The purpose of this experiment was to determine which biodiesel made from vegetable oil would be the best replacement for diesel fuel in the future.

My hypothesis is that the methanol biodiesel will be the most affective substitute for diesel fuel and less harmful to the environment.

To determine the caloric value of the biodiesels by measuring the amount of fuel needed to heat 50ml of water 5C? and compare to the results to diesel fuel.  To measure flammability, ignite a small amount of the biodiesel and compare the flames to that of all the other samples at the same time. The suitability of the flame is determined by burning a sample of the biodiesels in the fume hood and allowing the soot to be collected on a coffee filter and measured with a light sensor.  Viscosity is measured by using the viscosity of water to compare the viscosity of the biodiesel to the diesel fuel.  The method of measuring viscosity used in this experiment was to record the time that it took for a known quantity of the sample to travel through the plastic funnel.

Based on the results of this experiment, my hypothesis should be accepted.  From this project, it is possible to learn how much each fuel pollutes the planet, the effect of each fuel on a fuel injected engine, the flammability of each fuel in case of a spill, as well as the amount of energy that can be created by each of the biodiesels compared to diesel.

Return to the top of the page.

The purpose of this experiment was to determine which biodiesel made from vegetable oil would be the best replacement for diesel fuel in the future.  In order to determine which biodiesel would be “the best,” a series of tests and comparisons must be done.  Those including availability of materials, cost to produce, methods of manufacturing, safety procedures, as well as the properties of diesel fuel, for a biodiesel to be suitable for consumers.  I became interested in this project when I heard a report on a school televised news program called Channel One.  In this report, a high school student had created a biodiesel that successfully ran in his diesel vehicle.  I wanted to test other biodiesels that people had created and see if any could possible be used in the economy and which one would be preferred.  The gases given off from car exhaust cause air pollution, acid rain and are main contributors to the greenhouse effect, that is likely causing the earth to heat up irregularly. This project has the potential to fight against the growth of pollution by decreasing the use of diesel fuel with the biodiesels that are tested.  Diesel fuel is not renewable and therefore, its sources will eventually run out and the demand for fuel as an energy source will still be high.  This project could be beneficial now as well as in the future if a successful biodiesel is found and produced in order to prevent unnecessary pollution of the environment.

Return to the top of the page.

My hypothesis is that the methanol fuel will be most like diesel because once I made the fuels; I was able to see that the ethanol fuel was much thicker than both the methanol and the diesel.  I also think that the methanol fuel will be least harmful to the environment based on the Department of Energy's website concerning alternative fuels which states that ethanol gives off 15% more gases than methanol.  I also read on a methanol site that if the methanol were to spill into the ocean, that biodegradation would occur very quickly before it had time to disturb the ocean life.  The site quoted the Department of Energy on the fact that fuel today is, “overall more hazardous to human health than methanol.”  In the same site, it states that, “methanol is less polluting to water, less toxic, does not cause cancer, and is much safer to use than fuel today.”  Based on the materials used, I think that the diesel will create the most soot because of past experience.  The methanol mixture will also be less expensive to make because sodium hydroxide is cheaper and more available than potassium hydroxide.  However, in another article from the U.S. Department of Transportation, it states that ethanol is renewable from agriculture such as sugar cane and corn.  Methanol is made from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas which may run out farther in the future.  The long-term availability must also be considered in the future if the methanol resources don't hold out.  Technology should be improving greatly so it is unlikely that fuel will be used as an energy source that far into the future.  As long as the right precautions are taken if biodiesel were to go commercially, I think that scientists could improve the energy produced by the fuel with safe additives and different concentrations.  I think that methanol will be the fuel of choice based on the fact that it is cheaper, not harmful to the environment, and easily accessible.

Return to the top of the page.

The constants in this experiment were:

- All biodiesels were made with the same vegetable oil
- All samples are currently being used in diesel engines
- Amount of fuel tested for caloric value
- Amount of fuel tested for flammability
- Amount of fuel tested for suitability of flame
- Amount of fuel tested for viscosity
- Height the lamp was placed from the center of the filter
- Height the light sensor was placed from the filter
- Lamp used to reflect the light off the filter
- Placement of the lamp for reflecting the light off the filter
- Sample of cloth used in all experimentation
- Size of cloth used as a wick in each experimentation
- Thermometer used in all experimentation

