Aesop’s moral fable, The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs, is famous for teaching moral lessons to children. Asimov updated this well-known fable, using his passion for chemistry, into a scientific puzzle. The story is called Pate de Foie Gras and it was published in 1956 in a science fiction magazine called Astounding Science Fiction. Although you might get moral lessons from the story, it is mainly focused on chemistry. The story deals with the investigation of a goose that lays golden eggs. In it, biochemists and nuclear physicists analyze the goose’s eggs, blood, liver, bedding — almost every single molecule connected to the goose. They even take samples from the shell of the eggs and compare it with eggshell proteins. A biopsy conducted on the goose’s liver leads the scientists to discover an enzyme that catalyzes a reaction that converts something in the goose’s diet into gold. With the help of a physicist, they discover that the goose is a natural nuclear reactor that converts unstable isotopes to stable ones. Unfortunately, there is only one goose that lays these golden eggs — and the eggs don’t hatch! So, if the goose dies, they will never be able to understand the unusual mechanism. The biopsy and other methods conducted do not give any significant answers. Here, Isaac Asimov turns to his readers and asks them to analyze the problem and send him answers. Think you can figure it out? Read the story to learn more!

One of Asimov’s stories was based on his own experience as a chemist. While preparing for his degree’s oral examination, he performed experiments using catechol, a chemical that dissolved almost instantly in water. He thought if this compound were more soluble, it would dissolve before mixing with the solvent. So, he decided to write a short story about an imaginary compound called “thiotimoline,” which dissolves before the solvent touches it. Instead of writing a traditional story, he thought it would be better to write an imitation of a scientific research paper. He finished his story with a title that is similar to a research paper: “The Endochronic Properties of Resublimated Thiotimoline.”

Thiotimoline dissolves 1.12 seconds before the solvent is added and depends on the “mental state of the experimenter.” Adding to the research paper feel of his story, Asimov was clever enough to give fake references, tables, and figures to support the incredible properties of thiotimoline (Figures 1 and 2).

Throughout the paper, Asimov discusses the physical and chemical properties of thiotimoline as if his paper were from a scientific journal. Moreover, he cites seven references, which contributed to the plausibility of the article. Asimov also invents a device, called an “endochronometer,” to measure thiotimoline’s solubility without human interference (Figure 3).

Figure 3. The diagram of the “endochronic filter” from “The Micropsychiatric Applications of Thiotimoline”

Because he was worried about his Ph.D. examining committee’s attitude towards a science fiction story, Asimov asked his publisher to use a pseudonym. He thought he might not get his degree if his committee thought he was making fun of their research. Despite his request, the story was published with Asimov’s name attached. The story was a success, and almost every chemist at Cornell University, including those in his department, read it. It even came up at his Ph.D. defense! Thankfully, his committee liked the story, and even asked him a question about it before his defense was complete.

Asimov went on to write more about thiotimoline. He wrote a second fake article (“The Micropsychiatric Applications of Thiotimoline”) discussing the possibility of detecting the mental state of a person using thiotimoline. The third one (“Thiotimoline and the Space Age”) came in 1960 in a speech format addressed to the “American Chronochemical Society” about the recent progress of thiotimoline research. In 1973, he wrote his final story about his imaginary compound “Thiotimoline to the Stars.” This is a purely science fiction story in which a space commander addresses a group of students about the properties and benefits of thiotimoline.

Asimov was able to transform his area of expertise into short stories with great success. He was even awarded the James T. Grady–James H. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry for the Public by the American Chemical Society in 1965 for the attention his stories brought to science.

Gursu Culcu is a senior at Bridgewater State University majoring in chemistry. He also has a chemistry based blog at chemluv.

This post references two great science fiction stories involving chemistry. But are there more? If you know any chemistry-based science fiction works or chemical stories, please feel free to share them with us in the comments below.

