Southern Illinois University
Center for Environmental Health and Safety
Carbondale, Illinois
Intern: Eric White
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
The Center for Environmental Health and Safety at Southern Illinois University
at Carbondale (SIUC) coordinates environmental regulatory compliance for all
facilities on the campus. CEHS is comprised of four sections that include
environmental compliance; laboratory and hazardous waste, occupational health
and safety; and radiological safety. The intern focused on a project that
evaluated the feasibility of “beneficially reusing” harvested
canola seed from the SIUC Agronomy Center instead of landfilling the material
after undergoing trial-testing.
Results:
The intern worked on the following projects:
- Designed a portable biodiesel production unit to transform canola seed
into biodiesel that could be used on campus for off-road farm equipment. The
potable unit was designed to be towed by a pickup truck. The estimated
cost of making biodiesel was $2.63 per gallon, with an initial project investment
of $25,000 for the equipment.
- Identified an opportunity for the Department of Mechanical Engineering
and Energy Processes to use the potable biodiesel reactor for student engineering
studies. The unit would also provide a showpiece for SIUC open house
and other student recruiting events.
- Additional projects that may result from the portable canola-to-biodiesel
unit include the development of oilseed feedstocks and beneficial reuse of
residual seed press cake.
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