The manipulated variable was the solutes added to the vegetable oil in order to create the different biodiesels:  ethanol, methanol, potassium hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide.
The responding variable was the caloric value, flammability, suitability of flame, and viscosity of the biodiesels verses diesel fuel.
To measure the responding variable, determine the caloric value of the biodiesels by measuring the amount of fuel needed to heat 50ml of water 5C° and compare to the results to diesel fuel.  To measure flammability, ignite a small amount of the biodiesel with a match and compare the flames to that of all the other samples at the same time. The suitability of the flame is determined by burning a sample of the biodiesels in the fume hood and allowing the soot to be collected on a coffee filter.  The coffee filter is placed under a lamp and then by using a light sensor, is measured in the amount of light able to pass through the soot (in lux). Viscosity is measured by using the viscosity of water to compare the viscosity of the biodiesel to the diesel fuel.  The method of measuring viscosity used in this experiment was to record the time that it took for a known quantity of the sample to travel through the plastic funnel.  The longer it takes the sample to flow from the funnel means that the sample has a greater viscosity (thickness).

Return to the top of the page.

Return to the top of the page.

Procedure for Making the Ethanol Biodisel

1. For safety, put on safety glasses during the process of making and testing the biodisel.
2. Pour 75ml of ethanol and 4ml of water to create a 95% ethanol solution.
3. Add 75ml of the ethanol solution to 500ml of vegetable oil in a 2000ml beaker.
4. Measure 5ml of distilled water into a test tube.
5. Add 2.5g of potassium hydroxide pellets.
6. Cap with a stopper and shake until completely dissolved.
7. Slowly add 5ml of 9mol dm3 potassium hydroxide solution with a pipet over a 1-minute period to the vegetable oil and ethanol.
8. Stir continuously in the magnetic mixer for 3 hours on a low setting while covering the solution with plastic wrap and a rubber band to prevent evaporation.  Do not stir vigorously.
9. Pour the solution through a screen funnel and allow settling for 1 hour and cover with plastic wrap and a rubber band to prevent evaporation.
10. Pour the settled solution though a screen funnel and discard the lower glycerol layer.
11. Add 20ml of distilled water to the product and mix well with the magnetic mixer (do not shake) and let stand for 1 hour while covering the solution with plastic wrap and a rubber band to prevent evaporation.
12. Run off the lower layer of the solution through a screen funnel and repeat until the product is clear.
13. Add 2.5g anhydrous sodium sulfate and stir for 15 minutes.
14. Allow the sodium sulfate to settle.
15. Cover the solution with plastic wrap and a rubber band to prevent evaporation.

Procedure for Making the Methanol Biodiesel

1. For safety, put on safety glasses during the process of making and testing the biodiesel.
2. For safety, put on safety glasses.
3. Pour 500ml of vegetable oil into a 1000ml beaker.
4. Place on the magnetic mixer/heater with the magnet in the oil.
5. Heat and stir the mixture while holding a thermometer in the middle of the solution until it reaches 46C°.
6. Crush sodium hydroxide in a crushing pot until there are small flakes.
7. In a separate beaker, measure 85ml of methanol and ¼ teaspoon of sodium hydroxide.
8. Stir in the magnetic mixer until all of the particles are thoroughly mixed in.
9. Add the methanol solution to the warm vegetable oil and stir vigorously with the magnetic mixer for 30 minutes.
10. Pour the solution into 5 50ml-graduated cylinders and cover with plastic wrap and rubber bands.
11. Allow the mixture to settle for 24 hours.
12. Use a screen funnel to remove the glycerin from the bottom of the mixture.
13. Discard the excess layers.

Procedure for Testing Flammability

1. Put on safety goggles.
2. Pour 1ml of each biodiesel and the diesel sample onto the four watch glasses.
3. Place under the fume hood.
4. Light a match very carefully to all of the samples.
5. Using the observations made, determine in which order the samples are compared in flammability to each other by the physical aspects of the flame. (Use a 1 to 3 scale).
6. Repeat steps 1-5 2 times and average the results.

Procedure for Testing Suitability of flame

1. Put on safety goggles.
2. Mass the coffee filter on the triple beam balance.
3. Cut nine 5cmX1cm pieces of cotton cloth.
4. Turn on the fume hood.
5. Place coffee filter inside the fume hood so that the soot will be sucked onto it.
6. Place ring stand in the fume hood.
7. Put the 4” dryer hose on the ring stand and direct to the coffee filter.
8. Pour 1ml of fuel into an evaporating dish.
9. Ignite the fuel on an evaporating dish.
10. Let the fuel burn until the fire is burned out.
11. Remove the coffee carefully without disturbing the soot.
12. Place the coffee filter on photo paper.
13. Adjust a lamp above the filter 15cm in a set position.
14. Measure 8cm above the filter and hold the light sensor in place.
15. Collect the data on the computer and hit linear plot to find the average.
16. Repeat steps 1-15 2 times and average the results.
17. Repeat steps 1-16 for each of the fuels.

