QUITMAN —
President John F. Kennedy once said that children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future. You hear a variation of this every day, but it’s not often that you come across a teacher that whole-heartedly believes it.
Through his work with biodiesel fuel, Don Morgan, a Brooks County High School engineering and technology teacher, has dedicated himself to building a successful path for his students.
“Eventually this bucket of petroleum is going to run dry and, unless we want to go back to walking, we’re going to have to come up with solutions,” Morgan said.
Morgan and his upper-level students have been creating biodiesel fuel out of used cooking oil through a seemingly complicated, but rather simple process.
“It’s a chemical process called transeterification,” said Morgan. “Basically what you’re doing is cracking the waste oil.”
The biodiesel is created in a machine called a biodiesel processor. First, used cooking oil is collected from various places.
“We go to Hardees and Burger King and places like that,” said Morgan. “Instead of pouring it in the landfill, they can just bring it here and we can do something with it.”
Heated to 180 degrees and placed in a processor, used cooking oil is mixed with pure lye — known by the chemical name of sodium hydroxide — and methanol. Once you mix all of the ingredients together, the chemical process takes care of the rest.
“Once you mix it all together and let it sit, it will actually separate on its own,” said Morgan.
The process creates two layers of chemicals, a top layer which is the biodiesel fuel and a bottom layer which is glycerin. Morgan doesn’t believe in letting anything go to waste. With the help of one of the school’s chemistry teachers, they hope to make soap out of the glycerin.
To further the process’ efficiency, Morgan’s students have made a solar panel which will be placed on the roof. The sun will help heat the oil.
Morgan hopes to negotiate a deal with the Brooks County bus depot to use the class’ biodiesel fuel.
“We can run it in the school buses,” said Morgan.
Morgan has gained noteworthy, national recognition for his work. EE Times magazine — an electronics-industry magazine published in the U.S. by UBM Electronics, a division of United Business Media — has included the work of Morgan and his students in a national project called the Drive for Innovation. This project has been created to uncover and celebrate innovation in the electronics and engineering industry, showcasing today’s breakthroughs and inspiring the innovations and innovators of tomorrow.
Brian Fuller, EE Times editorial director, has made periodic stops throughout the country interviewing engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators, students and teachers while blogging and posting video updates about his experiences. On Saturday, Jan. 28, Fuller drove to Quitman in his Chevy Volt to meet with Morgan and one of his students.
“I can’t say enough about the work that he’s doing,” said Fuller. “I was really impressed by it.”
Fuller said America’s economic future is all high-tech. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of high-tech professionals in today’s industry. He believes that with teachers like Morgan, kids can be taught that not only can they make a difference in the future, but they can make a difference through things they have invented or perfected.
Not only did Fuller take a look at the work Morgan and his students have done with biodiesel fuel, but he also looked at the class’ numerous other projects, such as building their third electric car which is a full-size, battery-powered, endurance racer.
According to Morgan, these technology classes are not the shop classes of yester-year.
“Engineering and technology is what shop used to be,” said Morgan. “It has evolved greatly.”
Local News
Related Photos
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Don Morgan displays a finished bottle of biodiesel fuel. Brittany D. McClure
Discussion
Driving into the Future
Brooks teacher receives recognition for biodiesel work
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