With the rise of sustainability issues surrounding petrol fuels, a shift towards alternative and clean burning fuel sources is in demand.  Biodiesel is an option that can help curb petroleum dependency.  The transesterification reaction of making fuel grade biodiesel provides a wealth of chemical education opportunities.  Metropolitan State University (MSU) of Denver is developing a paradigm for campus sustainability utilizing waste cooking oils produced on campus for the production of biodiesel.  The program raises sustainability awareness and encompasses multiple fields such as: Chemistry, Earth and Atmospheric Science, Engineering and Technology, and Environmental Science.  The production of biodiesel and the associated analytic processes include: transesterification, titration of free fatty acids in the feed stock, viscosity, soap content determination, cloud point measurements, water content testing, and instrumental analysis such as IR and GC-MS.  Undergraduate students gain conceptual and practical understanding of bio-fuel standardization, analysis, applications, and usage from hands-on experience with this model.

Biofuels for campus sustainability

247th National Meeting (2014)

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