Procedure for Testing Viscosity

1. Put on safety goggles.
2. Measure 75ml of distilled water.
3. Pour into a long-necked funnel and place finger over the bottom.
4. Have a timer ready and remove finger.
5. Stop the timer when the water has completely drained.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 2 times to be accurate and average the amount of time.
7. Repeat step 1-6 for each of the samples 2 times.
8. Compare the results of the fuels’ viscosity to water in order to compare to each other.

Note:  The most viscous sample will take the longest amount of time to flow.  Water will be less viscous because vegetable oil is less dense.

Procedures for Testing Caloric Value

1. Put on safety goggles.
2. Setup apparatus as shown below.
3. Pour 15ml of the fuel into an alcohol burner.
4. Mass the alcohol burner, wick, and fuel on a triple beam balance.
5. Pour 50ml of distilled water into a tin can.
6. Allow the wick to absorb the fuel.
7. Measure the temperature of the distilled water.
8. Ignite the wick and place alcohol burner immediately under the tin can.
9. Burn the fuel until the distilled water rises 5 degrees from its original temperature.
10. Extinguish the flame immediately to keep the mass the same.
11. Mass the alcohol burner, wick, and remaining biodiesel.
12. Subtract the results from the mass of the alcohol burner, wick, and original amount of fuel.
13. Mass a 10ml graduated cylinder.
14. Add the mass of the burned fuel to the mass on the triple beam balance.
15. Pour fuel to the graduated cylinder until calibrated.
16. Measure the amount of fuel in ml that is equal to the mass of the burned fuel.
17. The volume of fuel needed to heat the sample determines the caloric value.
18. Repeat steps 1-17 2 times to be accurate and average the amount of burned fuel.
19. Repeat steps 1-18 for each of the samples.

Return to the top of the page.

Biodiesel is a safer alternative to diesel fuel because it is environmentally safe and has no known side affects on humans.  Diesel is used in some vehicles today and many consumers do not like them do to the sound and smell.  The smell of the fuel is eliminated with the biodiesel because it is made from different materials.  Testing the biodiesels for common characteristics with diesel fuel is important as well.  It is good to know how the biodiesel will affect the planet as well as the consumers’ car.  Money and jobs may also be a problem when switching from diesel to biodiesel.  It can be fixed though if everyone has open minds about change and how to work around problems with the big picture still in mind

Diesel is a fuel that is made from fossil fuels and has serious side affects to human health.  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health wanted diesel to be regarded as, “a potential occupational carcinogen.”  A carcinogen is something that causes cancer and people can get cancer when they breathe the polluted air that the car exhaust from diesel engines are creating.  In the late 1970’s, over half a million diesel vehicles were sold in the United States alone. Diesel is in buses, cars, trucks, and other transportation devices in every town.  Diesel engines are fuel injected and therefore, the type of fuel that is put into the engine must be carefully calculated.  Diesel is not used in all cars because diesel engines are more expensive, slower in acceleration, less reliable, hard to start in bad weather, and not to mention that consumers do not like the sound or smell of diesel engines.  Gasoline is also more available than diesel and therefore, consumers seem to buy more gasoline cars as well.  It is predicted however, that there will most likely be more diesel engines on the road because they have a longer engine life and are trying to make diesel a more efficient fuel.  If that is the case, pollution will also be on the incline.

A biodiesel is a cleaner burning fuel that is renewable and can be substituted for diesel fuel.  It can be made from animal fats or vegetable oil along with alcohol and other solutes.  When adding a biodiesel to the engine, a biodiesel must require no engine modifications to the vehicle.  Tests have shown that there is no difference between the performance and wear of certain biodiesels when compared to diesel.  Biodiesels are also safer to the environment and to human health.  Biodiesels reduce the amount of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and other matter that is dispersed into the environment through the car exhaust.  This pollution is likely causing the global warming which will also damage our planet later on.  Biodiesel is 50% less likely to harm the ozone if used in an engine rather than diesel fuel.  If people continue to use diesel as fuel in transportation, the pollution will cause serious side affects to wildlife, the environment, and the human race.  Humans can get cancer from breathing the pollution along with other problems in high-populated areas where diesel engines are common.  Biodiesels must share common properties with diesel fuel so that they can be injected properly into the engine as well as the energy that is given off by the fuel.  Information about biodiesel needs to be distributed to the consumer in order for them to fully understand their benefits and therefore increasing the use of biodiesel throughout the planet.

