Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project is biodielsel users and researchers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Educational workshops were presented for approximately 1600 public school, community college, and university students and approximately 750 adults. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?- Curriculum materials related to biodiesel production, performance and emissions were developed, field tested, and determined to be effective in increasing student knowledge about biodiesel - Over the life of the project, 13 refereed journal articles, 13 conference presentations, and 5 trade articles were published based on project activities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In 2015, three refereed journal articles journal articles were published based on project activities. These articles focused on public/consumer perceptions of biodiesel and on the effects of biodiesel spills on turfgrasses. Over the life of the project, 13 refereed journal articles, 13 conference presentations, and 5 trade articles were published based on project activities. In addition, educational workshops were presented for approximately 1600 public school, community college, and university students and approximately 750 adults. Curriculum materials related to biodiesel production, performance and emissions were developed, field tested, and determined to be effective in increasing student knowledge about biodiesel. On the engine performance objectives, a series of studies indicated: (a) B20 generally performs as well as No. 2 d petroleum diesel in a variety of compression-ignition engines commonly used in agriculture; (b) Blends greater than 20% biodiesel tend to reduce engine power and increase brake specific fuel consumption; (c) laboratory and in-use tests of biodiesel performance and emissions yield similar results; (d) adding water to biodiesel in an emulsion tends to decrease power output, increase fuel consumption, but reduces oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions in pre-Tier engines; (e) turfgrasses tend to recover faster and more fully from biodiesel spills than from petroleum diesel spills.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Edgar, L.D., Johnson, D.M., Miller, J.D., & *England, J. (2015). Perceptions, interests, and behaviors related to sustainability: A closer look at a large southern university. Natural Sciences Education, 44(2015), 79-85.
Johnson, D.M., Edgar, D.W., Edgar, L.D., Pate, M.L., & Steffen, R.W. (2015). Biodiesel: Awareness, use, and perceptions of students at four U.S. universities. North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Journal, 59(1), 54-62.
Johnson, D.M., Edgar, D.W., Karcher, D.E., Richardson, M.D., & McCalla, J.H. (2015). Petroleum diesel and biodiesel spills affect fairways differently. Golf Course Management, March (2015): 84-88. Invited research article.
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:University researchers, scientists, and educators Changes/Problems:Economics of biodiesel production versus petroleum diesel sources not currently conducive to project goals. Not anticipated that project will be renewed once it ends in August 2017. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results of research published in refereed journal article in 2016. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Limited activity anticipated on this project which is due to expire in August 2017. Economics of biodiesel production versus petroleum diesel sources not currently conducive to project goals.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Nothing to report. Objective 2: A combination of lecture and demonstration methoids was determined to be significantly more effective in producing student learning of hiher-cognitive level content and either demonstration or lecture methodsalone. No difference was found for achievement onlow-level cognitive items. These findings provide educators and researchers with guidance in deverloping educationalprograms andpresentations on renewable energy for school and possibly consumer audiences. Objective 3: Nothing to report.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
*Siebenmorgen, R., Edgar, D., Carter, V., & Johnson, D.M. (2016). An evaluation of teaching methods based on cognitive achievement. Journal of Agricultural Systems, Technology, & Management, 27(2016), 1-14.
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project is biodielsel users and researchers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through refereed journal articles (2) and trade publications (1). Also, through project web site. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The focus for 2016 will be related to objectives 1 and 3. For objective 1, we plan to examine the effects of "irrigation-flushing" on turfgrass necrology from petroleum diesel and biodiesel spills, For objective 3, we pan to conduct survey research to determine the effect of lower-priced fuel on consumer support/acceptance of biodiesel.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: published research on environmental impact of biodiesel and diesel spills on turfgrass. Objective 2: nothing to report. Objective 3: published two refereed articles related to research on this objective.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Edgar, L.D., Johnson, D.M., Miller, J.D., & *England, J. (2015). Perceptions, interests, and behaviors related to sustainability: A closer look at a large southern university. Natural Sciences Education, 44(2015), 79-85.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Johnson, D.M., Edgar, D.W., Edgar, L.D., Pate, M.L., & Steffen, R.W. (2015). Biodiesel: Awareness, use, and perceptions of students at four U.S. universities. North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Journal, 59(1), 54-62.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Johnson, D.M., Edgar, D.W., Karcher, D.E., Richardson, M.D., & McCalla, J.H. (2015). Petroleum diesel and biodiesel spills affect fairways differently. Golf Course Management, March (2015): 84-88. Invited research article.
