Grantee Research Project Results
2020 Progress Report: Reusable Biodegradable Solvents from Biodiesel
EPA Grant Number: SV839351Title: Reusable Biodegradable Solvents from Biodiesel
Investigators: Ott, Lisa , Stone, Janine M
Current Investigators: Ott, Lisa
Institution: California State University - Chico
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: II
Project Period: March 1, 2018 through February 29, 2020 (Extended to May 31, 2022)
Project Period Covered by this Report: March 1, 2020 through February 28,2021
Project Amount: $73,338
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2017) Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Challenge Area - Chemical Safety
Objective:
The overall objective for our P3 supported work is to develop a process for utilizing glycerol generated as a co-product from biodiesel production to generate a useful, value-added product for biodiesel manufacturers. To this end, we have worked to develop a process for transforming co-product glycerol from biodiesel production into a deep eutectic solvent (DES). DESs are an exciting class of non-volatile, reusable, biodegradable solvents. Our team works on preparing DESs using co-product glycerol from biodiesel formation as the hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and a series of compounds as hydrogen bond acceptors (HBAs). By using glycerol generated from biodiesel synthesis as a component in DESs, we aim to help the biodiesel industry find a solution to a production challenge that would help biodiesel manufacturers decrease their waste streams significantly, lower costs, and potentially increase revenues through the creation of new product. Additionally, a key goal of this work is to bring the prepared DESs into the organic chemistry teaching laboratories at Chico State and across the California State University system.
Progress Summary:
During the third year of our no-cost extension Phase II supported work, we have persevered through pandemic lockdowns and shipping challenges to get our microscale viscometer calibrated at the factory in Houston, TX (objective 1). We have examined DESs as reaction solvents for one more possible reactions to be used in first-semester organic chemistry teaching laboratories (objective 2). Both chemistry and economics undergraduate students have been trained in the research and development of a novel product (objective 5). With regards to economic analysis, in year 3 economics student Faith Fatchen helped determine nonmarket benefits associated with DES production (objective 6) using econometric analysis of choice-experiment survey data generated in Fall 2019/Spring 2020. This analysis, combined with cost analysis of DES production (objective 7), will allow us to determine the net social benefits associated with producing and using DES in place of traditional solvents.
Future Activities:
The work carried out under the third year of no-cost extension Phase II support advances the EPA mission of protecting human health and the environment. The DESs which are prepared using biodiesel co-product glycerol are non-volatile, making them safer and healthier for people to work with. The environmental benefit of this work includes diversion of the co-product glycerol from the landfill to a useful place on the laboratory bench. Additionally, since DESs are reusable, an additional environmental benefit comes from a reduction in the total amount of solvents purchased and disposed of. Economics students are using non-market valuation methods in order to put dollar values on these environmental benefits.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 8 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Bumbaugh RE, Ott LS. Preparing and Testing Novel Deep Eutectic Solvents from Biodiesel Co-Product Glycerol for Use as Green Solvents in Organic Chemistry Teaching Laboratories. In Environmental Research Literacy:Classroom, Laboratory, and Beyond 2020; 113-130. |
SV839351 (2020) SV839351 (2021) SV839351 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
waste recycling, biodegradable, resource recovery, reuse, renewable feedstocks, biodiesel, waste to value-added product, cost-benefit analysis, nonmarket valuationRelevant Websites:
The Center for Water and the Environment (CWE) Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractP3 Phase I:
Reusable Biodegradable Solvents from Biodiesel | 2017 Progress Report | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.
Project Research Results
- Final Report
- 2021 Progress Report
- 2019 Progress Report
- 2018 Progress Report
- Original Abstract
- P3 Phase I | 2017 Progress Report | Final Report
1 journal articles for this project