Both methanol and ethanol are alcohols that are quiet common and can be found easily.  Methanol is more toxic and harmful to your health than ethanol is.  Methanol is made from fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas.  Ethanol is made from renewable sources like sugar cane and corn.  There are many arguments about which one should be used in biodiesel and there are many recipes for making biodiesel using either alcohol.  As long as safety precautions are taken when handling the alcohols, there are no tests to prove that either is better than the other in terms of the same concentrations.  It all depends on how and what each will be used for and the amount of time that it will be used.

Scientifically, viscosity is a property of a fluid that resists motion.  It is related to how a fluid flows in terms of being poured downward.  The ease for a fluid to flow is called its fluidity.  For a fluid to be greater in viscosity, it depends on how much the fluid resists flowing.  Viscosity can be measured in a variety of ways also.  It can be measured by dropping a steal ball through the liquid and timing it, letting a certain amount of fuel pass through a container with a hole and timing that or by using a viscometer.  A viscometer is an instrument that is used by placing a small amount of a sample on the lens and it reads the viscosity in accurate numbers.  It is unnecessary to use a viscometer in this experiment because each fuel was tested using the same methods and accuracy level.  It may be a good idea for larger companies to use a viscometer in order to prefect their produce.  Therefore, molasses has a greater viscosity than water because molasses takes a longer amount of time to flow downward then water does.  Viscosity is important when talking about diesel fuel because a diesel engine is fuel injected.  Fuel injected means that unlike a gasoline engine, the fuel is injected directly into the engine without being compressed first.  A biodiesel must have a close viscosity to diesel fuel because it must have the same fluidity to flow into the engine at the same speed and order that the diesel fuel does.

Flammability is the way that the fuel is capable of catching on fire.  Flammability can be measured with flash point but is a very dangerous procedure.  To measure flash point, the fuel must be heated up until it combusts without the use of a flame.  This is dangerous because biodiesel has such a high flash point that the fuel would explode and it would go by so quickly that there wouldn’t be enough time to take accurate observations.  Instead, by using a wick to light the fuels at the same time, visual observations, photographs, and comparisons can be made for the research.  In order to determine flammability, it is important to keep tract of how the fuel ignited, the flame created but the fuel, and how long the fuel was burning.  It is very easy to make observations and determine flammability because each substance is so much different in its compounds.  It is important to test for flammability in case of an oil spill and it catching fire.  With the information from such a test, it would be easy to determine how a fuel may react in such ha situations to prepare others.  It also may broaden the thought process on the transportation methods used by the fuel companies today.

Caloric value is a measure that tells the amount of fuel that is needed in order to heat a known amount of water 5C?.  Caloric value is measured by poring a known quantity of fuel into an alcohol burner burning it in order to heat the distilled water 5C?.   This information tells how much energy is going to be created when using the same amount of fuel.  This kind of knowledge would be important to consumers because if a fuel can get a greater amount of energy from a smaller amount of fuel, then their products will run more efficiently.  If a fuel can give off more power, then it will be more desirable because it is less costly to use a less amount of fuel for the same energy in a greater amount of fuel.

Suitability of flame determines how much pollution the fuel gives off when it is burned.  It can be determined by burning a small amount under a coffee filter and then using a light sensor to detect the amount of soot.  It is best if the coffee filter is placed in a fume hood, which basically sucks up the fumes through a large vacuum pump.   It is important to know how much a fuel is going to pollute the environment because if a fuel is going to work the same as another fuel and it pollutes less, then consumers are going to be interested in helping the planet.  When the consumers pollute the planet less, it will create a better living environment for wildlife, plants, and humans.  Car exhaust is one of the leading causes of pollution and could be reduced by over 50% if biodiesel is used.  The future will also benefit if biodiesel is used because their surroundings will also stay fresher and there will be less extinct species that have died from the pollution that is created by diesel engines.