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences include biofuels producers, users, researchers, members of the general public and researchers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Two refereed journal articles were published in 2014. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Research will focus on Objective 3 with emphasis on changes in consumer perceptions associated with the increased production and reduced costs of petroleum diesel.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1) Conducted field experiment to determine the relative necrosis and relative recovery of turf species with simulated petroleum diesel, B20 and B100 spills. Determined that, in general, biodiesel spills result in less necrosis and more rapid and complete turf recovery than do petroleum diesel spills. Objective 2) Nothing to report this period. Objective 3) Completed a comparative study of US and Belgian college students examining their attitudes and experiences with biodiesel. Both groupd were largely undecided about the benefits and consequences of biodiesel use, with US students being slightly more positive towards biodiesel. The results point to the need for continued educational efforts in this area.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Johnson, D.M., & Edgar, L.D. (2014). Awareness, use, and perceptions of biodiesel by Belgian and American college students. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 21(1): 46-56.
Johnson, D.M., Edgar, D.W., Karcher, D.E., & Richardson, M.D. (2014). Effect of petroleum diesel and biodiesel spills on turfgrass. Applied Turfgrass Science, 11(1): 1-8.
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Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Target aduiences include renewable energy (biofuels) producers, users,researchers, general public, and policy makers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? 30 in-class presentations concerning biodiesel production, performance and emissions were made by university personnel in 2013. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Article was published in Arkansas Land And Life (general interest publication of the Arkansas Experiment Station) detailing results of biodiesel performance research. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1). Research was conducted to determine the effects of 1% water-in-biodiesel emulsions on engine performance, fuel efficiency, and oxides of nitrogen emissions on pre-Tier IV engines. Results indicated that use of water-in-biodiesel emulsion was successful in reducing oxides of nitrogen levels to that achieved with petroleum diesel, but emissions reduction came at the expense of decreased power and increased fuel consumption Goal 2.) Research was conducted that determined that students preferred and believed they learned better about engine performance and emissions with biofuels when participating in a demonstration as opposed to an illustrated lecture. Goal 3.) Interviews determined that Northwest Arkansas fuel consumers were aware of biodiesel, but could not differentiate it from ethanol and were uncertain about performance and maintenance effects of biodiesel use.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Hunt, C.L., Johnson, D.M., & Edgar, D.W. (2013). NOX emissions and performance of a compact diesel tractor fueled with emulsified and non-emulsified biodiesel. Journal of Agricultural Systems, Technology, and Management, 24, 12-22.
Johnson, D.M., Edgar, L.D., & Edgar, D.W. (2013). Consumer awareness, use, and perceptions of biodiesel. Journal of Agricultural Systems, Technology, and Management, 24: 23-35.
Sallee, C.W., Edgar, D.W., & Johnson, D.M. (2013). Student perceptions of instructional methods in alternative energy education. Journal of Agricultural Education, 54(2): 130-142.
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Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Educational materials (lecture and demonstration) have been developed for use with adult audiences. Results of this project have been disseminated through public presentations, news releases, scholarly conference presentations, and refereed journal articles. In addition, results have been disseminated via a project website http://uark.edu/ua/bioproj/index.html PARTICIPANTS: Jason A. Davis, former graduate research assistant; C.L. Hunt, graduate research assistant; S. Sadaka, assistant professor - Extension, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include public school and university students, farmers, Extension agents, and the general public. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Objective 1: Use of a 10% water-in-biodiesel emulsion (Em-B100) was found to significantly reduce specific oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions relative to both non-emulsified biodiesel (B100) and petroleum diesel (D2) in a small, single cylinder diesel engine and in a 3-cylinder compact diesel engine. Objective 2: Comparative studies were conducted to determine presentation techniques most effective in promoting student learning about biodiesel. Results indicate that a combination of lecture and demonstration methods is more effective that demonstration only. Objective 3: Biodiesel is a liquid transportation fuel produced primarily by transesterification of vegetable oils, waste grease, or animal fats and used as a replacement fuel in diesel engines. Fuel customers (N = 134) at three northwest Arkansas retail fuel outlets were interviewed to determine their awareness, use, and perceptions of biodiesel. A majority (70.7%) of customers was aware of biodiesel; however, only 6.7% had ever purchased biodiesel. Respondents aware of biodiesel (n = 94) responded to a series of 10 statements to assess their perceptions of biodiesel. A large number of respondents were uncertain of biodiesel's quality (41.5%), performance (44.2%), and effects on engine repair and maintenance (52.1%). Despite these uncertainties, only 10.9% either agreed or strongly agreed they would never use biodiesel. A majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that it was better to use biodiesel because it is renewable (88.1%) and that use of non-food crops to produce biodiesel was justified (76.6%). Respondents were almost evenly divided in their levels of agreement with using food crops to produce biodiesel (strongly disagree or disagree = 45.2%; strongly agree or agree = 47.3%). Sizeable percentages of consumers were undecided if biodiesel reduced harmful exhaust emission (36.2%) or if increased biodiesel use would decrease global warming (43.0%). To the extent these consumers are typical of others, the need exists to develop and implement programs to educate consumers and voters about biodiesel. USDA-NIFA, National Science Foundation, and Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board proposals were submitted to fund this project.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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