Comparative ecotoxicity of petroleum diesel, biodiesel from waste fryer oil and biodiesel from unused fryer oil

CHED 222

Laura R. Hasiuk, laura.hasiuk@gordon.edu, Irvin J. Levy, irv.levy@gordon.edu, Sarah E. Massanari, sarah.massanari@gordon.edu, Marissa A. Weaver, marissa.weaver@gordon.edu, and Erica Wetter, erica.wetter@gordon.edu. Department of Chemistry, Gordon College, 255 Grapevine Road, Wenham, MA 01984
The ecotoxicity of biodiesel prepared from both unused and waste vegetable frying oil versus petroleum diesel was investigated using several ecotoxicity tests. Terrestrial effects were studied using both an earthworm and a lettuce seed germination assay. Aquatic effects were studied using an algae assay, a daphnia assay, and a planaria assay. The test procedures used are based upon standard EPA methods, with the exception of the planaria assay, which is less common. An important goal of this project is to produce methods that are suitable for use in the chemical education domain. Consequently, these methods may be useful to introduce ecotoxicity to the undergraduate chemical curriculum.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session
2:30 PM-4:30 PM, Monday, August 20, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007