If diesel is replaced by biodiesel, then there will be many workers that are put out of work do to the increase in a different product.  The workers then must move to where the increase is beginning like in the vegetable fields where the oil is made or in the manufacturing plants where the biodiesel is made.  The people who also transport the diesel could also switch over and begin transporting biodiesel in its place.  If the resources run out and they eventually will, the workers would eventually be forced to find other fields of work.  The manufacturing of biodiesel can be simple and the amount of education required in each area would depend on the managers.  It should not be a problem for diesel companies to switch to biodiesel because it will make the agricultural business grow and that would be good for the many farmers.

The cost for 1 gallon of diesel is $1.49 at about every gas station.  Biodiesel is actually not that much more expensive.  Most consumers carry vegetable oil for cooking anyways and all the other solutes can be found in local stores for a cheap price considering the amount that is being used.  It would all depend if the consumers decided to buy the fuel commercially because it could be much cheaper to make it themselves.  It is not time consuming and is very easy to understand as long as the consumer pays proper attention to the instructions.  Buying biodiesel is available now, but is not as easy to access in smaller quantities for the average consumer to store.

Biodiesels can expand commercially in order to improve the environment and reduce the risks of some cancers.  Diesel is not a safe and renewable source of energy and consumers are going to have to choose a new fuel source some time in the future.  It would be best to start the testing now so that consumers will know what their options will be later on.  Testing for the properties of each biodiesel is important in order to observer the affects that it will have later on in both the car and in the planet.  When a business shuts down, like the diesel companies will, the jobs of their employees is something that many are going to worry about.  As long as people move to where the economy is going to be expanding such as processing plants and farming areas, the availability of job opportunities should not be a problem.  Most consumers are worried about the cost of biodiesel and that all depends on the quality of the materials that are used.  The prices are relatively the same and if the agriculture is plentiful and less expensive, the there should not be a large price increase.

Return to the top of the page.

The purpose of this experiment was to determine which biodiesel made from vegetable oil would be the best replacement for diesel fuel in the future.  The results of this experiment were that the diesel was least viscous with an average flow time of 15.9 seconds.  Methanol fuel followed with an average flow time of 32.97 seconds.  Ethanol fuel was most viscous with an average flow time of 117.62 seconds, which is dramatically more viscous than the other samples.  Water had an average flow time of 11.07 seconds just to compare all the samples to another common fluid.  The trials were all very consistent and more accurate than I had predicted them to be.  Diesel was also more flammable than each sample and was followed by the methanol fuel and then the ethanol fuel.  Both diesel and the methanol fuel samples were acceptant to the flame from the match to the saturated wick.  They both also created large flames that burned rather quickly and extinguished at roughly the same time.  The ethanol fuel was very difficult to light and took several attempts.  Its flame was also very small and burned for long amounts of time.  The diesel used the most amount of fuel to heat the water at an average of 0.32g.  The methanol fuel followed next with an average amount of fuel to burn at 0.23g.  Ethanol fuel used the least amount of fuel to heat the water at 0.14g.  This means that it would take less ethanol fuel to create the energy needed to run the vehicle.  The diesel also created the most soot with an average amount of light able to pass though it at 170.63 lux.  The ethanol created the next most amount of soot allowing an average of light able to pass through it at 268.47 lux.  The methanol fuel created the least amount of soot, allowing the average amount of light to pass through at 280.87 lux.

Return to the top of the page.

Note:  The scale above is a 1 to 3 scale with 3 being most flammable and 1 being the least.

Return to the top of the page.

Return to the top of the page.

