Katalina: An Educational Kit Exploring Biofuels
Moses Growing Spirulina
Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, have been a mainstay of the world's energy mix for more than a century. They have helped to fuel economic growth and development, and have played a key role in powering transportation, industry, and electricity generation. However, the use of fossil fuels has also come with a number of problems and challenges.
One major issue with fossil fuels is their environmental impact. The extraction and use of these resources can lead to air and water pollution, habitat destruction, and the release of greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change. The burning of fossil fuels is the primary source of carbon dioxide emissions, which are a major contributor to global warming.
Another problem with fossil fuels is that they are non-renewable resources. This means that they will eventually run out, and we will soon need to find alternative sources of energy.
Despite these challenges, fossil fuels continue to be a major source of energy for the world. However, there is growing recognition of the need to transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. This will require significant investments in research, development, and infrastructure, as well as changes in policy, behavior, education, and attitudes.
Meet the Team
Oneisha, Moses, and Sia are high school students from Mastery Charter Shoemaker Campus in Philadelphia. Oneisha is interested in healthcare and aspires to become an ob-gyn, Moses is interested in creating sustainable solutions for future generations, and Sia aspires to become a biomedical engineer. As a team, they have decided to focus on raising awareness about alternative energy sources as a means of addressing the issues related to fossil fuels and air pollution.
Project conceptualization
During their research, the team became interested in biofuels as a potential alternative to fossil fuels. Biofuels, which are fuels produced from renewable biological materials, have the potential to address many of the challenges associated with the use of fossil fuels. They can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as they are made from renewable materials that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow, and can help to reduce air pollution, as they generally produce fewer harmful emissions than fossil fuels when burned.
Biofuels unfortunately don’t come without challenges. One potential challenge with biofuels is that they can compete with food production for land, water, and other resources. However, advances in technology and production practices have helped to mitigate some of these concerns, and there are now a variety of biofuels that can be produced from non-food feedstocks and algae. In particular, the team discovered that microalgae have the potential to be a sustainable biofuel source because they are fast-growing, highly productive, and able to thrive in a variety of environments. They can be grown in water that is not suitable for agricultural crops, and they do not require arable land, making them a potentially low-impact source of biofuels.
Katalina Kit Prototype
Many types of algae are currently used to produce a variety of biofuels, including biodiesel and bioethanol. Among them, Spirulina, a type of blue-green algae, has been identified as a potentially promising source of biofuel, as it is fast-growing, nutrient-rich, and can be cultivated using a variety of sources of water, including seawater and wastewater.
One of the key benefits of using spirulina as a biofuel source is its high productivity. It is able to grow quickly, efficiently, and in inexpensive vessels called photobioreactors, which are controlled environments that allow microorganisms to grow and produce biomass or other products, such as biofuels. With this research, the team grasped the incredible potential of algae-based biofuel but realized that not many individuals, including many of their classmates, have ever heard about alternative fuel sources.
They believe that there is a need for more awareness and education around biofuels, as they have the potential to play a significant role in the transition to a more sustainable energy system and this lack of awareness could limit the uptake and use of biofuels. For this reason, they asked themselves:
What if a product or service could raise awareness about biofuels as a sustainable energy source?
Team Katalina developing the “Biofuel Lab” module
Katalina: An Educational Kit Exploring Biofuels
Inspired by their research on algae-based biofuels, the team developed Katalina, an educational kit that explores the production, environmental impact, and potential of biofuels as a future source of energy.
The kit is designed to raise awareness about the benefits and challenges of biofuels and to encourage people to learn about and experiment with this sustainable energy source. The kit includes two modules: the “Grow Spirulina Module" and the “Biofuel Lab Module”. The first includes a spirulina starter culture and instructions on how to make DIY photobioreactors using transparent plastic bottles. It also includes educational information on how to grow and care for spirulina to yield the most amount of biomass possible to be later turned into biofuel. The “Biofuel Lab Module” provides instructions on how to turn the spirulina biomass that has been grown into biofuel using simple, household materials like rubbing alcohol and sodium hydroxide. The module includes step-by-step instructions and educational information on the process of biofuel production, including the role of microalgae and the chemical reactions involved.
By using the Katalina kit, students around the world will have the opportunity to grow their own spirulina, produce biofuel from biomass, and learn about the science and technology behind biofuels. Katalina has the potential to be a hands-on and engaging way to explore the potential of biofuels as a sustainable energy source and to gain a deeper understanding of the environmental and social impacts of energy production.
Oneisha Developing the “Grow Spirulina” module
Conclusion
Fossil fuels have played a significant role in the world's energy mix, but their use has also come with a number of challenges and negative impacts. Transitioning to a more sustainable energy system will involve the exploration of alternative energy sources, such as biofuels. Raising awareness and understanding biofuels and their potential benefits is an important step in advancing the use of this sustainable energy source. Educational programs and resources, such as the Katalina kit, can be useful tools for promoting the study and understanding of biofuels and related topics, such as renewable energy and sustainable development.
While the transition to a low-carbon economy will not be easy, it is an essential step in addressing the challenges of climate change and building a more sustainable future. Through initiatives like the Katalina kit and thanks to the efforts demonstrated by Oneisha, Moses, and Sia, we can work towards this goal and create a brighter, more hopeful future for all.
Thank you!
Reference List
F. Barbir, T.N. Veziroǧlu, H.J. Plass, Environmental damage due to fossil fuels use, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/036031999090005J
Sayeda M. Abdo, S.A. Abo El-Enin, K.M. El-Khatib, M.I. El-Galad, S.Z. Wahba, G. El Diwani, Gamila H. Ali, Preliminary economic assessment of biofuel production from microalgae, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032115011983
