This suite of short video clips is part of a series produced by the Switch Energy project. There are several video segments that discuss different perspectives of biofuels as a renewable source of energy.
In this lab activity, students investigate how to prepare a biofuel source for conversion to a combustible product. The activity models how raw materials are refined to process liquid fuels.
This video provides an overview of the research of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on converting biomass to liquid fuels.
Biology is designed for multi-semester biology courses for science majors. It is grounded on an evolutionary basis and includes exciting features that highlight careers in the biological sciences and everyday applications of the concepts at hand. To meet the needs of today’s instructors and students, some content has been strategically condensed while maintaining the overall scope and coverage of traditional texts for this course. Instructors can customize the book, adapting it to the approach that works best in their classroom. Biology also includes an innovative art program that incorporates critical thinking and clicker questions to help students understand—and apply—key concepts.
By the end of this section, you will be able to:Discuss the importance of electrons in the transfer of energy in living systemsExplain how ATP is used by the cell as an energy source
By the end of this section, you will be able to:Discuss the importance of electrons in the transfer of energy in living systemsExplain how ATP is used by the cell as an energy source
By the end of this section, you will be able to:Explain what metabolic pathways are and describe the two major types of metabolic pathwaysDiscuss how chemical reactions play a role in energy transfer
By the end of this section, you will be able to:Explain what metabolic pathways are and describe the two major types of metabolic pathwaysDiscuss how chemical reactions play a role in energy transfer
By the end of this section, you will be able to:Explain the relevance of photosynthesis to other living thingsDescribe the main structures involved in photosynthesisIdentify the substrates and products of photosynthesisSummarize the process of photosynthesis
By the end of this section, you will be able to:Explain the relevance of photosynthesis to other living thingsDescribe the main structures involved in photosynthesisIdentify the substrates and products of photosynthesisSummarize the process of photosynthesis
This detailed chemistry lesson from the U.S. Department of Energy focuses on transforming vegetable oil into biodiesel through a process of transesterification. The process described offers a good model for many chemical reaction processes that are used to produce a viable product.
In this lab activity students generate their own biomass gases by heating wood pellets or wood splints in a test tube. They collect the resulting gases and use the gas to roast a marshmallow. Students also evaluate which biomass fuel is the best by their own criteria or by examining the volume of gas produced by each type of fuel.
This is a long-term inquiry activity in which students investigate locations they believe harbor cellulose-digesting microbes, collect samples, isolate them on selective media, and screen them for cellulase activity. These novel microbes may be useful for the production of cellulosic ethanol. In the process they learn about plating techniques, serial dilutions, symbiotic relationships and enzyme specificity. Two methods are provided, one focusing on isolation of pure microbial strains, the other focusing on finding symbiotic communities of microbes. The companion activity is here: https://www.glbrc.org/outreach/educational-materials/bioprospecting-cellulose-degrading-microbes-filter-paper-assay
In this video adapted from NASA, two members of a NASA research team working to produce carbon nanotubes share some background behind this new technology, show examples of how it will be useful, and explain the various tests being performed to ensure readiness for spaceflight.