From the results, it can be said that methanol is the most like diesel in its properties and ethanol is not.  The flammability test shows how the fuel could catch on fire if there was an oil spill and if consumers would need to take extra precautions when handling the fuel.  Methanol would be more flammable than ethanol but that would depend on the concentrations that scientists devise.  The viscosity of the fuel is important because diesel engines are fuel injected and the viscosity of what is being injected could affect the vehicles ability to use the fuel.  Methanol once again had the most similar viscosity to diesel than ethanol did and therefore would create fewer problems for the engine.  The caloric values of the fuels are relevant because the energy that a fuel can create is the whole purpose behind powering anything with that particular fuel.  If a fuel cannot create enough energy for something to have the power to run, then the fuel is useless.  The methanol also was able to create more energy than the ethanol and therefore would be a better choice for consumers.  The results of this experiment can show how much pollution is going to be created by the fuel when it is burned in the vehicle.  This could reduce the amount of pollution that is created in the environment by the gases given off in the car exhaust.  The soot collected on the filter shows what will be put in the environment with a given and comparable measure.  The methanol created the least amount of soot and therefore would be a better substitute for diesel fuel, which created a great amount of pollution.  My original hypothesis was that the methanol biodiesel would be the most affective substitute for diesel fuel. Based on the results of this experiment, my hypothesis should be accepted because methanol proved to be most like diesel in each test and less harmful to the environment.   After the results of this experiment, I wonder what the long-term affects of the biodiesel might have on the engine.  I also wonder what kinds of gases are put off by the biodiesel and how it would affect humans despite the fact that it is proven to not create cancer.  It would also be interesting to know how the different concentrations of the alcohol and vegetable oil affect the properties and the engine of the vehicle.  Some systematic errors would be the fact that there wasn’t an accurate way to place the light sensor and lamp over the coffee filter.  Since I used a cotton wick do to the fact that the fuel wouldn’t light with a match, it could also affect the way each fuel burned and perhaps the gases given off.  There also wasn’t an accurate way to measure the flammability in a safe way without testing the flash point that would be at a very high temperature and it would go too quickly to make any observations.  If someone were to repeat this experiment, I would recommend using different concentrations of each fuel as well as different solutes added to the solution.  It may also be interesting to know how the biodiesels could possibly clog the filters in the vehicle if they were to set for long periods of time and the methods that would be used to clear the problem.  Using different alcohols may also give a new incite to those who are interested in making biodiesel either commercially or personally.

Return to the top of the page.

“Alternative Fuels-What Are They?”  Energy Conservation Enhancement Project. [Online] Available http://www.ecep1.usl.edu/ecep/auto/i/i.html.  (01 December, 2000)

“Biodiesels.” Alternative Fuels.  [Online] Available http://www.webconx.com/biodiesel1.htm.  (02 January, 2001)

“Biodiesel General Information.”  AFDC.  [Online] Available http://www.afdc.nrel.gov/altfuel/bio_gene.  (13 December, 2000).

“Biodiesel Recipe from New Oil.”  National Biodiesel Board.  [Online] Available  http://www.dancingrabbit.org/biodiesel/new.oil.html.  (11 January, 2001).

Brain, Marshall.  “How Diesel Engines Work.”  [Online] Available http://www.howstuffworks.com/diesel2.htm.  (11 December, 2000).

Holbrook, Dr. Jack B.  “Investigating the Use of Vegetable Oils a Fuel.”  International Council of Associates for Science Education.  [Online] Available http://sunsite.anu.edu.au/icase/I_exemp1.html.  (20 November, 2000).

“Ethanol vs. Methanol.”  Assessment of the Safety, Health, Environmental and System Risks of Alternative Fuels.  [Online] Available http://www.solardome.com/SolarDome22.html. (16 January, 2001)

“Fuel Cells.”  [Online] Available http://www.cem.msu.edu/~ceml81h/projects97/fuel cell/cheml.html
 (01 January 2001).

Gerrits, Tim.  “KVV Biodiesel Alternative Fuels Pages.”   [Online] Available www.kelseyville.com.  (09 January, 2000).

Gustin, Patti.  “Science Project Needs.”  [Online] Available email:  PattyGustin@selah.wednet.edu.  (19 January, 2001).

“Methanol.”  [Online] Available http://www.womanmotorist.com/technology/technology-methanol-02.shtml.  (17 January, 2001).

“Petroleum Refining.”  Encyclopedia Britannica.  1983.

“Potassium Hydroxide.”  The Columbia Encyclopedia: Sixth Edition.  2000.  [Online] Available http://www.bartleby.com/br/65.html. (08 January, 2001).

Reed, Thomas B.  “Making Biodisel from Vegetable Oil and Animal Fats.”  Making Biodiesel in the Kitchen.  [Online] Available http://www.crest.org/renewables/bioenergy-list-archive/9603/msg00256.html.  (04 December, 2000)

“Sodium Hydroxide.”  Columbia Encyclopedia: Sixth Edition.  2000.  [Online] Available http://www.bartleby.com.html.  (18 January, 2001)

“Viscometer.”  Encyclopedia Britannica.  1983.

“Viscosity.”  Encyclopedia Britannica.  1983.

“Viscosity.”  Growing Up With Science.  1984.

“What is Biodiesel?”   [Online] Available http://www.biodieselorg/eneral/faq.htm.  (13 December, 2000).

“Why Don’t All Cars Use Diesel?”  [Online] Available  http://www.howstuffwroks.com/question399.htm.  (11 December, 2000).
 

Return to the top of the page.

Links:

To our classroom webpage.

To other award winning science projects!