Cinnamon bark on top of cinnamon powder
http://www.foodpyramid.com/healthy-eating/health-benefits-of-cinnamon-3752/

I was 14 years old when my dad was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.  I had never heard of diabetes.  My sister and I had to ask him what it meant.  He told us basically his blood sugar was too high and he had to take medication to help control it.  Today I am 22 years old, and it seems weird how I did not even know what diabetes was back then.

Diabetes has grown significantly in the U.S.   According to the National Diabetes Fact Sheet released by the American Diabetes Association on January 26, 2011, 18.8 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes, 7.0 million people remain undiagnosed, and 79 million people have prediabetes.

American Diabetes Association Logo
From: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/

The College of the Ozarks requires all chemistry majors to take on a research project.  We could continue research worked on by a previous student or come up with a new idea to pursue.  My research began sophomore year when a close friend told me about her research on the effects of cinnamon on glucose levels. I had previously heard about this study and could not believe someone from our college was involved in this type of research. She told me about the different types of tests used to measure glucose levels and how cinnamon significantly lowered the glucose level when she tested them.  Her research captivated me. After all, this type of study could help people like my dad. Even though it meant putting aside my primary interest, forensics, I really wanted to do this research instead. I wanted to know my research could help someone.

Glucose Test Method-Hexokinase
From: http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/technical-documents/articles/analytix/enzymatic-food-analysis.html

The study of cinnamon lowering blood glucose levels (Khan A, Safdar M, Khan MMA, Khattak KN, Anderson RA. Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2003 Dec;26(12):3215-8.) was first published in 2003.  This experiment involved several different groups with the same type of diabetes, around the same age, and with the same body weight.  Half the group ate rice with a placebo mixed in while the other groups ate rice with different amounts of cinnamon mixed in.   They each ate the rice daily and their blood glucose levels were analyzed each time.

Glucose Test Method-Glucose Oxidase-Peroxidase
From: http://www.biotek.com/resources/articles/monitoring-enzymatic-glucose-production.html

Khan, Khan, Khattak, and Anderson discovered that the groups that ate the rice with cinnamon had a decrease in blood glucose levels.  The ones who ate the rice with the placebo had no change.  This set off an enormous number of studies to discover the reason why cinnamon had such an effect on glucose levels.  Some believed cinnamon may mimic insulin, a hormone that causes cells to take in glucose.  Khan, Khan, Khattak, and Anderson’s study was controversial. Another study, published in the journal Critical Care in 1975, has shown that certain molecules interfere with the tests. Walter Blaedel and James Uhl analyzed one glucose test, glucose oxidase-peroxidase, and found uric acid resulted in lower apparent glucose levels when added to the test solutions. Because of this, Blaedel and Uhl looked into the chemical reactions behind the test. They broke down different parts of the reaction and analyzed the effect of uric acid on the glucose oxidase-peroxidase reaction.  They discovered that if specific oxidizing agents are not present, then the color reagent is unable to change the solution’s color, which makes it appear that the glucose levels had lowered.

Both these studies influenced my research.  I analyzed both the glucose oxidase-peroxidase test and the hexokinase test.  Measuring glucose levels by the enzymatic method using glucose oxidase-peroxidase showed that cinnamon interfered and caused glucose levels to be reduced. The enzymatic method of measuring glucose using hexokinase showed no interference. Because the hexokinase test showed no interference, we analyzed the glucose oxidase-peroxidase further to determine what caused the apparent decrease of glucose levels. From there, we analyzed 10 other compounds found in cinnamon, and noted that tannic acid caused a considerable reduction in glucose levels with the glucose-oxidase test.

Although the question to whether cinnamon lowers blood glucose levels remains unanswered, it did show that the tests doctors use to detect blood glucose levels in patients could be misleading and need to be improved. In any event, this research has provided new information for diabetics.

I feel lucky I had the opportunity to work on this research. It truly opened a new door for me. Several of my friends said, “You must be really glad that you are finally done with your research.” The truth is I felt I could have kept going; I loved working on it! My research helped me find graduate schools with related research programs, and taught me to always keep an open mind because you never know what life will offer you. And of course, it’s shown me that my research isn’t confined to the lab. It can directly affect those around you, sometimes in intensely personal ways.

