How does saving money at the gas pump all while saving the environment sound to most people? It probably sounds too good to be true. How does eating onion rings to help improve the atmosphere sound? That sounds just plain crazy.
Well then someone needs to tell the students in the Loyola University STEP: Biodiesel class they’re crazy because they are using all that grease used to cook onion rings and fries and are actually helping the environment.
STEP: Biodiesel Course
STEP (Solutions to Environmental Problems) is course entering into its’ second year at Loyola, consisting of students from all different academic departments working together to address current environmental problems.
The focus in the first two years has been to produce biodiesel fuel, which is a clean burning alternative fuel produced from domestic renewable resources, from waste vegetable oil within Loyola’s cafeterias.
The students in the class produce, market, and distribute the biodiesel fuel. They work together on group projects such as producing biodiesel from algae found in lakes, setting up small scale biodiesel labs in nearby high schools, and also trying to make soap from glycerin, which is a waste product created when making biodiesel.
“It’s an innovative and very hands-on way of teaching students about sustainability,” said Nancy Tuchman, director of Center for Urban Research and Policy (CUERP). “It’s empowering for the students and shows them what the working world is like.”
Biodiesel Helps Environment And Loyola
During the course’s first year, the students built their own reactor to produce biodiesel. After the first semester they were able to move their lab into the Facilities building on Broadway Avenue. Here they are able to produce 80 gallons of biodiesel fuel per week. This amount prevents 1,600 pounds of carbon dioxide from getting into the atmosphere.
The biodiesel fuel being produced in this course is helping Loyola and the environment. Loyola spent roughly $25,000 last year disposing of waste materials which were mostly waste grease.
The STEP program is cutting down that price by using that grease to produce environmentally friendly fuel. This is turn will save Loyola a huge chunk of change, and also the students will benefit because tuition gets raised for funding such necessities.
What's The Goal For The Course?
“We are lowering tuition by a penny this year because of this program,” joked Zach Waickman, a student who participated in the course during its’ first year.
While the students may be hoping to get the tuition lowered, a more realistic goal they have is to get the shuttle buses running on their fuel.
“It would be a cool direction to go with the buses,” said Shane Lishawa, forest ecologist and biodiesel lab manager. “I’m confident that the fuel we’re making is good quality; we just need to get their trust.” Lishawa has been running his personal vehicle, a 1986 Mercedes, on biodiesel fuel for about three years.
Make Your Own Biodiesel
The conversion of vegetable waste into biodiesel fuel may seem difficult, but it’s not as hard as it sounds. The course website breaks the process into six steps:
- Retrieving the waste vegetable oil (WVO) from Loyola's dining facilities
- Straining the oil to remove unwanted particles
- Titration to determine the amount of catalyst needed in the reaction
- Mixing the calculated amounts methanol and lye (catalyst) into WVO to create biodiesel
- Washing the biodiesel with water to remove remaining methanol and lye
- Draining the wash water
Simple, right? Now all you need is a lab and the proper equipment and you’re all set to make your own biodiesel fuel.
So whether you’re a Loyola student looking to advance your curriculum, or just someone who wants to help the environment, biodiesel fuel is a great place to start. Now that you’ve got the steps, start eating those onion rings. - By Sarah Henry
Photos by: Mark Beane/Loyola University Chicago
Instructional Guide to Make Biodiesel at Home:
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