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Converting Municipal Waste into Automobile Fuel: Ethanol from Newspaper

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Mark Mascal and Richard Scown

Department of Chemistry, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616

J. Chem. Educ., 2008, 85 (4), p 546

DOI: 10.1021/ed085p546

Publication Date (Web): April 1, 2008

Abstract

Waste newspaper is pulped with acid and its cellulose is hydrolyzed. The resulting glucose syrup is fermented with yeast and distilled to give ethanol. The experiment highlights the potential of applied chemistry to confront problems of economic importance, that is, the effective utilization of biomass to reduce dependence on non-renewable petroleum. In the course of this laboratory exercise students are introduced to carbohydrate chemistry and the use of fermentation in organic synthesis. They also gain practical experience in microdistillation, vacuum filtration, and thin-layer chromatography. It is most appropriate for students of the advanced organic chemistry laboratory.

Keywords (Audience):

Second-Year Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Laboratory Instruction

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Acids / Bases

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This article has been cited by 2 ACS Journal articles (2 most recent appear below).

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