Making Bio-fuels

TAF Academy

Members: Sebastian Sandoval, Lorenzo Scott, Marvin Aguirre, Jeue’l Asherz, Khalil Rahman

Significance For Study

-Petroleum will not sustain the United States much longer therefore alternative energy sources must be pursued.

-One solution is biofuels which are created from organic compounds.

-By analyzing different types of biofuel we can determine what would best su

Research Question and Hypothesis

Question: How will corn ethanol preform in a RPM test?

Hypothesis: Because corn is a starch which is amore complex sugar than sugarcane (disaccharide) meaning it will yield well in a RPM test.

Design

IV: The Bio-fuel cornDV: The amount of RPMs we get for each of the bio-fuelsConstants: -Engine-Amount of each bio-fuel put into engineControls: Regular Gasoline on the engine to see if bio-fuels can compare

Next Steps

-We plan on distilling our alcohol to get a higher concentration, then we will test the RPM’s lawnmower

Process to ferment

1) To prepare we had to boil the corn mash with an enzyme that breaks down/ weakens the cell wall.

2) Then we have to let the corn ferment for about 1-2 weeks

3) After it has fermented we would have to distill.

Our Results

After fermenting 2000mL of corn ethanol for a week we then tested for the alcohol percentage using a hydrometer.

Alcohol Percentage w/out distilling: 2%

Cellulose Cellulose is a complex linear polysaccharide Consists of over ten thousand β linked D- glucose units Formula: CC6H10O5 Density: 1.50 g/cm (cubed)A and B structures: two forms of Cellulose.A form is weakest structureB form in the strongest structureFound in plants and organic materials

Current uses of Cellulose

Why Cellulose? Cellulose can be used as a fuel source Complex polysaccharides broken down = multiple glucose

particles Glucose converts into ethanol Ethanol can be used as an alternative less severe fuel source Cellulose is found everywhere Easily accessible and renewable resource

Lab Materials

Hydrometer 6.5 Gallon Tachometer

References

• Douglas, C. P. (2011). Biomass Fuel. Environmental Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, pg 187-190. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.kcls.org/

• Gale Virtual Reference Library. (2011). Ethanol. Environmental Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, pg 626 range. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.kcls.org/

• K., L. L., Brenda, W. L., & Kathleen, J. E. (2012). Bioenergy. Alternative Energy, Vol. 1, pg63-106. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.kcls.org/

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (May 18, 2012). Biofuels. Retrieved from http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_biofuels.html

• Steven, I. D. (2010). Biofuels. Encyclopedia of Global Warming, Vol. 1, pg 140-142. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.kcls.org/

• Joseph.N. (2012). How to make corn ethanol. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/how_4840022_make-corn-ethanol.html

• Allan.R. (2012). How to make ethanol from sugar cane. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/how_5581320_make-ethanol-sugar-cane.html