Carly Engel graduated from the College of the Ozarks with a B.S. in chemistry. She will be attending graduate school in the fall.

Source: http://www.circlepartnership.co.uk/locations/bath/best-experience-guarantee

My undergraduate education is coming to a close, but I hope that what I have learned over the past four years will help you in your quest for the most enlightening and enjoyable undergraduate experience possible. Here are the three most important things I wish I had known when I first arrived as a freshman in college:

Take time to explore, but settle down as soon as you know.

As a naive freshman I sought to accumulate as many majors and minors as my university would allow, simply because I could. Thus, my college experience started off as an assortment of computer science, chemistry, and math classes, which were interesting but did not serve any sort of cohesive goal. By sophomore year, I had taken enough classes to understand that chemistry was undoubtedly something I wanted to do for the rest of my life, but I still held off in declaring my major for another year. What would have been more helpful to my undergraduate experience? Declaring a major in chemistry as soon as I knew that’s what I wanted to do.

What’s the point of this story? It is important to explore your options and find your passion – that’s what college is all about. However, when the point comes that you realize you love something above all else, don’t hesitate to settle down. Declaring a major doesn’t set your future in stone, but it often opens up doors that are not available to undeclared students. For example, professors may be more apt to accept you as an undergraduate researcher in their lab if they know that you are committed to getting your degree in chemistry or a related science. In addition, sometimes certain levels of prerequisite classes are specifically required for a major in chemistry – you don’t want to have to take two variations of the same classes, right? Plus, once you know what you want to do, why hesitate?

The years coming up are going to be tough, but you have resources!

Majoring in chemistry or a related science is no trivial task. There will be times where you’re locked in the library at 3:00 a.m. wondering why you ever chose this major. Just remind yourself that you really do love the challenge. Through the good times and bad, you have many resources available to you – some of the most important may be sitting less than three feet from you!

That’s right, some of the most valuable resources you have available to you are your classmates. These individuals may be the only ones that truly understand what you’re going through, and you’ll be seeing them quite often over the next few years. Don’t be the quiet, sullen student struggling alone – make some new friends, and you’ll improve your undergraduate experience two-fold: You will have a lot more fun studying and you will learn a lot more from each other than you possibly could if you were disconnected from your peers.

Source: http://isoscholar.blogspot.com

Yet another resource available to you? That professor standing in the front of the class! It took me until senior year to understand that professors really do teach because they love seeing their students learn. Attend office hours and ask questions when you’re confused in class.  And above all else get to know your professors – they may just be some of the coolest people you have ever met, and they may pull out a pretty funny chemistry joke every so often.

Finally, multiple resources are available in addition to your new friends and professors. Undergraduate institutions often have chemistry or other physical science clubs (like an ACS Student Chapter) that you may find interesting. Not only will joining these groups allow you to expand your network, but it will also put you in contact with others that enjoy science as much as you do. ACS Student Chapters, for example, host fun activities that will allow you to spread your love of science throughout the university and your surrounding community when you need a break from being a studious bookworm.

You’re not too young to gain experience!

A major limitation I gave to myself in college was the belief that I did not possess the skills necessary to land an internship and gain experience outside of school. Although you have some lab experience and a number of classes under your belt, companies understand when they hire you that you are still a student. Many companies hire you with the expectation that you will work hard, contribute to a project under the supervision of a senior scientist, and will learn a lot along the way. What do you have to lose? Send in some internship applications in an area of chemistry that you’re interested in and see what happens. No one is going to judge you if you don’t end up getting the job, and the experience you gain just by applying and interviewing puts you a step ahead of the rest. The ACS Get Experience website is a great place to start your search.

Source: http://prospect.rsc.org/blogs/cw/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/interns-wanted.jpg

What’s more? Chemical & Engineering News cites a lack of network connections as a major limitation for new graduates (both undergraduates and graduate students) as they seek jobs after graduation. By searching for an internship early on in your academic career, you not only gain experience that you will use as a professional chemist, but you will also expand your network of contacts for your life after your academic years. And don’t simply give up without trying.  According to the article linked above, companies like BASF are expanding their recruitment efforts at universities in an attempt to gain the talent necessary to compete in an ever-increasingly competitive market The jobs are out there, you just have to actively seek them out – so get to it!

