The research team is currently looking into chromatography and will have a summary of their findings next week.

By: Josh Debner (Research)

The growing algae team transferred the two algae tanks into the greenhouse and set them up there with the automatic air pumps. They had some issues with some wrong tubing, but fixed it. Future plans include acquiring an algae textbook and assigning chapters to read, take notes on, and summarize. Then they need to make a final decision about what algae will be most efficient to grow and order it. Possible purchases include the algae that we decide on growing, possibly some tubing because all the tubing we have is too big, but just taping it may be sufficient. The mysterious algae order had nothing to do with this group. However, if it isn’t being claimed they will take it.

By: Chelsea Yalen (Growing Algae)

The algae to oil group has not completed any experiments yet. Members of the group were assigned to look up different methods of extracting oil from algae. This was decided at the last biodiesel meeting. Future plans include cleaning the algae to oil room, picking the best methods to extract oil and to start experimenting.

By: Joanna Morgan (Algae to Oil)

The group performed another transesterification experiment using Canola oil and methanol to create biodiesel. The process used to create our original batch of biodiesel was replicated in which 4.5g of potassium hydroxide completely dissolved in 200mL of methanol was mixed with 1L of canola oil for approximately five minutes and allowed to rest overnight. They have yet to decant the biodiesel produced from the glycerol by-product due to a lack of time in the group members’ schedules. This experiment was primarily done to show a new member to the group how they perform the transesterification process so that he will be able to perform different experiments involving this process by himself.

They plan to conduct more informative experiments such as the effect of temperature on the transesterification process, and experimenting with various oils and catalysts as well as learning how to perform many of the ASTM quality tests using the equipment we have available and the equipment which we will order to test the quality of our product. Possible purchases include basic lab equipment such as beakers, hotplates, etc. as well as different oils and alcohols to experiment with.

By: Brian Carvalho (Oil to Diesel)

The facilities engineering team is looking into a biodiesel processor and an algae growth system. The algae system is being dealt with by the underclassmen, and the Biodiesel processor is now the responsibility of the upperclassmen. They are now in possession of the algae book they had been waiting for, so the growth system can use that as a reference tool. As for the processor, they are waiting for another book that details and illustrates the process of building one. Until then we are plotting out a space and making general schematics of what it will contain. They are working on building a few things, so they will always be looking for ways to improve upon the designs and make them more efficient. In the very immediate future they need to get space planned for these two setups and make sure the places they are put will neither affect them nor be affected by them in any harmful manner. They now have contact established between all members of their group, and can start making things happen. It is very possible these two projects will need outside help, which we will elicit when necessary.

By: James Fagan (Facilities Engineering)

The finance team has not made any purchases over the past week and has not received any requests for purchases.

By: Yuk- Ting Li (Finance)

The airplane has been ordered along with the radio and everything else the BDP is buying. The order for the engine will be sent out shortly. Ordering through GHAMAS will take some time, but the parts should be working by the beginning of 2007. Chris and Ben have been working out the programming for the plane, to see if they can communicate a gyro and servo with a micro chip. They only have the micro chip to work with at the moment, but they do know how they communicate, with pulses of varying lengths. They have been able to simulate these pulses using a second micro chip, and verifying them with an oscilloscope. They believe they have made and read the correct pulses, but will be asking Mr. Mendelssohn to check their results this week. After they verify that they have the right kind of pulse, they will have to wait for the gyros and servos they ordered to come in so they can start testing with those.

By: Ben White (Model Airplane)