Sustainability@UIC

Watch Bioneers Speakers This Weekend

2009-10-16T09:35:00.000-05:00

Bioneers is a unique annual conference that brings some of the best minds in the environmental and sustainability movement together every year. It takes place in California, so we don't expect everyone here in Chicago to make the trip! However, the organizers do their best to let people all over the world take advantage of the excellent presentations at the conference. We just got an email from Bioneers telling us about a few of the keynote presentations that will be available for viewing online live as they happen:

We know that not everyone could make it out to San Rafael or to one of our 19 Beaming Bioneers sites, so we've decided to do something unprecedented this year and bring part of the conference to you.

For the first time ever, we will be offering a live webcast for free of two of our keynote speakers on each day of the conference, this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

On Friday:
·      Sarah James will report from the Arctic on climate change and its impact on indigenous people.
·      Michael Pollan will speak on reforming our broken industrial food system and what it means to for our health.
This webcast will begin Friday, starting at 11:30 AM PST.

On Saturday:
·      Jason McLennan will talk about living buildings and the future of architecture.
·      Lily Yeh will recount her experiences with the Rwanda Healing Project.
This webcast will begin this Saturday, starting at 9:00 AM PST.

On Sunday:
·      Jerome Ringo will address the reality of green jobs in our re-made economy.
·      Annie Leonard will help us find our way beyond the Age of Stuff.
This webcast will begin this Sunday, starting at 11:30 AM PST.

In addition, on both Friday and Saturday at 4:30 PM PST, we will be webcasting a panel and workshop on sustainable social media, in partnership with InfluenceXchange.

To view these live streaming webcasts, just go to this web address:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bioneers-conference-09

These amazing presentations will be live, so don't miss it!

What do you think about Bioneers and the Beaming Bioneers conferences? Let us know in the comments.

It's Bike to Campus Week!

2009-10-13T16:07:00.000-05:00

We're in the middle of Bike to Campus Week! It's being sponsored by the Chicago Department of Transportation, Active Transportation Alliance, and universities in Chicago.

Feel free to download a larger PDF version of the events taking place at UIC.

UI Hospital Prairie Garden Blossoms

2009-09-23T16:43:00.001-05:00

As summer turns to fall, the prairie garden planted last year blossoms. Some of the plants are three feet tall and looking good. Thanks to the Green Thumbs Taskforce organized by the Alumni Association, the plot is staying weed-free. Good news is we were the recipients of the plants used to "landscape" Park-ing day so those will be planted on campus soon.

Purple Spiderwort

PARK(ing) Day at UIC: Tomorrow 9/18!

2009-09-17T11:11:00.001-05:00

View Park(ing) Day @ UIC in a larger map

On Friday, September 18th students from the Department of Urban Planning and Policy, the Urban and Public Affairs Undergraduate Program, the Urban Planning and Policy Student Association (UPPSA), and the Office of Sustainability have collaborated to transform two metered parking spots into miniature parks on the UIC Campus. Students and passersby are invited to use the parks located in Parking Lot 4 at the corner of Halsted Street and Polk Street to the east of Student Center East. Take time to play some bocce ball, toss some bags, challenge someone to a chess match, or just lounge in the landscaped setting. PARK(ing) Day was first conceived of by an art and design studio named Rebar out of San Francisco to invite civic participation in shaping our public space, and to question how we are using our public streets. In particular it intends to get people thinking about how much of our public landscape is dedicating to parking and automobile use. This is the inaugural year of PARK(ing) Day on campus, but it is a national and global event. In 2008 there were more than 500 Park installations in over 100 cities on 4 continents. At UIC, students came together to gather up needed materials and design two spaces. In addition, two landscaping firms, Countryside Industries and Midwest Groundcovers generously supplied plants and landscaping materials.

No UIC Equipment Accepted at Sept 18-19 Recycling Event

2009-09-09T12:53:00.004-05:00

Sustainability Week ends with a free electronics household recycling event Sept 18-19, 1135 S. Halsted (Lot 6), 9AM - 2PM. You CANNOT recycle any UIC equipment at this event. For UIC faculty, students and staff, this is recycling event for personal, household electronics equipment.

What do you with UIC equipment? The Office of Business and Financial Services (OBFS), Property Control and Accounting, outlines the procedures for departments to dispose of or surplus the equipment: http://www.obfs.uillinois.edu/property/disposal.shtml.

