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Biodiesel Lab

April 6, 2009

Students in W. Alton Jones Associate Professor of Chemistry Leslie Sherman's Honors General Chemistry II course used waste vegetable oil from the dining hall to create biodiesel using different methods.

Click to enlarge photos by Shane Brill '03.

Students obtain the used vegetable oil Dr. Sherman was given by the dining hall staff.
Students obtain the used vegetable oil Dr. Sherman was given by the dining hall staff.
Joe "Dr. Van der Waals" Yates '11 Nicole Robinson '11 discuss the first few steps of the process.
Joe "Dr. Van der Waals" Yates '11 Nicole Robinson '11 discuss the first few steps of the process.
Amy Lacosse '12 begins by heating the oil.
Amy Lacosse '12 begins by heating the oil.
Virginia Long '12 and Grace Swanson '12 filter the oil to remove any "crunchies."
Virginia Long '12 and Grace Swanson '12 filter the oil to remove any "crunchies."
Ben Longwell '12 is pleased with his solution
Ben Longwell '12 is pleased with his solution.
Cheese cloth works well as a filter.
Cheese cloth works well as a filter.
Meredith Young '11 and Becky Forney '11 prepare the sodium hydroxide solutino to determine the acid content of the oil.
Meredith Young '11 and Becky Forney '11 prepare the sodium hydroxide solutino to determine the acid content of the oil.
Students record their titration results.
Students record their titration results.
Students record their titration results.
Nicole Robinson '11 and Joe Yates '11 complete calculations for the next step.
Nicole Robinson '11 and Joe Yates '11 complete calculations for the next step.
Dr. Sherman discusses the next step with students.
Dr. Sherman discusses the next step with students.
Leah Sbriscia '11 prepares the sodium methoxide solution to add to the vegetable oil.
Leah Sbriscia '11 prepares the sodium methoxide solution to add to the vegetable oil.
Tom Gallagher '12 and Leah Sbriscia '11 tried the home brew "Dr. Pepper" method for their biodiesel.
Tom Gallagher '12 and Leah Sbriscia '11 tried the home brew "Dr. Pepper" method for their biodiesel.
Biodiesel lab
This step is completed in the hood where there is good ventilation.
This step is completed in the hood where there is good ventilation.
Biodiesel lab
While the mixture is forming biodiesel slowly in the hood on a stirplate, students record their observations.
While the mixture is forming biodiesel slowly in the hood on a stirplate, students record their observations.
The saturated wick ignites the biodiesel.
The saturated wick ignites the biodiesel.
Everyone's biodiesel combusted well; students were pleased to be able to convert oil into productive fuel.
Everyone's biodiesel combusted well; students were pleased to be able to convert oil into productive fuel.
The burning biodiesel had the aroma of vegetable oil.
The burning biodiesel had the aroma of vegetable oil.

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