Making Biodiesel in the Classroom

Making Biodiesel in the

Classroom

April Lanotte Big Sandy Schools

[email protected]

What is Biodiesel?

• Biodiesel is made from vegetable oil or animal

fat (triglycerides) reacted with methanol or

ethanol and a catalyst (lye), yielding biodiesel

(fatty acid methyl or ethyl esters) and glycerin

as a by-product

– Fatty acid chains are removed from the chemical reaction by a catalyst (KOH), then bound with

methanol, creating biodiesel. Glycerol, the

remaining part of the triglyceride, is a byproduct of the reaction, which is later removed before use.

Why Biodiesel?

• One gallon of petroleum diesel fuel, once combusted, releases 22.384 pounds of CO² into the atmosphere.

Biodiesel does not contribute extra CO² into the atmosphere.

• Biodiesel reduces particulate matter emissions by at least 55%, VOCs by 55%, and CO by 45% compared to fossil

diesel. * (different sources have provided different figures—I’ve taken the lowest of the figures)

• Biodiesel is lower in sulfur—reduction in SO² in the atmosphere (which contributes to acid rain). Jet fuel:

3,000+ ppm sulfur; US off-road diesel: 500+ ppm; US regular road diesel 15-500 ppm; US ultra-low sulfur diesel: 15 ppm

(2004 US Transportation Research Board report)

• Biodiesel can be made from just about any kind of fat or oil.

Who’s Using Biodiesel?

• Airlines (Virgin Atlantic, Continental Airlines,

Air New Zealand, and Japan Airlines)…

Biodiesel Use cont…

• Commerical trucks

• Personal diesel trucks, cars, SUVs

• Farm equipment

Home biodiesel-kit

Biodiesel set-up cont…

Biodiesel set-up part three…

Biodiesel Lab

• Materials needed:

– Gloves, goggles, aprons

– Buret set-up and funnel (for titrations) – Scale

– 125 ml Erlenmeyer flasks – Graduated cylinders

– 100 ml, 250 ml beakers

– Half-pint jars with lids (2 per group) – Weigh boats

– Scoop – Pipets

– Vegetable oil (various sources, including virgin oil and used vegetable oil) – 0.1 M KOH

– Isopropyl alcohol – Phenolphthalein – Bromophenol Blue – Methanol

– 0.01 M HCl

Biodiesel Lab Activities

• Activity One: Feedstock Titration

– Titration activity to test for free fatty acids

within the feedstock sample

– Used to determine amount of KOH that will

be needed in biodiesel production

• Activity Two: Biodiesel Production

– Making biodiesel using virgin vegetable oil

• Activity Three: Advanced Biodiesel Production

– Making biodiesel using used vegetable oil

(WVO)

Biodiesel Lab Activites cont…

• Activity Three: Soap Titration

– Calculate the amount of soap created when making biodiesel – Less soap is better!!! (highway quality biodiesel production

standards conduct 19 different tests—soap analysis is not one of them. However, soap content can affect many other fuel quality parameters)

• Activity Four: Quality Control Option #2

– Methanol test—dissolving biodiesel into methanol—any remaining triglycerides won’t dissolve in methanol and will settle to bottom of the flask

Activity Five: Testing Biodiesel—Comparing Heat of Combustion (biodiesel vs. diesel)

-- using a set-up similar to a calorimeter, burn samples of fuel-soaked candle-wicking set under aluminum cans with water inside for 5 min.—compare mass of fuel burned and change in water temps.

Activity Six: Testing Biodiesel #2—Engines

--Use a small diesel-powered R/C engine to test your fuel, or make small steam-powered, diesel boat engines

Activity One: Feedstock

Titration

• Purpose: To determine the amount of Free Fatty Acids within feedstock sample

• Materials Needed:

– Gloves, goggles, aprons – Buret set-up and funnel – Graduated cylinder

– Scale – Pipets

– Feedstock samples (used vegetable oil)

– Phenolphthalein – Isopropyl alcohol – 0.1 M KOH

Activity Two: Biodiesel

Production from virgin

vegetable oil

• Purpose: to convert unused vegetable oil into usable fuel

• Materials Needed:

– Gloves, goggles, aprons – Weigh boat

– Scoop

– 250 mL beaker – 100 mL Graduated

cylinder

– Virgin vegetable oil – Half-pint jars with lids – Methanol

– KOH flakes

• SAFETY: Methanol, KOH, and the resulting methoxide are nasty chemicals. DO NOT INHALE or GET ON CLOTHING

• Procedures:

• 1.) Lab Partner One: In one jar, pour 30 mL of methanol and put lid on.

• 2.) Lab Partner Two: Take weigh boat and metal

scoop—measure out 1.05 g KOH.

• 3.) Add KOH to jar of

methanol. Replace lid and shake until flakes of KOH are fully dissolved. (The jar will get warm from the

exothermic reaction!)

Activity Two cont…

• 4.) Measure 150 mL of vegetable oil into a 250 mL beaker

• 5.) Add oil into the jar of dissolved KOH and methanol (methoxide)

• 6.) Replace lid on jar (make sure it’s on tight!!) and place tape around seal. DO NOT INHALE!

• 7.) Take turns shaking the jar vigorously for a total of 10 min.

• 8.) Allow the solution to settle…you will begin to see the separation of the biodiesel and the glycerine within a minute or two (the glycerine will settle to the

bottom).

• YOU’VE MADE BIODIESEL!

Activity Three: Soap Titration

• Purpose: To test the quality of biodiesel

(soap is a by-product of unreacted Free Fatty Acids and KOH)

• Materials Needed:

– Gloves, goggles, aprons – Buret set-up and funnel – 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask – 250 mL beaker

– 0.01 M HCL

– Isopropyl alcohol

– 1% bromophenol blue

Activity Four: Methanol Test

• Purpose: Another way to test biodiesel quality (FFA will not fully

dissolve in methanol)

• Materials Needed:

– Biodiesel sample – Methanol

– 50 mL Graduated cylinder

– 500 mL beaker

Sources for Biodiesel Info.

• http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel.html

– Journey to Forever site: This is a great site with more

information than any one person could use—this site has cross- links with all sorts of other sites, and has many references for you.

• http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/biodiesel.html

– This US Dept. of Energy site contains lots of technical

information about alternative fuels, and in this section, about biodiesel

• http://www.powernaturally.org/Programs/SchoolPowerNat urally/InTheClassroom/level3.asp?i=9

– School Power…Naturally site: website that includes many different alternative energy lessons, including analysis of burning fossil fuels

More sources…

• http://www.biodiesel.org

– The National Biodiesel Board website contains many links to different biodiesel sources.

• http://www.biofuels.coop/education

-- Piedmont Biofuels, the original developers of Carolina Biological’s biodiesel lab, offers college-level training, explanations, etc. about biodiesel, along with industry

processes and testing info. and education links and lessons.

• http://www.dudadiesel.com/?affiliate_pro_tracking_id=4:1 :US

– This site is a good source for purchasing biodiesel-making supplies