to lactic acid molecule while in alcoholic fermentation, pyruvate molecule is converted to alcohol.

What is lactic acid fermentation?

It is the process in which glucose is broken down into pyruvic acid, which is then converted into lactic acid and energy for cellular activities. In this process, the metabolic components are lactic acid and cellular energy. The enzymes used in this process are lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate decarboxylase. The lactic acid fermentation process usually occurs in muscle cells.

The main products made in this process are cheese and yogurt. This process has occurred in the presence of oxygen. In lactic acid fermentation, glucose is converted to two pyruvate molecules which are then converted to lactic acid. This entire process is carried out under oxygen.

What is alcoholic fermentation?

In this process, the glucose molecule is converted into two pyruvate molecules, which is then converted into ethanol and cellular energy. In this process, the metabolic components are alcohol and energy. In this process, the enzymes used are alcohol dehydrogenase and pyruvate decarboxylase. Occurs in yeast cells for fermentation. The main products of this process are yeast, beer, vines and vinegar.

In this process, oxygen is not required for this fermentation. In alcoholic fermentation, the glucose molecule is converted into two pyruvate molecules, which are then converted into ethanol and energy. It occurs in the cytosol of the cell. It occurs mainly in yeasts and bacteria. In this process, net ATP is synthesized. Alcoholic fermentation is used in the process of making food.

Different enzymes carry out different processes, since first one enzyme carries out the first step and the second step carries out another step. Alcoholic fermentation is mainly used in beverage factories such as beer production factories and grapevine production factories.

Key differences

1. Lactic acid fermentation is used to break down glucose into two pyruvic acids and then into lactic acid, while alcoholic fermentation is used to break down glucose into pyruvic acid and then into alcohol and energy.
2. Lactic acid fermentation gives rise to products such as cheese and yogurt; on the other hand, alcoholic fermentation gives the products; such as grapevine, beer, cheese, yeast and vinegar.
3. Lactic acid fermentation uses enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate decarboxylase; In contrast, alcoholic fermentation uses enzymes such as alcohol dehydrogenase and alcoholic decarboxylase.
4. Lactic acid fermentation usually occurs in the muscle cells of humans to boost energy; on the other hand, alcoholic fermentation usually occurs in yeast cells.
5. The lactic acid fermentation process takes place in the cytosol in the presence of oxygen, while alcoholic fermentation takes place in the cytosol but in the absence of oxygen.

The above discussion concludes that lactic acid fermentation is used to produce lactic acid and cellular energy, while alcoholic fermentation is used to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide with cellular energy.