But bring your old personal cell phones, VCRs, stereos, radios, cameras and other electronic equipment on Friday or Saturday and tell your friends, social, community, church and other organizations that you are involved with as well! For more information about what you can and cannot recycle at this event or to schedule your community group for a institutional drop-off, visit http://uic.poweron.com/.

Sustainability Week - Eat Local Day

2009-09-09T10:36:00.005-05:00

There are several events Tuesday September 15 that celebrate UIC's commitment local, sustainable food.

First, on the east campus, the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum is hosting re-Thinking Soup from 12-1pm at 800 South Halsted. Re-Thinking Soup is a "public and communal event where people gather to eat delicious, healthy soup and have fresh, organic conversation about many urgent social, cultural, economic and environmental food issues" of the day.

Second, on the west campus, the Office of Sustainability, along with Sodexo (UIC's cafeteria and catering provider), is organizing a FREE food tasting event from 1-2pm in the front lawn (or lobby if it is raining) at Student Center West. This event highlights local, sustainable food offered by Sodexo, Joe & Ross, and the Hull-House Urban Farm. Tasty treats, provided by Sodexo and Joe & Ross, will include: vegan soft tacos, black bean and cheese quesadillias, vegan chow mein, vegetarian chili, and italian ice. Ryan Beck, Resident Farmer for the Hull-House Urban Farm will be there to discuss his exiting projects (perfect time to sign-up to volunteer on the farm ya'll!). In addition, Sodexo has invited one of their local food producers to showcase how it is possible for universities to purchase local food for their students, faculty and staff.

Get ready for Sustainability Week!

2009-09-04T13:42:00.006-05:00

Get ready for Sustainability Week!
Monday Sept 14
Bike, Pedal, Walk Day

Athens will be playing a lunchtime set on campus as part of the first day (Bike, Pedal, Walk) of UIC's 2009 Sustainability Week. The show will be at the Student Residence & Commons Autocourt, near the intersection of Halsted and Harrison Streets.
Athens music has been described “like reading Dr. Seuss while getting hit over the head with a guitar.” In a recent interview, Athen’s members Nick and Andrew divulged band secretes including plans to take over the world. The plot began in ’06, when band members first started their conspiracy, and continues to evolve as two new accomplices, Adam and Jed, were recruited. We’ve started to see signs of the conspiracy spreading as they’ve toured Chicago, then around the Midwest and recently got back from an east coast tour which included New York, Philly, & Baltimore.

They all have alias by day – e.g. teachers, construction management, etc. - but continue to write and play music by night. Their hideout is a converted church-turned-home-studio - they record in the old sanctuary due the fabulous acoustics. They write all their own music – collaborating as a group on the music, with Andrew taking the lead on the lyrics. They also use local artist and mixers for their albums.

In addition to subversive ideas like democratic governance and collaboration, the band and its members are very committed to sustainability. Examples of their sustainable practices include communal living, recycling, turning off lights, water conservation, urban agriculture, biking, and living close to friends.

Athens is releasing a new CD – which is a complete departure from the last CD. The new album, a full length project, has a more serious tone, and discusses issues like mans place in the world and our effect on the environment – expect fear, weeping and gnashing of teeth when the record is released Spring ‘10.

To hear Athens visit their MySpace page: www.athensinchicago.com

More about the band:

“Holed up in their converted church-turned-home-studio in Chicago, ATHENS has created something truly unique. Tapping into their beloved childhood memories and embracing the darkness within themselves and their environment, the new CD, "What Would We Wear Were We Werewolves?" is a trip into the imagination that is often creepy, sometimes comical, yet always rock and roll. Jumping seamlessly from dance rock to dirty guitar blues to playful orchestral arrangements, the music displays a wide-ranging instrumentation and rhythm that is likely to bring about world peace. In the live setting, audiences have been electrified and thoroughly entertained by both the songs themselves and the intensity of the performance.”

Adam Galek: drums
Andrew Yearick: vox, guitar
Jedediah Olaus: guitar, glockenspiel, vox
Nick Chupein: bass, synthesizer, vox

Getting Ready for PARK(ing) Day

2009-08-31T11:03:00.000-05:00

To prepare for the upcoming PARK(ing) Day, the Office of Sustainability
and the Urban Planning and Policy Student Association (UPPSA) will be
hosting a meeting on Wednesday (September 2nd) at 5 PM in the basement
student lounge in CUPPA Hall.

