This was the last lab of the semester, since iffy weather nixed the final one. This was pretty cool, we got to go to Dr. Rood's lab at the Mercer Law School, which is down a creepy hallway behind a door that say DO NOT ENTER. Who knows what those law students could be up to that they had to put a sign? That was my attempt at some humor and moving along. We got to see all the equipment and it took me back to my high school chemistry labs with all of the beakers and machines. It was interesting to say the least. Dr. Rood then showed us the thingy that they use to make ethanol.
This is the machine I was talking about. It can also be used to make alcohol.
This is the chemical make-up for nitroglycerin I believe.
And this is what the oil looks like after it has been through the machine.
One of the alternative fuel sources that we have been hearing about all semester is using switch grass, in particular ardunodonax as a source for bio ethanol. It grows quickly, is very tall, and is better suited for this than corn. I would like to see something like that in our future. It would help with our dependence on fossil fuels, and keep greenery in the world.
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