With the recent renewed interest in biodiesel and the search for catalysts that decrease waste and come from renewable sources, we have designed a series of undergraduate chemistry labs that follow the production of catalyst, synthesis of biodiesel, and analytical and thermo study of the final product. The production of calcium oxide from calcium carbonate, obtained from eggshells, makes for a great general chemistry lab that demonstrates conservation of mass, and teaches students to view all materials as natural resources. These students then contract the organic chemistry lab students to test their catalyst in the production of biodiesel. In the organic lab students prepare biodiesel using the catalyst provided by the general chemistry lab, and compare the quality of that biodiesel relative to biodiesel prepared by conventional methods using NMR spectroscopy. Using a microwave assisted synthesis of biodiesel produced with the calcium oxide catalyst; we find considerably less unreacted vegetable oil than from conventional methods. These biodiesel samples can be further tested in the physical chemistry lab. The traditional bomb calorimeter lab in physical chemistry can serve as a second contract sources for students. The organic students send written reports back to general chemistry with their finding on biodiesel production, and contract the physical chemistry students to compare the energy content by mass and volume of their new fuel to that of regular diesel. This sort of multi-lab experience helps demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of work in chemistry, helps foster good reporting habits, and demonstrates the relevance of standard techniques in solving current problems.

Using multiple components of the synthesis of biodiesel to connect labs across the chemistry curriculum

251st National Meeting (2016)

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