What is PARK(ing) Day? PARK(ing) Day is an annual one-day, global event
where artists, activists, and citizens collaborate to temporarily transform
metered parking spots into "PARK(ing)" spaces: temporary public parks. For
more information and some great pictures of past events visit
http://www.parkingday.org/. We see this day as an opportunity to have some
fun with other students and bring attention to planning issues.

When is PARK(ing) Day? This year PARK(ing) Day falls on Friday the 18th of
September. Let's get planning!

What do I bring to the meeting? Location ideas for installations in and
around campus, theme ideas for PARK(ing) installations, your friends and
classmates.

If you have any questions please contact Andy Waggoner (awaggo2@uic.edu).

Green Jobs & The Black Community

2009-08-16T15:54:00.001-05:00

In a recent speech to the National Association of Black Journalists, US EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson addresses the changing role of environmentalism in our country, and how it's everyone's responsibility to do their part.

One of my African American colleagues told me about how, every year as winter was coming, his grandmother would get up on a chair and put up plastic sheeting over the windows.

She didn’t say she was “greening her home.”

She didn’t say she was “weatherizing the house.”

She didn’t call herself an “environmentalist.”

From her perspective, she was just keeping out the cold and saving money on the oil bill.
But the issues that we label “environmentalism” were an important part of her life.

This disconnect is a significant challenge. But it’s also one of our greatest opportunities.

Read the entire speech.

Get Ready for the Steps and Sustainability Week!

2009-08-14T17:13:00.000-05:00

On Monday, September 14, The Steps will be playing a lunchtime set on campus as part of the first day of UIC's 2009 Sustainability Week. The show will be at the Student Residence & Commons Autocourt, near the intersection of Halsted and Harrison Streets.

In a recent interview with Z, one of the Steps, I got the story behind the band for the OS.

Will and Sam, cousins, started experimenting with songwriting and rhythms in their garage when they were just 14. Then about four years ago, Z and Stephen added their unique musical talents to the mix. Since then The Steps have toured London, Japan, and just got done with a U.S. east and west coast tour. The Steps write all their own music, with Will and Z getting the initial ideas down and collaborating with Sam and Stephen to shape the final product.

The Steps are playing at UIC because we won the Chill Out Competition – meaning UIC got the most people to pledge to green their daily routine. In our interview, I asked Z what about The Steps daily routine is green. He said some simple things they do are carry their own water bottles so they don’t have to buy and throw away plastic bottles, reduce energy waste by turning lights off, and reduce water consumption by turning the water off when they brush their teeth. Z said hopefully the band will have a green tour bus soon. For more tips on how to green your routine visit the UIC Office of Sustainability’s Resources page.

To hear the Steps, visit their MySpace Page.

More on the band:

Born under the influence of classic rock in the Live Music Capital of the World - Austin, TX - The Steps chisel through modern rock with 60's sensibilities. With searing guitar leads from Sam Thompson backed by the infectious rhythms from drummer Z Lynch and bassist Stephen Ross, The Steps capture all the hooks of early Brit-rock. Front man Will Thompson completes the package with the snarl and swagger of a young Mick Jagger. Darlings of the Austin independent rock scene, The Steps inked their first deal while still in their tender teens. The band's debut, produced by Frenchie Smith (Jet, Dandy Warhols), garnered immediate international attention. The Steps continue to floor audiences with their incendiary live shows at home and abroad, supporting such acts as Bob Dylan, The Black Keys, The Raconteurs, Los Lonely Boys, and What Made Milwaukee Famous.

Support your local independent record store by picking up your copy of The Steps' first national EP, Take It All In.

Sustainability Week Call for Artists

2009-08-06T14:46:00.000-05:00

The Office of Sustainability is looking for artists to display their work during Sustainability Week (September 14 through 18). Throughout those five days we will be highlighting the importance of transit, eating local,
energy conservation, shopping local, and reducing/reusing/recycling.

We are looking for artists who would like to showcase their work relating to these topics (e.g. art made from recycled/reused materials).

For more information, please contact Andy Waggoner, or post questions and comments below.

IESP Summer 2009 Newsletter Now Available

2009-08-04T10:35:00.000-05:00

The Institute for Environmental Science and Policy recently published their Summer 2009 newsletter.

