Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi,
For my annual science fair, I wanted to do a project about which biofuel would be the most environmentally friendly. One idea I had was to extract oil from mushrooms, and then combine this oil with lye and methanol to produce biofuel. Would this be possible?
And if it is possible, is there a way to extract oil from mushrooms without a press or centrifuge machine? I would like to keep the costs of the project below $50.
Assuming this is not possible, would there be a way extract oil from food waste such as citrus or banana peels?

Sama S.

Hi Sama,

I apologize for the delay in answering your question.

Your idea to use mushrooms for biofuels production is definitely unique project idea and I encourage you to proceed with your investigation. I don't have a exact answer to your questions about extraction of oils from mushrooms. Biofuels are traditionally made by hydrolyzing plants with acid or enzymes to release sugars that are converted into fuel. They can be produced by using a variety of microorganisms to ferment plant carbohydrates into molecules that ethanol or butanol that can be used as an energy source.

To get started on this project, I recommend that you check out this advanced project idea from this website:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... background

Check out the articles and look for a method that can be used to convert mushrooms into biofuel. You will also need to search for information on the chemical composition of mushrooms. I don't think that mushrooms have a high oil content, but they will have structural molecules that can be used for your project.

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... background

To prepare the mushrooms for use , I recommend trying a food grinder to process the mushrooms into fine particles. You can try borrowing an old-fashioned hand grinder or a perhaps used an attachment for a mixer. If you want to try to extract oil from the mushrooms, you can look for a colander and press that is used for making jelly or soup. Not everyone has these items in their kitchen, so you may have to ask friends and family for help. But this should keep the cost of this part of the project to $0.

Please post again if you have any other questions. Good luck!

Donna Hardy