Research at ASU Poly

6-17-08
How exciting!!! Our team was schooled on organic chemistry and the history and mechanics of diesel engines. The discussion included a path from oils aka (lipids) to triglycerides. These are unsaturated fatty acids that are usually fluid at room temperatures and are ideal for use as a Biodiesel fuel. We also learned how fatty acids react with glycerol, (with a little catalyst of acid or base) to form triglycerides and water. But wait, there is more! The reaction goes both ways and if there are too many H2O molecules present the reaction will reverse and create fatty acids again, (BAD at least for the company trying to produce Biodiesel). Iodine values can indicate the saturation values of fatty acids as Iodine bonds to the Carbon atoms within the fatty acid molecule chain. Triglycerides are usually more prevalent in plant oils and are the preferred raw materiel for Biodiesel production. In order to convert triglycerides into a fuel akin to Diesel, it must go through a process called: "Trans-esterification". This is where our labwork comes into play. We learned today that we will be creating a small scale working model of the transesterification process that the partner company has developed. And oh no... there will be no blue prints or specs for us to use. We will build from scratch, starting with the basic premise set up by our knowledge of biochemical reactions of pure veg oils. Then, once our model is up and running, we will begin to change some of the variables such as using reclaimed oils to see if we can perfect the process.