In it you'll find articles on:

David Wise, Ph.D., IESP's new Associate Director
UIC's new Energy Engineering Master's Program
The Sustainable Brownfields Grant recently awarded to IESP

and more. [Read]

Recycle Your Propane Tanks

2009-07-29T13:47:00.003-05:00

Grilling is one of my favorite activities during the summer (and winter, for that matter). I have one of those small propane grills that run on those smaller tanks found in most hardware stores (I usually use the green, 14.1 oz version):

Now, I find myself in the middle of the summer, with a handful empty tanks at hand. My environmental instincts prevent me from simply throwing it out, and my safety instincts from putting it our in the alley for the metal collectors.

So, what to do? The Chicagoist has posted a great guide to recycling propane tanks in Chicago. Supposedly, Coleman has launched a new product aimed to mark tanks as "empty", so that they can be recycled by any metal recycler. Until then, the Chicagoist suggests taking your empty tanks to the Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility.

While planning your trip there, be sure to check out their complete list of acceptable items, for any other things you might have laying around your home.

Let's Debate Climate Policy

2009-07-23T10:36:00.000-05:00

We recently received an email from Eban Goodstein, Co-director of the National Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions, discussing the upcoming opportunities to debate potential solutions to global warming. We're posting it here - leave your thoughts and comments below!

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

This fall, a few US Senators will determine the fate of the earth. Should the Senate fail to pass global warming legislation, it will no longer be possible to hold global warming to the low end of 4 degrees F.

Not possible.

Please take a moment and pass this e-mail along to every faculty member, staff or student at a college, high-school or K-8 program who cares about climate change.

This fall, The National Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions is providing two ways to involve your class and campus in this critical debate: a bi-weekly national seminar on solutions, and a 90-minute International Teach-In (10/22) focused on “350”.

The National Climate Seminar.

On September 9^th Dr. Dallas Burtraw of Resources for the Future will launch a bi-weekly, national phone conversation featuring top climate scientists, political leaders, and policy analysts. Burtraw will provide key insights into the House and Senate legislation. In later weeks, look to hear from Dr. Steve Schneider, Bill McKibben, the Honorable Edward Markey, Hunter Lovins, Andy Revkin and others.

Hosted by the Bard Center for Environmental Policy, the half-an-hour seminars will be available live to educators, students and citizens across the country. Questions for the presenters can be submitted on-line prior to the seminar, and all conversations will be available in podcast. Click here for seminar details, or see below.

International Teach-In (October 22^nd): “90 Minutes on 350”

The seminar will keep you informed. With The 350 Teach-In, engage your whole campus or community with a compelling educational event. Why 350? The Teach-In is being held in conjunction with the International Day of Action (10/24), organized by Bill McKibben’s 350.org group. Many scientists believe that we must get below a long run target of 350 ppm CO2 concentrations if we are to stabilize the climate at a point avoiding catastrophe, and already, more than a thousand groups across the world have signed up to get the 350 message out. Through the Teach-In , your school can be a part of this movement.

The current issue of Scientific American has a feature on our open-ended teach-in’s held in 2008 and 2009! But this academic year we are recommending single, campus-wide Interdisciplinary Plenary: one half hour of roundtable presentation followed by an hour of discussion, and action. Start with a five minute introduction, followed by eight faculty, staff and students. They talk for 3 minutes each about “350” as an over-arching goal for global human society: from the perspectives of chemistry, economics, law, politics, ethics, psychology, geophysics, public health, communication, engineering, art and religion.

After the speakers, reserve an hour for discussion and action. The Teach-In will provide background documents to help presenters lead this discussion, including a report being prepared on The Economics of 350 by the E3 Network. As always with our work, this model allows organizers to reach out beyond the usual suspects, and engage the whole campus. Look for more detail on The National Teach-In web site later this summer.

The moment has come. At colleges, universities, high schools and middle schools across the nation, we must engage our students, this critical term, with the work of the future.

One thing we all must do: call our US Senators, every week. Thanks for your efforts.

Professor Eban Goodstein, Co-Director

Peregrine Sighting!

