Research
Luther offers many opportunities for students to engage in research with faculty in Environmental Studies. From history to ecology, chemistry to policy Luther students gain firsthand experience researching pressing environmental issues. Supported by grants from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Lancey Foundation, dozens of Luther students have spent a summer doing intensive research. For more information on applying for summer research, contact the program director. To learn about recent research projects, including Luther's Biodiesel Research, read on.
Summer Research
The following is a list of some of the student-faculty research projects from 2005 and 2007 followed by student reflections on earlier research projects.
- Upper Iowa flood frequency prediction using a mathematical rainfall-runoff model.
- The secondary production of backwater lakes of the Mississippi river.
- An analysis of atrazine concentration in Winneshiek County water resources using GS-MS and Elisa.
- An exploration of quality testing methods used in the production of Biodiesel.
- Evaluating the potential for a buy fresh, buy local campaign in Northeast Iowa.
- Impact of the reconstruction and management of Anderson Prairie on plant and ground beetle communities.
- Molecular differentiation of Red and Jack Pine pollen grains (N. Downey and Staci Sudenga, Biology)
- Aquatic Insects of a "New" Stream: Is the Newly Reestablished Brook Creek Ready to Support Brook Trout? (K. Larsen and Kevin Kenealy, Biology)
Jacque Smith, '05 - Epworth, IA
I started out at Luther as a piano performance major and later switched to English. However, my favorite courses at Luther have been in the political science department where I've come to know Professor John Moeller. Upon returning from my junior year abroad, Professor Moeller invited me to spend the summer in Decorah working with him on a student-faculty collaborative research project on local land use disputes.
I had never taken a class in environmental studies and had no background on these issues, but one of Luther's assets is that it values interdisciplinary projects, and I was eager to see where this project would take me. I spent the first few weeks learning about the Winneshiek County Landfill litigation in the late 80's. I was able to interview numerous community leaders about their sense of place and their take on land use dispute resolution. I read a variety of books such as Aldo Leopold's The Sand County Almanac and Michael Pollan's Second Nature. I especially loved reading these books because of their focus on philosophy, so much so that I am now writing my senior paper on land ethics as I contemplate how my family uses the land on our Iowa farm. Through my work this summer, I developed a sense of place of my own, both in Decorah and Bankston, Iowa where I grew up. It was a fun and broadening experience.
Paul Kortemeier, '04
My summer paleoecology research project with Professor Beth Lynch prepared me for my current position as a Biology NSF Grant Research Assistant Luther College. During my summer experience, I worked mostly with Stesha Dunker on obtaining charcoal counts from two lakes: Camp 2G and West Twin, both located in the Nortwestern Wisconsin pine barrens. We took lake cores that Beth Lynch obtained over the winter and analyzed them for burnt plant material (charcoal) content in 1 cm increments. After counting the amount of charcoal in the cores, Beth put them into statistical analysis to find out whether peaks in charcoal counts were statistically significant (in other words, indicative of a fire). As a side project, I also made climate graphs of the barrens on a transect through the area using weather station records from four different towns. Beth and I then looked at the graphs to try to see any differences in climate throughout the area, but we didn't find any major differences. Luther College provided great opportunities for learning outside of the classroom, and these experiences greatly enhanced my education at Luther. I liked it so much I'm back working for Luther!
Biodiesel Research
What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel made from new or used vegetable oil. The oil can originate from many plant sources such as corn, soybeans, rapeseed, palm oil, and coconut oil. The main reaction used to produce biodiesel is a transesterfictation that involves mixing oil, alcohol and a catalyst (usually lye) in approximate ratios of 80%, 20%, and 0.35% respectively. Essentially, it is taking a triglyceride (veggie oil) and making it into a methyl/ethyl ester (biodiesel).
History of Luther biodiesel
In the summer of 2003, we initiated a research project funded by NCUR Lancy comparing crop-based energy technologies to determine if any crops offer a good alternative energy source for the future. However, further research revealed that any biofuel production from virgin oils still has significant environmental impacts, such as soil erosion, loss of diverse ecosystems, and pollution of water systems due to crop production with mainstream agricultural practices.
One way to address these concerns is to create biodiesel from used vegetable oil. We then began investigating the possibilities for integrating such an alternative fuel into Luther's campus vehicles. We now have successfully created biodiesel using waste vegetable oil from the Luther cafeteria, Oneota Coffee Shop, and Marty's Cyber Café. This fuel has successfully powered a college-owned Volkswagen Rabbit and the hope is to eventually expand this use to include vehicles used by Facilities Management and the grounds crew.
Current Research
In the spring of 2005, we have been working towards assembling and installing a larger scaled reactor and washing system based on a 70-gallon water heater model. We plan to have it up and running by the end of the spring semester. This implementation will enhance the quantity, quality and efficiency with which we are able to produce the fuel.
In the summer of 2005, we will be investigating various methods to measure and ensure the quality of the fuel that is made here on campus. This ideal quality will be on par with the National Biodiesel Standards without being necessarily certified as such. Prolonged use of poor quality biodiesel can result in engine problems, all of which can be avoided by performing a few key tests before the fuel is actually used.
Benefits
- 80% reduction in carbon dioxide combustion
- contains no sulfur emissions and contains 11% oxygen by weight (diesel has 0%)
- reduction in particulate matter (PM) and thus, reduces carcinogenic risks from PM
- reduction in poisonous carbon monoxide emissions and ozone forming hydrocarbon exhaust
- lead free exhaust
- reduced danger of spills due to its non-toxicity and biodegradability
- higher flashpoint than regular diesel
Disadvantages
It is important to recognize that biodiesel is by no means a perfect fuel source:
- According to an EPA study published in 2002, all emissions except nitrous oxides decrease with biodiesel use. In fact, nitrous oxide concentrations increase with increased biodiesel concentrations, producing greater negative environmental impacts in areas of concerned ozone depletion.
- Biodiesel contains slightly less energy per kilogram than diesel fuel, leading to a reduction in fuel economy with biodiesel use; a reduction of approximately 1-2% with B20 blends.
Also key to recognize, however, is that biodiesel is an important part of the solution for our current fuel-associated problems. It is also a way to take a waste and turn it into something useful once again; a simple recycling tool that can have an immensely positive impact.
Links/Resources
Websites:
Journey to Forever
An excellent comprehensive site on biofuels. It is run by an NGO involved in environmental and rural development work and has very useful links on biodiesel.
National Biodiesel Board
Dominated by the soy industry, this site is not particularly supportive of homebrewers, but there is a wealth of technical information in their library.
Books:
"From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank" by Joshua Tickell, Kaia Tickell, Kaia Roman
"Biodiesel Homebrew Guide" by Maria 'girl Mark' Alovert
Contains great simplified and detailed explanations of many aspects of biodiesel production as well as many other suggested resource sites.