Grantee Research Project Results
2024 Progress Report: Biodiesel Production from Ethanol and Glycerol: a Living Laboratory for STEM Students
EPA Grant Number: SU840686Title: Biodiesel Production from Ethanol and Glycerol: a Living Laboratory for STEM Students
Investigators: Socha, Aaron
Institution: Queens University of Charlotte
EPA Project Officer: Brooks, Donald
Phase: I
Project Period: January 1, 2024 through May 9, 2025
Project Period Covered by this Report: January 1, 2024 through December 31,2024
Project Amount: $75,000
RFA: 20th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet Request for Applications (RFA) (2023) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Land and Waste Management , P3 Awards , Environment
Objective:
Design and engineer a safe and efficient biodiesel reactor system capable of processing used cooking oil into biodiesel ethyl esters for use by off-road diesel engines on the Queens University of Charlotte campus and throughout western North Carolina. Research focused on determination of maximum water tolerance for triglyceride ethanolysis using potassium glyceroxide catalytic system developed from recycled glycerol (reaction byproduct). Development of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA) of the process, as compared to triglyceride methanolysis. Detailed equilibrium calculations of methoxide, ethoxide and glyceroxide concentrations. Development of antioxidant and antimicrobial substances from biomass feedstock that can be used to stabilize biodiesel during storage.
Progress Summary:
A 20 liter two-stage reactor system with upstream and downstream drying and separation capabilities was designed and constructed by undergraduate students at Queens in collaboration with project management. The reactor system logbook, containing a parts list, blog page, along with all experimental records, LCA, and biodiesel QA/QC data is available at the project website. In summer 2024, an outreach program designed to educate high school STEM teachers in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School (CMS) system was created by establishing a research site at Queens to pair CMS teachers affiliated with University of North Carolina Charlotte with Queen University undergraduate students and local high school students. Research on the glyceroxide catalytic system was completed, including water tolerance, LCA, and equilibrium calculations comparing ethanol to methanol-derived biodiesel and published by McGuff et al. in December 2024.
Future Activities:
Biodiesel produced at Queens will be used for Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Western North Carolina. Additionally, Queens University and University of Kentucky researchers will collaborate to design and test biofuel-derived antimicrobial and antioxidant substances to protect biodiesel during storage.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
biodiesel, glycerol, catalyst, fatty acid ethyl ester, vegetable oil, triglyceride, chemical safety, sustainabilityRelevant Websites:
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe 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.