2009-07-10T11:58:00.004-05:00

Have you walked under the shadow of the University Hall building lately? If so, look up! Rosie, UIC's resident Peregrine falcon is busy with her mate taking care of their chicks. Just this morning I was greeted at the Harrison and Morgan Streets bus stop with a number of repeated shrieks (hear a peregrine at http://www.hangingrocktower.org/calls/peregrine.htm) . As I looked up toward the top of UH I saw a Peregrine soaring around the building's exterior. After focusing my eyes on the upper floors of the building, I saw Rosie take a sharp dive, maybe toward some unsuspecting prey? Peregrines are known for their abilility to knock prey birds out of the air while diving at speeds up to 220 mph. It was quite a treat from the bus stop bird blind.

Complete Streets Act 2009

2009-07-08T14:24:00.005-05:00

Complete Streets Act 2009 was brought to Capitol Hill on July 6th. As part of the Surface Transportation Authorization Act (STAA), the Complete Streets Act will help establish national standards for complete streets. The National Complete Streets Coalition encourages state and local governments to develop and implement complete streets plans and policies. Here is where you come in... TAKE ACTION! Contact your state and local officials to urge them to support the Complete Streets Act 2009.

Green Lighting Guide

2009-07-06T10:54:00.005-05:00

The Environmental Working Group just released a handy lighting guide. The guide covers topics such as planning where efficient light bulbs, such as compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), do most good, where not to install CFLs, etc.

UIC has taken several measures to improve lighting efficiency, and each year free CFLs are handed out to staff, students, and faculty, at various events. One of the partners has been the Citizens' Utility Board, and their website is full of information about consumer rights and other useful information.

Want Cash for Your Old Electronics?

2009-07-02T09:52:00.006-05:00

So everyone is talking about recycling your old electronics, but what if it's in perfect condition, or at least works well? If it works, it should be reused, not recycled... So wouldn't it be a good idea to sell it, instead of just leave it sitting around?

YouRenew is a company that specializes in buying used electronics from consumers. Their website lists a long range of accepted products, and their potential price. For instance, a 4th Generation Ipod (40 GB, color display) can get you as much as $39 - free money! Visit the YouRenew website for a complete list of items, you can also suggest other items to be added.

How Green Are You?

2009-06-30T10:21:00.006-05:00

Do you want to figure out what impact you have on the environment? The Office of Sustainability has compiled a short list of "footprint calculators", which are all very easy to use.

Not satisfied? Do you want a more individualized measure of impact? If you're a Mac user, try Ecobot, "a free, open-source Adobe AIR app that calculates your carbon footprint by measuring the fuel, power, and paper you use."

I've been using Ecobot for a little while now, and it works quite well. Not only does Ecobot keep track of how many pages you print from your laptop, but it also tracks the wireless networks to which you connect and works with you to figure out how you got from one to the other, and calculates the carbon emissions required to make the journey.

From The Open Road at CNET News.

New Transportation Options Intern

2009-06-26T15:01:00.004-05:00

Now that I’ve settled in, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dan Stefiuk and I will be taking over the Transportation Options Intern position formerly held by Beth Sholtis. I would like to thank Beth for her work promoting cycling and transportation alternatives here at UIC. I am excited to continue events that she helped establish and I look forward to working with key members of the university to encourage cycling and transportation alternatives at UIC.

Chicago is the setting for one of the nation’s best cycling communities and UIC has the potential to benefit from that. As an avid cyclist and commuter I am excited to see what can be done to improve the cycling experience in and around campus for students/staff/faculty.

People are often hesitant to commute by bike, or any other alternative form of transit, due to a variety of reasons. I would like to offer my assistance to anyone interested in planning their commute. If you’d like to explore your options for a more sustainable commute, or are simply interested in learning on how to safely cycle in the Chicago, please feel free to contact me at UIC’s Office of Sustainability (312.413.1845) . With a little planning and initiative we can help improve the cycling and transit experience at UIC.

"Green" Bookstore!

2009-06-26T12:06:00.005-05:00

It's one thing to read about stores going "green," its another thing to actually experience it. I recently stopped by the Student Center East to pick up some waste veggie oil for my biodiesel program, when I stopped by to buy some UIC apparel. While checking out, I was asked if I wanted a bag for my sweatshirts. The cashier told me that in efforts of a more source reducing outlook, the bookstore now charges about $1.50/bag to customers! This is a perfect yet easy way of becoming a more sustainable campus and I believe local stores should follow suit.

UIC's Annual Sustainability Report Available

2009-06-25T15:21:00.001-05:00

UIC has been a part of the Sustainability Tracking and Rating System (STARS) pilot project, coordinated by the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). UIC has used the data collected for this pilot study, along with additonal data, to produce UIC's first Annual Sustainability Report. It is available on our website in the Reports section.

