Analysis of Biodiesel Production and its Derivatives for a College Campus

In the Fall of 2010, College started to devise and develop plausible green initiatives spearheaded by students across all five of its schools. From this college-wide endeavor, a plan to convert the school’s waste vegetable oil into biodiesel was initiated by two students in the Chemical Engineering Department. In addition to pure biodiesel, the process yields glycerin, which can be converted into a variety of useful products including soaps and candles. Graduate students from the School of Business were asked to analyze the biodiesel derivatives as part of their course requirement. More specifically, a feasibility analysis was performed on all possible biodiesel and glycerin products and their potential use on campus. This analysis examined the potential cost savings in manufacturing bar soap, liquid soap, candles, heating oil, and pure biodiesel. The report revealed that biodiesel used for the dormitory backup generators, liquid soap, and candles were the three most plausible biodiesel derivatives. The outcomes of this endeavor demonstrate the benefits of chemical engineering students working with business students. In addition, the experiences shared demonstrate the possibility of productive joint ventures between engineering and business programs at other institutions.