Canola can be used to make biofuel and titanium dioxide works as a pretreatment to get the canola re

Chloe Winkler

Overview

Theoretical calculations suggest that a 1000-acre canola field is able to produce 5,000 L of biofuel. However, pretreatment of canola stalks is necessary for biofuel production to allow enzymatic digestion of cellulose to proceed. This research investigated the effectiveness of photocatalytic pretreatment using UV light and a catalyst on canola stalk for biofuel production. Canola stalks were harvested and pretreated using 1.5% TiO2 solution with 0-24 hr UV irradiation. Samples underwent enzymatic hydrolysis, were deactivated, and 5 g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was added for fermentation (72 hr at 32 ° C). CO2 produced was captured and quantified. Utilizing stoichiometry, ethanol production was calculated. As a control, 0.04 g of canola stalks with no pretreatment averaged produced a mean of 35.03 mL±1.35 mL of CO2. Pretreatment of 0.04 g of canola stalks with TiO2 produced 42.87 mL±9.1 mL of CO2. Interestingly, pretreatment of 0.04 g of canola stalks with TiO2 UV light produced only 33.03 mL±2.64 mL of CO2 less than TiO2 pretreatment alone and no different than controls. Using 0.04 g of canola stalks with TiO2 as a pretreatment and either 24 hr or 1 hr of natural UV irradiation each produced less CO2 than no pretreatment (22.26 mL±4.01 mL and17.5 mL±1.8 mL of CO2, respectively). Statistical analysis indicated that 1.5% TiO2 pretreatment made a significant difference in CO2 production (p<0.01, 90% confidence interval X-Y). A TiO2 pretreatment with natural UV light, while not significantly different was still an effective pretreatment.

My Story

I really began taking science seriously the second semester of my freshman year. I started taking an advanced research class. I have always had a love for the environment so immediately I knew I wanted to start researching biofuel. Then sophomore year I started taking computer science as well. I absolutely love science of all kinds but computer science stole my heart. I continued my research into biofuel and did very well at science fairs and would have even competed at ISEF if it weren't for the pandemic. Then last year after a complicated year of quarantines and ever changing school schedules. I successfully completed my research. I was then contacted by my state(Washington) that I was chosen to be an AJAS delegate and I was ecstatic once my advisor explained to me what it was...I guess growing up in a small town does mean I live under a rock. Now I am in my senior year of college and while I am no longer researching biofuel the environment will always be important to me. I am now taking AP computer science and plan to major in computer science once I'm off to college.