Spring Break
Alternative fuel fires up students
Charlotte Keenan
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News
Bulldog Biodiesel is busy processing its third batch of biodiesel while also seeking to fuel community interest and involvement in its environmentally friendly cause.
The group recently purchased the BioPro 190, a biodiesel processor with an $8,000 price tag, from Nebraska BioPro in Lincoln, Neb. Bulldog Biodiesel now is chartering with Truman's Center for Student Involvement and applying for more funding to pay for equipment and community education.
The biodiesel project has received $4,000 from the agricultural science department, $4,000 from the University farm and $2,000 from the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, said Barbara Kramer, associate professor of chemistry and an adviser to Bulldog Biodiesel.
Kramer and Thomas Marshall, associate professor of agricultural science, both advise the group and have applied for a grant of about $30,000 from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on its behalf, Kramer said. She said Bulldog Biodiesel will know the results of the grant application in May or June.
"We can't start using the money that we'd get from [the grant] until July," she said. "So hopefully we'll be able to get [the money], so we'll be able to keep what we've got right now going for a little longer."
Kramer said the DNR grant money would pay for educational outreach, student workers, another biodiesel processor, supplies and equipment for processing and analyzing the biodiesel. She said Bulldog Biodiesel will continue to seek further funding.
"Hopefully, once we've produced the biodiesel and are able to sell it to the farm and the other groups on campus, we'll recoup the money and keep going with it," Kramer said. "But we also need some more funding to help students who are running the equipment and things like that so that it's not all volunteer [work]."
Bulldog Biodiesel is following the lead of major universities that have initiated similar programs, said senior Pat Blomme, a member of Bulldog Biodiesel.
The group recently purchased the BioPro 190, a biodiesel processor with an $8,000 price tag, from Nebraska BioPro in Lincoln, Neb. Bulldog Biodiesel now is chartering with Truman's Center for Student Involvement and applying for more funding to pay for equipment and community education.
The biodiesel project has received $4,000 from the agricultural science department, $4,000 from the University farm and $2,000 from the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, said Barbara Kramer, associate professor of chemistry and an adviser to Bulldog Biodiesel.
Kramer and Thomas Marshall, associate professor of agricultural science, both advise the group and have applied for a grant of about $30,000 from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on its behalf, Kramer said. She said Bulldog Biodiesel will know the results of the grant application in May or June.
"We can't start using the money that we'd get from [the grant] until July," she said. "So hopefully we'll be able to get [the money], so we'll be able to keep what we've got right now going for a little longer."
Kramer said the DNR grant money would pay for educational outreach, student workers, another biodiesel processor, supplies and equipment for processing and analyzing the biodiesel. She said Bulldog Biodiesel will continue to seek further funding.
"Hopefully, once we've produced the biodiesel and are able to sell it to the farm and the other groups on campus, we'll recoup the money and keep going with it," Kramer said. "But we also need some more funding to help students who are running the equipment and things like that so that it's not all volunteer [work]."
Bulldog Biodiesel is following the lead of major universities that have initiated similar programs, said senior Pat Blomme, a member of Bulldog Biodiesel.
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