Biodiesel: The Homemade Alternative to Diesel Fuel
Melissa
I.
8th
Grade, Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island, Floridaa
Teacher: Bill Hausmann & Ryan Cilsick
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Hypothesis: Based on my research studies, I believe I can make a high-quality fuel fit for use in a diesel engine without the harmful effects associated with petroleum-diesel. In a B10 solution there will be a slight reduction of particulate matter; at a concentration level of B20 there will be a substantial difference in particulate matter and mileage.
Conclusion: In my hypothesis I stated that I would be able to make a high-quality fuel and use it in a diesel engine in order to first handedly compare diesel and biodiesel. I was not able to make a fuel that had a high enough quality to be used in a diesel engine, so I was not able to test the second part of this experiment. The first three batched of biodiesel I made had extremely poor quality, filled with contaminants, but the 4th and 5th were quite good, though extremely different from each other. Formulating a conclusion as to which is better is impossible at this time and could only be done through further research of the two fuels. My research proved biodiesel has superior lubricity and lower emissions than diesel, but its cold weather properties are not as good as diesel’s.
