|
|
| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
2006
>
February
> |
|
In the Laboratory
|
|
|
|
Determination of the Heat of Combustion of Biodiesel Using Bomb Calorimetry. A Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Chemistry Experiment
|
Stephen M. Akers, Jeremy L. Conkle, Stephanie N. Thomas, and Keith B. Rider
Department of Natural Sciences, Longwood University, Farmville, VA 23909
|
|
February 2006
Vol. 83 No. 2
p. 260
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Abstract |
|
An integrated undergraduate laboratory activity involving the synthesis and characterization of a diesel fuel substitute, biodiesel, is presented. Biodiesel is currently a popular topic in the field of green chemistry because it is a non-petroleum fuel that can be efficiently produced from waste vegetable oil. As a fuel, it requires no engine modifications and results in lower pollution emissions including carcinogens and carbon dioxide. Over a three-week period, students synthesize biodiesel, measure its heat of combustion, density, and cloud point, then compare these properties to conventional petroleum diesel. Heats of combustion are measured in a common laboratory bomb calorimeter and cloud point is measured using a UV–vis spectrophotometer.
|
| Supplement |
Instructions for the student, a three-week timetable for the experiment, and notes to the instructor are available.
|
 Contents |
Folder JCE2006p0260W containing JCE2006p0260W_1.doc and JCE2006p0260W_2.doc (Microsoft Word)
|
| Download |
|
|
| More Information |
Citation |
Akers, Stephen M.; Conkle, Jeremy L.; Thomas, Stephanie N.; Rider, Keith B. J. Chem. Educ. 2006 83 260.
|
Keywords |
Calorimetry / Thermochemistry; Environmental Chemistry; Esters; Green Chemistry; Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives; Interdisciplinary / Multidisciplinary; Laboratory Instruction; Lipids; Organic Chemistry; Physical Chemistry; Thermodynamics; Upper-Division Undergraduate; UV-Vis Spectroscopy
|
History |
Created:
Last Updated: |
1/5/2006
1/9/2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
2006
>
February
> Page
260
|
|
|
| JCE HS CLIC |
|
Our Secondary School editors work hard to distill all the JCE materials to produce a fraction of particular interest to high school teachers. We call it CLIC.
|
| Contributions Welcome |
| JCE welcomes your submission |
| Advertisers |
| In recent years we have worked hard to better match our advertisers with our readers. When shopping for chemistry education materials, visit our advertisers' WWW sites first. |
| Be An Ambassador |
| Take JCE along on your outreach missions. Copies of the Journal, guest access to JCE Online, our publications catalog, and more are available for your participants. |
|
