Ethanol Lesson
A multi-day science lesson on ethanol as a renewable biofuel. Students research the history of ethanol, produce ethanol from corn starch and cellulosic material through fermentation and distillation, debate the Renewable Fuel Standard through a role-play town hall, and combust ethanol and kerosene to compare energy content, efficiency, and coproducts.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
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- Industry, innovation, and technology led to the development of starch-based ethanol. (Make a poster board describing the history and development of ethanol. – Activity 1)
- Ethanol plants use fermentation to convert corn into biofuels and animal feed products. (Make ethanol and distillers grains from ground corn seed and corn starch. – Activity 2)
- The United States government developed the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program with the intent of reducing greenhouse gasses, increasing renewable fuel production, and decreasing dependence on foreign oil. (Research the RFS program and debate the benefits of the program from multiple perspectives. – Activity 3)
- Biofuels provide consumers with energy choices that can improve rural economies and benefit the environment. (Compare energy content, coproducts, and cost of ethanol and kerosene. – Activity 4 and Activity 5)
- Advancing technologies are used to convert cellulosic components of corn into ethanol. (Produce ethanol from cellulosic corn-based material. – Activity 6)
- Time required
- 15 days
- Materials
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- Activity 1: Poster boards, Assorted markers, Glue sticks, Scissors
- Activity 2: 250ml beaker, 50ml beaker, Thermometer, Yeast, Microwave, 250ml Erlenmeyer flask, Crushed corn, Electronic balance, Two-hole stopper, 5cm glass tubing, Plastic tubing, Bromothymol blue, Coffee grinder, Condenser, Crushed Ice, Utility clamp, Ring stand, Porcelain Bowl, Butane lighter, Test tube, Eye dropper, Biuret solution, Safety glasses, Lab apron, Nitrile or plastic gloves
- Activity 4: LabQuest2, Temperature Sensor, Forceps, Empty soup cans, Butane lighter, 125ml plastic bottle with lid, Stirring rods, Single hole stoppers, Ring stand, 10cm ring, Utility clamp, 100ml graduated cylinder, 30ml graduated cups, Beaker tongs, Paper towels, Water, 60ml burner with kerosene, 60ml burner with ethanol, Bromthymol blue (BTB), Sodium hydroxide dropper, Safety glasses, Lab apron
- Activity 5: 60ml burner with kerosene, 60ml burner with ethanol, Electronic Balance, 10cm ring, Utility clamp, Stirring rods, Single hole stoppers, Ring stand, 100ml graduated cylinder, Empty soup cans, Metric ruler, Safety glasses, Lab apron
- Activity 6: Water bath, Ground corn stalks, Coffee grinder, Permanent marker, Electronic balance, 50ml falcon tubes, Test tube racks, Test tube tongs, LabQuest2, Ethanol sensor, Teflon tape, Scissors, Hot plate, Distilled water, 400ml beaker, 250ml beaker, 100ml graduated cylinder, Weigh dishes, Plastic spoon, 1ml graduated pipets, 50ml Celluclast enzyme, 0.05M sulfuric acid (500ml), Yeast (4oz.), Safety glasses, Lab apron, Nitrile or plastic gloves
- Essential Questions
- How and where is ethanol produced? How can agriculture support the development of renewable energies? How does ethanol production and usage impact the environment? What is the process for making ethanol? What coproducts are created while making biofuels like ethanol? What is the Renewable Fuel Standard? How does ethanol benefit rural communities? What are the coproducts of ethanol combustion? How does the energy content in ethanol compare to fossil fuels? What are new agricultural sources for ethanol?
- Key Terms
- Act, Alternative Energy, Bromthymol blue, Calorie, Carbon dioxide, Cellulose, Cellulosic ethanol, Combustion, Coproduct, Distillation, Distillers grains, Emission, Ethanol, Fermentation, Fossil Fuel, Greenhouse effect, Greenhouse gas, Non-renewable energy, Octane, Particulates, Petroleum, Renewable energy, Starch, Yeast