If there’s one thing I can relay to you about your upcoming undergraduate years, it’s this: Have a blast, work hard, and learn as much as you can along the way. Never be afraid to ask your classmates and professors for help, and make as many connections as you possibly can. Here’s to the next four years of your education!

Courtney Talicska graduated from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor this year with a B.S. in chemistry and a minor in Mathematics. Courtney worked with a driven team of individuals to revive the once-dormant U of M Student Chapter of the American Chemical Society and to encourage an enthusiasm for chemistry throughout the university and surrounding community. Courtney hopes to continue spreading her love of chemistry when she arrives at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to study physical chemistry in the fall.
Congrats, Courtney!

]]> http://acsundergrad.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/three-things-i-wish-i-had-known-as-a-freshman/feed/ 0 talicskc Source: http://www.circlepartnership.co.uk/locations/bath/best-experience-guarantee Source: http://isoscholar.blogspot.com courtney t http://acsundergrad.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/photo-friday-university-of-maryland-at-an-elementary-school-and-unos-chemistry-field-day/ http://acsundergrad.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/photo-friday-university-of-maryland-at-an-elementary-school-and-unos-chemistry-field-day/#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 16:00:26 +0000 acsundergrad http://acsundergrad.wordpress.com/?p=3257 Continue reading →]]> This week’s Photo Friday comes form the ACS Student Chapter at the University of Maryland College Park.  They just reactivated this year, and have already been invited to several elementary schools to perform demos and speak at career days.  Well done, University of Maryland (Go Terps)!

Also, the University of Nebraska Omaha put on a Chemistry Field Day in conjunction with Creighton University.  And it was amazing.  Check out their Facebook page for details.  Way to go, UNO Chem Club!

Got any student chapter activities you want us to feature?  Email us!

For those of you who don’t know, student chapter reports give chapters an opportunity to inform ACS about their activities, voice concerns from the academic year, provide suggestions, and become eligible for a Student Chapter Award. To remain active, a chapter must submit a report at least once every 3 years.

We want to make sure that you are comfortable and confident with completing and submitting your report, so below are some ACS staff and peer reviewer suggestions that will help you to turn in a successful chapter report.

1.  First, the obvious…Fill out the template.

The ACS Undergraduate Programs Office has provided you with a template (this link is broken) to make your reporting easier. The best piece of advice we can give you here is to fill out this report form (this one too) as completely as possible, and read the directions before doing so. Yes, there are 5 sections (one of which is optional), and yes, each section has 3 or 4 subsections. This may seem lengthy, but all the information you provide is essential. Faculty advisors carefully review the report of your year-round activities, and they read every detail to make their award decisions.

Source: http://www.someecards.com

With that being said, we know that some chapters are new, some are recently reactivated, while some don’t have the members or resources to participate in as many activities as some other chapters, and that’s ok. The tables and open-ended prompts in the template will guide you through the type of information that reviewers are looking for. (And don’t forget to fill out the financial template (link broken)too.)

2. Pictures, links, flyers, oh my!

“What is the use of a book’, thought Alice, ‘without pictures or conversations?”  (Lewis Carroll)
Our peer reviewers like to see images and other supplemental materials to support your text. We use your descriptions to understand the details of each of your activities, but pictures tell more than words ever could. Show us the fun you had during an NCW event or a chapter bowling night, or upload a flyer that you made for a guest speaker. Keep in mind, though, that each chapter has roughly 2.5 MB of storage when uploading materials to Manuscript Central. This will limit the number of photos you can upload, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t loop holes. For example, many chapters provide their best pictures in their reports and then they’ll provide a link to their Facebook page or web photo album (i.e. Picasa, Flickr, etc.)

