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Biodiesel

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Biodiesel
Abstract:
The purpose of this experiment was to compare biodiesel to other fuels. The ecotoxicity of biodiesel was estimated, along with that of other biofuels through the germination of seeds in the presence of different concentrations of fuels. This resulted in biodiesel having an average of 79.4% germinated seeds in a 10% solution of fuel, compared to other fuels whose percentage of germinated seeds decreased with higher concentrations of fuel. In addition, biodiesel was also synthesized and its heat of combustion was found through the use of calorimetry. The heat capacity for the calorimeter was based on the heat of combustion for ethanol, which was then used to determine the heat of combustion for biodiesel. The average heat of combustion for biodiesel was ∆Hcomb= -13090.83 kJ/mole, as opposed to the theoretical value of -11496.6 kJ/mole, which resulted in a 13.9% difference. Furthermore, taking into consideration the ecotoxicity of biodiesel, its effect on the environment, and fuel efficiency, biodiesel proved to be the more favorable fuel relative to the other fuels tested. The goal of the experiment was to compare and determine the advantages of using biodiesel as a fuel as opposed to other fuels.

In addition to stating the goals and approach of the lab, make sure to mention which factors you are using to evaluate which fuel is "better".
Summarize main results (give actual values of the things you calculated--where applicable, give averages of trials, not all trials).

Introduction: In order to compare biodiesel to other fuels, its properties were compared to that of other fuels to obtain relevant information regarding the impact of a fuel on the environment, the efficiency of a certain fuel when burned, and the amount of energy produced by the combustion reactions of the fuels. While many different biofuels are capable of being used to power vehicles, factories, and other necessary processes, their sources are being depleted while the



References: Laboratory Manual: Chemistry 1A Fall 2011. Department of Chemistry; University of California, Berkeley. Regents of the University of California, 2011.

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