Research Teams Collaborate on Unique Biodiesel Study

(Keene State University) ... And, combusting biodiesel fuel produces less particulate pollution than does petroleum diesel. That's true even with B-20, the standard ratio of 20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel.
Efficient, renewable, healthier for the environment, made right here in the USA—biodiesel sounds like a near-perfect solution to our energy needs. Several researchers are studying biodiesel, but, probably due to the assumption that it's likely to be less toxic than petroleum diesel, few are looking into its impact on human health. Realizing this, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Nora Traviss began researching the toxicology of biodiesel particulates. "We began this project using exposure as our measurement of health," she explained. "We examined whether or not the pollution created by biodiesel combustion resulted in higher exposure for workers than the pollution created by petroleum diesel. It was very much an exposure assessment."
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With the cooperation of the Keene Recycling Center, Dr. Traviss and her research team mounted particle impactors in the operator's cabs in machinery at the Center, collecting samples of both petroleum diesel and biodiesel exhaust.
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"We're studying the quantity of the particulate matter the driver is breathing and its unique chemical composition, which we hypothesize will be different from particles collected directly from the tailpipe."
Her team found that, although the amount of particulates in biodiesel exhaust is indeed lower than those from petroleum diesel, their chemical composition is different, which raised another question: Though there are fewer particulates in biodiesel exhaust, what if those particulates are more toxic than their petroleum-based counterparts? If so, that has implications for human health, which led Dr. Traviss to refocus her research. "We've moved from just measuring exposure levels to looking at toxicity," she said. She received a $400,000 grant from the National Institute of Health's (1R15ES022431-01) Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Program (R15) to continue her work.
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"We're doing everything we're doing with undergrads. The National Renewable Energy Lab finds it really interesting that we're doing this work at the undergraduate level, and we've collaborated with them on various analyses. A lot of researchers look at one aspect, but we're looking at the physical, the chemical, and the toxicological—all in one lab, which is also very unusual, and all within one school."
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Bi-weekly meetings during the summer, where the teams shared their progress with everyone on the project also helped everyone see the bigger picture beyond their piece of the puzzle. Presentations such as these, and the yearlyAcademic Excellence Conference, also gives students experience presenting and articulating their work. This year, the students will present their work at national conferences.
Engaging students in real-world problem solving also lets them see the value in their study, and gets them motivated about learning. "I got this research internship right after my freshman year," said sophomore Rachel Klaski. "I started as a PE major, but I took a class with Dr. Traviss my second semester. That, and this opportunity, made me want to enter this field, and it's made me excited about school." READ MORE and MORE