leXsolar-BioFuel Large

Function and Applications

The entire process of producing biofuels can be demonstrated with leXsolar-BioFuel Large. It starts with the biological step of alcoholic fermentation. Afterwards the produced mash will be distilled with the help of the leXsolar-condenser, which was developed just for this experiment. The last step demonstrates the conversion of the produced biofuel into usable energy, such as electrical energy, using the provided Ethanol-fuel cell. leXsolar-BioFuel Large does not only cover the topic of the production of bioethanol, but also the production of biodiesel through transesterification of fats.

Equipment and Technical Data

The following experiments can be performed:

Part 1: Biodiesel production

• Transesterification from fat to biodiesel (FAME)
• Determination of fat parameters
• Extraction of fats from foods and oil plants

Part 2: Alcohol fermentation

• Production of a mash/ alcoholic fermentation
• Fermentation of different sugar types (including catalytic splitting of starch)
• Proof of fermentation gases

Part 3: Distillation and production of bioethanol

• Distillation of mash
• Characteristics of the produced ethanol

Part 4: Ethanol fuels

• Introduction ethanol fuel cell
• I-V curve of ethanol fuel cells
• Dependency of ethanol fuel cells on concentration and temperature
• Energy balance of the whole process

List of components:

• 1 x 1100-23 Potentiometer module
• 1 x 1100-27 Motor module without gear
• 1 x 1700-01 leXsolar ethanol fuel cell module
• 1 x 1702-01 Plug with hose
• 1 x 1702-02 Yeast
• 1 x 1702-03 Box 1702
• 4 x L2-02-016 Bumpon transparent 5,0 mm height X 11,1mm diameter
• 1 x L2-02-017 Yellow propeller
• 1 x L2-06-016 Laboratory thermometer
• 1 x L2-06-070 Distilling head, 2 cores 75°, NS 19/26
• 1 x L2-06-071 Condenser
• 1 x L2-06-072 Alcoholmeter
• 1 x L2-06-075 Erlenmeyer flask 1000 ml
• 1 x L2-06-076 Airlock
• 1 x L2-06-077 Rubber stopper
• 1 x L2-06-079 Areometer
• 1 x L2-06-082 Beaker 250 ml
• 3 x L2-06-083 Test tubes
• 1 x L2-06-084 Grip stopper
• 3 x L2-06-085 Pasteuer pipette
• 1 x L2-06-086 Measuring cylinder 100ml
• 1 x L2-06-087 Syringe 2ml
• 1 x L2-06-110 Silicone ring
• 1 x L3-01-013 Lid for tray
• 1 x L3-01-078 Padding "BioFuel-Large"
• 1 x L3-03-016 leXsolar-CD
• 1 x L3-03-142 Contents overview

Necessary items: LEX-1704 BioFuel Supplement