3.  So, what are the reviewers looking for?

Once you submit your report we assign them to be reviewed by chapter faculty advisors from all over the country. Each report is reviewed by 3 of these faculty advisors, and this process ensures your reports are reviewed fairly and that you are given feedback from experts. The more organized and complete your comments are, the easier it is for a reviewer to accurately provide feedback. Simply put, when a peer reviewer looks through your report, they’re looking to see that the report is written by a student, that your chapter is active in your community and at your university, and that you’re taking chemistry outside of the classroom. For each section of the report we’ve outlined some really helpful criteria and considerations (link broken) which will guide you through providing the exact details that reviewers are hoping to see.

4.  Divide and conquer, or not.

Filling out the report seems daunting, but there are ways to make it easier. Lessen the burden by assigning sections of the report to different members of your chapter. For example, maybe your president can be responsible for 1-2 sections, your vice president for another 1 to 2 sections, your secretary for another, and so on. Sharing the work will prevent one person from having to take ownership of the entire report. If this method isn’t ideal for your chapter, there’s nothing wrong with having one person step up to the plate and take ownership. The key is to make it as easy as possible for you and your fellow chapter members to complete.

5.  Start early, start often.

Soure: http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3pbqsg/

Let’s face it…procrastination happens, and everyone does it. While it seems convenient, it isn’t exactly the best method for completing your chapter report. Filling in a chapter report template and providing links and pictures are tasks that are far from difficult, but waiting until the last minute will make the process cumbersome at best. The best way to complete the report is to enter the activities as you do them. The report becomes available on the undergrad site every September, so you can fill out your activities once an event happens and remember every detail. Since the deadline is less than a month away, you can’t try this now (maybe next year), but it’s not too late to start gathering your materials, reflecting back on your chapter activities, and writing up your report! Just remember: “Procrastination makes easy things hard, hard things harder.” (Mason Cooley, American Literary Academic & Aphorist)

Use these tips and the resources on our ACS Student Chapter Reports page to help you with your submissions. We love receiving your chapter reports each year, and every chapter activity you conduct is valued by your community and ACS.

We look forward to seeing all that you’ve accomplished this year!

When ACS last convened in New Orleans in 2008, the city was still getting back on its feet after Hurricane Katrina stormed through. This time, the mood was much different. First of all, the convention center has undergone a major facelift, and it looks really nice! The French Quarter was even more colorful than I remembered, and meeting attendees took time out to explore the rich culture and cuisines of the city. As for me, I had the most amazing oyster po’ boy sandwich from the famous Mother’s restaurant.

Here’s a look back at some of my favorite moments from the 2013 ACS spring national meeting in New Orleans, and be sure to check out the meeting photospread in this week’s issue of C&EN: http://cenm.ag/pics.

Some of the most enthusiastic green chemistry advocates you can find anywhere are the undergraduate ACS Student Chapter members. At the recent ACS National Meeting in New Orleans, I had a chance to meet many of these students and hear what they are doing to promote sustainability and green chemistry in their communities and universities. As we celebrate Earth Day here in the United States, what better time is there to recognize the creativity and passion of the next generation of chemists!

ACS GCI’s Jennifer MacKellar and Dr. David Constable presenting a Green Chemistry Award in New Orleans to Fresno State ACS Student Affiliate President Brittany Bevier (center). Nick L. Mole, the mascot of the chapter joins on the left. Photo Credit: Christine Brennan Schmidt

ACS Green Chemistry Student Chapter Award Ceremony

This year there were 56 ACS Student Chapters who were recognized with a Green Chemistry Award. The award signifies that the chapter engaged in at least three green chemistry outreach and educational activities during the school year. ACS GCI Director, Dr. David Constable and ACS GCI Program Manager, Jennifer MacKellar, presented the awards at the ACS Chapter Awards Ceremony in New Orleans.

