Biodiesel production as a model of approach to natural sciences Producción de biodiesel como modelo de aproximación a las ciencias naturales

RODRÍGUEZ, MARÍA DANIELA; ESPINOSA, TERESA GENARA; GALLARÁ, BELÉN; ONETO, MARÍA EUGENIA; ERBES, LORELEY FERNÁNDEZ; KRIEGER, ANDREA ELIZABETH; MIGUEL, NICOLÁS; MOREL, CAMILA; ZAPATA, PEDRO DARÍO

EDUCACION QUIMICA

Facultad de Quimica, UNAM

Año: 2023 vol. 34 p. 55 - 62

0187-893X

Contextualizing chemistry laboratories, relating them to daily life situations and disciplinary contents, motivates to awaken scientific vocations. The objective of the work was to promote interest in exact sciences and environmental care, through the active participation of students in the reuse of vegetable oil as a laboratory model in context. The origin of vegetable oils, the health implications of the repeated reuse of vegetable oil, the possible forms of transformation into new products, transesterification, and the manipulation of chemical reagents were studied during the workshops. Recipients were high school students from 6 different institutions in the province of Misiones (Argentina), reaching a total of 45 students between 17 and 21 years old. Workshops were led by students, graduates and the directors of the project. The methodology of the activity consisted of a practical experience and evaluation of the intervention. The use of a socioenvironmental context for the teaching of chemistry, generated awareness about environmental care; and new knowledge in relation to chemistry, by making use of the transesterification reaction to obtain biodiesel.