STARS is

a voluntary, self‐reporting framework for recognizing and gauging relative progress toward sustainability for colleges and universities. It is designed to:

Provide a framework for understanding sustainability in all sectors of higher education.

Enable meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.

Create incentives for continual improvement toward sustainability.

Facilitate information sharing about higher education sustainability practices and performance.

Build a stronger, more diverse campus sustainability community.

Visit the AASHE website for more detail about STARS and the overall pilot project results (PDF, 384 pages!).

Visions of the Future

2009-06-25T11:41:00.000-05:00

CMAP (Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning) has been working on a 2040 Regional Plan for Chicago.  Along with meetings and workshops throughout the region to engage the public, CMAP held a Community Design Workshop at UIC.

Recently, CMAP published renderings based on the workshop.  Take a look at the renderings:

http://www.goto2040.org/scenarios/designworkshops/uicgreektownwestloop/

As part of the public outreach for the comprehensive plan, there is an opportunity to provide comments on what you see on their website.  The Comments section is at the bottom of the main CDW page:

http://www.goto2040.org/scenarios/designworkshops/main/

Angela Larsen, a member of our Office, played a big role in bringing together everyone who participated in the workshop.  Thanks Angela!

One more thing...there will be many opportunities for you to have more of a say in how the 7-county region develops by 2040, through workshops held throughout the region this summer using scenario-building software and keypad polling for voting.  Please register for a workshop near you:

http://www.goto2040.org/getinvolved/inventworkshops/

As always, leave any questions or comments below!

Chancellor Signs Talloire's Declaration

2009-06-24T16:08:00.000-05:00

Surrounded by members of the Chancellor’s Committee on Sustainability and Energy, Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares commemorates Earth Day April 22 by signing the Talloires Declaration, the first official statement developed by university administrators committing to sustainability in higher education.
By signing this international declaration, UIC commits to implement a 10-point action plan to incorporate sustainability and environmental literacy into its teaching, research, operations and outreach.
The Talloires Declaration is the third commitment UIC has signed to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability.
UIC is an inaugural signatory of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. The campus also signed the Illinois Sustainable University Compact.

Biodiesel From (Virgin) Vegetable Oil

2009-06-23T10:14:00.001-05:00

Editor's Note: Britt, our IEPA intern, is spending the summer examining both Biodiesel and Composting Issues at UIC. He will be reporting his progress on our blog.

Control Biodiesel Processing-
This will help with the WVO (Waste Vegetable Oil) biodiesel later in terms of comparing the final products.

Day 1- So the last two days I have been in the process of making our first control batch of virgin veggie biodiesel. It was surprisingly fun and easy. These are the ingredients I used.

1. Distilled water
2. Lye (NaOH)
3. HEET (methanol)
4. Pure Vegetable oil

I have about 3 hours into the entire process and that includes heating, mixing, and washing. Yesterday I mixed the methoxide (5 grams of NaOH/200 mL methanol) and heated the veggie oil (1 liter) to about 130 degrees. I then mixed the two liquids in a 2 liter pop bottle. This process took about an hour and a half. After 5 minutes of vigorously shaking the bottle the biodiesel was left to sit so the glycerin settled at the bottom. Below is the mixed veggie oil/methoxide.

Day 2- After settling for 24 hours, the biodiesel looked like so..

The bottom layer, where I am pointing to, is the glycerin. I then decanted the biodiesel since it is less dense and began the washing process. I heated ~300 mL of distilled water and gently poured the water into the washing tank with the biodiesel. I then SLOWLY rotated the washing tank so the water has enough movement to extract the excess catalyst and form "soap". Since the water is more dense the final product seperates like below.

After the washing was completed the soap had to be removed and we were left with biodiesel. Right now, the biodiesel is sitting in the fume hood evaporating to its final pure biodiesel state. Here is a comparison of the three stages. From right to left the fluids are 1.) Glycerin with a small layer of biodiesel, 2.) Soap from the washing process, 3.) Biodiesel ready to be evaporated or "dried".

For the record, when I started the lab smelled like chemicals, now it smells like cookies because of the heated cookie oil. The one problem I have found is that veggie oil gets on everything and it does NOT wash off because it is not soluable in water. So I think I will start washing with mineral oil.

That's all for now...

Britt