Catching up with Successful Green Student Chapters

Monday night at the National Meeting is capped by Sci-Mix—a packed celebration of science which included the “Successful Student Chapter” posters among many others. Dr. David Constable (ACS GCI Director), Jennifer MacKellar (ACS GCI Program Manager), and I (ACS GCI Communications Manager) wound our way through the popcorn-strewn isles to talk to some of the many ACS Student Chapters that were presenting on their green chemistry activities. By no means did we chance to speak with all of the chapters, and many others are doing great green chemistry outreach, but the following selection gives you a sense of the enthusiasm these students have for making an impact in their communities.

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico

José Mercado and Natalia Fernández, PUCPR Green Chemistry Chair, present their poster ‘PUCPR Go Green!’

At Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR) students engaged in a wide variety of activities including designing green chemistry t-shirts and participating in an eco-fashion show, hosting guest lectures on topics such as “Conversion of Biomass to Ethanol for a Green Environment and a Sustainable Economy” and “Impact of Climate Change in the Caribbean Region”, and doing green chemistry demonstrations for other students. This is one active group!

Natalia Fernández, the PUCPR ACS Chapter’s Green Chemistry Chair, says, “Last week, we also had a get together in a park close to our school where we did a scavenger hunt using our green chemistry knowledge to go through different challenges. For example, the players had to decipher the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry that were coded. They also had to make an indicator using flowers, and sort waste between recyclable items and garbage.”

“Applying the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry is important because as future scientists, we have a responsibility to demonstrate to others the importance of protecting our planet,” commented José Mercado, one of the PUCPR students at the National Meeting.

Northeastern University

Christine Dunne, NUSAAC chapter President, and Elise Miner, chapter Vice President,
presenting their chapter’s poster “Integrating Green Chemistry into Everyday Life.”

Students at Northeastern University Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (NUSAAC) celebrated Earth Day by holding a campus event promoting green chemistry awareness and by setting up a table at the Boston Museum of Science to educate children and adults alike on environmentally benign alternatives to traditional cleaning products. Other activities the group organized included bringing speakers to campus, including Dr. Berkeley “Buzz” Cue and Dr. John Warner as well as visiting the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry. The group also volunteers for Beyond Benign, an organization dedicated to green chemistry education.

“NUSAAC have been pioneers in the green movement on Northeastern’s campus and the greater Boston community,” says Dr. Kathleen Cameron, Faculty Advisor in the Dept. of Chemistry. “The group has also been a major player in an effort to make Northeastern University’s chemistry labs more “green” through alternative and new coursework. These efforts earned them the National Green Chemistry Award for which they are most deserving.”

University of Puerto Rico – Aguadilla

Eva Isis Gordian-Rivera and Genesis Millan-Serrano presenting the ACS-UPRAg poster at New Orleans

The University of Puerto Rico – Aguadilla (UPRAg), whose ACS Student Chapter has won the Green Chemistry Award every academic year since 2008-2009, presented a poster demonstrating their green activities. The chapter has a strong commitment to green chemistry and they describe themselves as “a group of scientists with the desire of generating new ways of thinking, creating a movement to help preserve the environment and human health…by giving our community the appropriate education and by explaining the benefit of the Green Chemistry Principles.” As an example of this commitment, the chapter went on a field trip to uncover the chemistry behind the beaches in Puerto Rico and volunteered to do beach conservation. The chapter also publishes a newsletter called “La Idea Química” which features articles and tips on sustainable chemistry.

Angelo State University

Brandon Allen and Marissa Saulnier share Angelo State University’s ACS Chapter’s activities
with ACS GCI Program Manager, Jennifer MacKellar and Director, Dr. David Constable.

At Angelo State University in western Texas, the students will be celebrating Earth Day with a screening of ‘Switch,’ an educational movie about the future of energy and energy efficiency. The group has also done community outreach activities at a city-wide ‘Eco Fair’, demonstrating a microbial fuel cell (that’s a device that converts chemical energy to electric energy through a bacterial reaction—see this video for an explanation) as well as how polylactic acid (PLA) cups can biodegrade. To reach out to small children, the students put on a ‘Green Chemistry Magic Show.’

