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Learning Activity: Producing Biodiesel Fuel

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(CNN Student News) -- Students will learn about the process of producing biodiesel fuel.

Procedure

Point out to students that to make biodiesel fuel, oil or fats must first go through a process called transesterification. Working in small groups, have students investigate the transesterification process. Have each group begin its research by finding out when the process was invented and some of biodiesel's earliest uses.

Then have groups list the steps in the transesterification process and explain what happens at each step. The related online resources listed should give students a good head start.

Have groups share their work. Check for differences in students' findings, and review the basic chemistry that they discovered. Discuss the modifications that students think might need to be made to use the transesterification process to fuel the U.S. on a nationwide basis, and whether or not they think that this is feasible.

Correlated Standards

Technology

Standard 6. Understands the nature and uses of different forms of technology

Level III [Grade: 6-8]

Benchmark 3. Knows that most technological systems require an input of energy, which is an important consideration both in designing an object or a system and in conserving energy

Level IV [Grade: 9-12]

Benchmark 2. Knows that biotechnology is used in a variety of areas (e.g., agriculture, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, fuels and energy, the environment, genetic engineering) and requires specific scientific knowledge about the natural system being modified

McREL: Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education (Copyright 2000 McREL) is published online by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) (http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks), 2550 S. Parker Road, Suite 500, Aurora, CO 80014

Science

Standard 8. Understands the structure and properties of matter

Level IV [Grade: 9-12]

Benchmark 16. Understands radical reactions and their role in natural and human processes

Standard 13. Understands the scientific enterprise

Level IV [Grade: 9-12]

Benchmark 5. Understands that science involves different types of work in many different disciplines

McREL: Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education (Copyright 2000 McREL) is published online by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) (http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks), 2550 S. Parker Road, Suite 500, Aurora, CO 80014

Keywords

biodiesel fuel, transesterification process, chemistry, technology

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