In Fenton, Mo., Rockwood Summit High School students and chemistry teacher Darrin Peters have taken hands-on learning to a whole new level with biodiesel production.
The journey began five years ago when an organic chemistry student learned from Peters that fuel could be produced from waste restaurant grease. She presented research and plans for laboratory experiments to produce biodiesel and, since then, Rockwood Summit High School’s advanced classes in organic chemistry, authentic science research and environmental science have expanded their laboratory work to regularly produce biodiesel fuel from waste vegetable oil collected from the school’s cafeteria. Now, after using a small, dedicated space in one of the school’s storage sheds to produce biodiesel used to power two test vehicles for the past few years, Peters and his students are ready to expand.