In addition to the outreach, there is one sustainability issue at Angelo State that is impossible to ignore: water. Located in a drought stricken region, the city of San Angelo has only 18.2 months of available water supply left. “Water is a critical issue,” says Dr. Edith Osborne, Professor of Chemistry and Faculty Advisor to the chapter. “We want our labs to reflect that we value the water we have.” Finding ways to decrease water consumption in the lab is a top priority. And faced with a very real possibility that there may come a time when the university is required to limit water usage in the buildings, Dr. Osborne says these conservation efforts will make them ready to operate in a water-restricted setting.

“The Nexus Blog” is a sister publication of “The Nexus” newsletter. To sign up for the newsletter, please email gci@acs.org, or if you have an ACS ID, login to your email preferences and select “The Nexus” to subscribe.

To read other posts, go to Green Chemistry: The Nexus Blog home.

From: biospherefarms.com/news1032.html

Now imagine your one-pot recipe is for converting algae — that’s right, the green scummy stuff you find in tide pools or at the lake — into a biofuel that you can pump straight into your car. Sounds more like fantasy than Food Network, am I right?

Well, this is exactly what Julie Zimmerman’s group at the Yale Center for Green Engineering and Green Chemistry is working on (I worked as an undergraduate research assistant at the center during my sophomore year). Zimmerman and her collaborators aim to achieve the conversion of biomass to biofuels without having to push the chemistry to extreme heats or conditions, as well as streamline the conversion process for maximum sustainability.

The idea of biofuels (essentially petrochemical substitutes derived from plants and the like) present some interesting opportunities for chemists and scientists interested in sustainable technologies. A broader shift towards biofuels could reduce our dependence on fossil fuels with a renewable replacement. However, biofuels often rely on not-so-sustainably produced feed stocks that are dependent on fertilizers, pesticides, and energy-intensive conversion processes to extract the valuable compounds from the raw plant mass.

So far, life cycle analyses of conventional biofuel production techniques have shown that the conversion of biomass into usable fuel raises real concerns of energy balance: With conventional techniques, the energy required to convert biomass into fuel could cancel out the environmental benefits of this renewable technology.

In an article that will soon be published in ChemSusChem, Zimmerman and her collaborators describe their method for the conversion of triolein to methyl oleate – the transesterification of a triglyceride – in supercritical carbon dioxide and methanol with a heterogeneous catalyst, which builds on previous work on lipid extraction from wet biomass using similar scCO2 dependent conditions. Together, these techniques represent significant advances towards the development of a one-pot conversion of biomass to biofuels.

Transesterification of triglycerides with ethanol (Dr. Zimmerman’s work uses methanol) From: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Transesterification_of_triglycerides_with_ethanol.png

Now think back to that kitchen analogy. Cooking can lead to co-products: for example, the egg yolks and shells you don’t need in that meringue, or the broth you made as a result of boiling vegetables for dinner. Another major advantage of the Yale group’s extraction approach is the commitment to maximize all possible utilities from the biomass, following the old maxim of “using every part of the buffalo.” While it is the lipid fractions that are converted to biofuels, the Zimmerman group can also retrieve nutraceuticals along with leftover proteins and carbohydrates from algae, which can then be converted for use in animal feels. Evan Beach, the Program Manager and an Associate Research Scientist with the Yale Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering, describes these methods within the concept of a “biorefinery,” which further allows for flexibility regarding “what to do with the biomass depending on market conditions and environmental impacts.”

Emily Hong is a junior at Yale University from Nashville, TN. While she is currently majoring in Global Affairs, Emily is a lifelong chemistry nerd who loves Chemistry Cat jokes and the smell of benzaldehyde. In the past she has conducted research on the depolymerization of lignin, and she’s interested in the implications of technology and sustainability in the developing world. Her other activities include varsity fencing, coordinating social media for the Yale Admissions Office, and eating French desserts after studying abroad and working at a bakery in Paris.

Again, the analogy of cooking is helpful to understand the power of these techniques to turn renewable biomass into usable products. A potato can be mashed, but it can also be used in soups, turned into fries, or be baked and dressed with sour cream depending on the circumstance. Very few people see raw potatoes as delicious, but with the right culinary skills, their unlimited potential for tastiness is unlocked.

