Welcome to the Charlotte Teachers Page!
From June 15-Aug 2, 2024 we hosted two Charlotte-Mecklenburg School teachers (Evelyn King Metcalf, Horizons Program at Charles H. Parker Academic Center and Jorden White, Middle Grade Science Teacher at Marie G. Davis IB School) for an SRET Fellowship exploring how the chemistry, biology and SCIENCE of biofuels and biodiesel can be taught in high school classrooms. We developes a series of experiments and problems and accompanying biofuel laboratory experiments engage students in science and renewable fuel.
As part of this program, CMS teachers:
- Learn the basic chemistry, biology and engineering of biofuels and biodiesel
- Create several laboratory modules that can be used to make biodiesel from cooking oil
- Learn how to test the quality of biodiesel produced
- Develop relationships with like-minded scientists excited to make your biofuel lessons sucessful
- Learn how to discuss renewable energy to the general public by practicing presentation skills, graphic design and web-based media
- Be directly connected with a US Environmental Protection Agency Project
If interested, please complete the application form!
The project produced 3 classroom modules that were aligned with NC Science and math standards.
- Models of atoms and molecules, including molecules used in found in biodiesel science (ethanol, triglycerides, glycerol). The models were made using ball and stick kits and validated using ChemDraw software by converting structure to name, chemical formula, molecular weight. Additional physical data (boiling/melting point) were generated by the software which was also used to draw reactions and processing schematics. (NC Science standards 8.P.1.3, 8.P.1.4)
2. Lab scale biodiesel reactions were performed using 10g virgin canola oil, 2.13 g anhydrous ethanol, 0.71 g of KGly2 catalyst formulation (27% KGly, 51% ethanol, 22% glycerol) and 2-3 drops of ethanolic phenolphthlein solution. The materials were added to a 20 mL glass scintillation vial that was periodically shaken and heated at 50, 75 and 90’C using either a chemical hot plate, a chemical oven or a conventional microwave. Reaction rates were determined using IR frequency carbonyl shift from glycerol ester to ethyl ester. Reactions were monitored by phase separation and confirmed TLC. (NC Science standard PS 5.1.2). Data courtesy of Allison Zielinski and Dionisio Dimagno.
3. A “Viscosity Race” was developed using glycerol, canola oil (triglyceride), biodiesel and ethanol to demonstrate physical properties of substances and teach the principals of intermolecular forces as functions of chemical substituents (OH = H-bonding, alkyl = Van der Waals). Substances were place into individual NMR tubes, inverted, and timed for liquid migration to bottom of tube. A bar graph of the data (n=3 experiments) was plotted including error bars representing standard deviation. (NC Science standard PS 3.P.2). Data courtesy of Diego Rey.
Supplies were donated to CMS Schools for biodiesel experiments. Shown below is the package containing: 24 x 20 mL scintillation vial “reactors”, 50 mL KGly catalyst formulation, 100 mL anhydrous ethanol, 50 mL canola oil, 5 mL ethanolic solution of phenolphthlein, 150 mL glass separatory funnel with stopper, 5 glass TLC plates with 2 TLC spotters, 4 NMR tubes filled individually with glycerol, canola oil (triglyceride), biodiesel and ethanol for viscosity “race”, wood molecular modelling kit, plastic pipettes, lab coat.
Results from this collaboration were presented at the UNC Charlotte SRET Summer Symposium on Aug 2, 2024. A copy of the poster and slides for the oral presentation are available here. A video of the presentation is available here.