Zimmerman’s group is harnessing simple principles to literally turn green into to (black) gold and beyond. Their innovations seem to circle back and serve “sustainability” on many different levels. Now there’s something to toast to.

Fresno State University ACS Student Chapter

If you’re looking for pictures from the Undergraduate Awards Ceremony in New Orleans, check out this album on the ACS Network.  Congratulations to all the student chapters out there for all your hard work!

Hanbyul Chang, Gordon College Student Chapter Secretary

[This interview has been shortened from it's original form]

C.J: So Hanbyul! You went to the ACS Leadership Institute!

H.C: I did.

How was it?

It was….very, very good. Before I went, I thought it was just going to be the 19 students who got the scholarship to go there, but when I arrived I realized it was a lot bigger. It wasn’t just students; there were people who worked in industry and professors who were either volunteering for the ACS or had some important position in the ACS. So I got to meet the members of the governing board of the ACS…it was crazy. It was basically a National ACS Leadership conference, and so people from everywhere were there. There were people from California, Chicago, Maryland, Oregon, everywhere. 

And what did you do at the Institute while you were there?

Most of the time the students had our own sessions about what defined leadership and what kinds of leadership positions there were in the ACS. We had a session about planning a successful event, and another one where we focused on our student chapters and what kind of problems there were in our student chapters and discussed possible solutions. We also had one class we got to choose; I was in the Fostering Innovation session, which was about teamwork and how to get people to work with us in innovative ways. We also had a networking session, where we had to go around and meet new people, introduce ourselves to new people…just exchange business cards.

What were some things you learned while you were there?

I learned a lot about leadership. But one of the bigger themes I got from it was the feeling of being a part of a bigger society. Before I went, I never knew that the ACS was that huge! We had our student chapter and I thought that was it, but it’s such a big organization, there are so many opportunities, so many resources that I want other people to know about. It was also really interesting to meet other chemists around the country, especially others who were my age, who were students. It was cool to exchange ideas, to talk about our research and our experience.  And I got a better understanding of the variety of jobs and careers available from the professional chemists.

The 2013 Student Leaders Cohort

You said you got to speak with some of the leaders of the ACS. Was there anything in their stories that spoke to you?

Well, one thing that really stuck out was their passion for the ACS. The ACS past president said at least twice that he would not be where he is now if not for the ACS, because the ACS was the organization that gave him the opportunity to lead. The current president is actually a female and Asian-American, Chinese-American, which is really nice, because I’m female, and I’m Asian…it shows me that the ACS is really incorporating the voices of the international, the minority.

As a minority and international student yourself, how does the diversity or a lack of diversity in the ACS impact you?

I love anything that is international. I really think we all need to be aware of what’s going on in other countries, all over the world. We had one night where there was a sort of informational session or fair, with different tables for different chapters and careers, and one of the tables was focused on international communication. Just looking at the ACS, and how they’re trying to share ideas and interests about chemistry across national borders, it’s really encouraging and amazing.

Awesome! Any parting words?

If you can, go [to the Leadership Institute]. It’s a really good experience. You’re going to need to network and lead all your life, and for me, it was the first time I was really exposed to networking. Additionally, I learned so, so much about leadership.

Good words. Thank you Hanbyul!

You’re welcome, thanks for having me.

Hanbyul Chang is the Chapter Secretary for the Gordon College Student Chapter of the American Chemical Society. Ethnically Korean and nationally Russian, Hanbyul is currently a sophomore chemistry major at Gordon College and has interests in analytical chemistry, forensic chemistry and law, and patent law. She is currently working with Dr. Tshudy of Gordon College on research focusing on using the catalyst TAML to conduct kinetics studies in undergraduate general chemistry laboratory experiments.

The interviewer for this post, Clyde Daly Jr., is a senior chemistry major at Gordon College with interests in nanoscience and physical chemistry. When he’s not in lab working on his research project in the Boyd group, he can be found musing on his own blog, miningasteroids, or on twitter @cjjc0.