Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

What are the steps of turning household wastes into alcohol and then turning the alcohol into energy?
I found this project in a book and I really want to do it....but I retuned the book to my teacher and I need to fill out a form telling him what I'm doing for the science fair. And this form is due tomorrow (well, today).

Hi science girl,

Two ways to turn waste into alcohol are to use a pressure cooker and sulphuric acid. Please see:

http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2002/Projects/J0810.pdf
http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/Current/Projects/J1104.pdf

Thanks.

Both the links are from the California State Science Fair.

Notes in the second link:
1. parental supervision
2. experimenting with different kinds of waste

The alcohol is turned into energy by burning it.

Hi science girl,

Welcome to the forum. A third option for producing alcohol from organic waste is to use yeast to ferment it. We also have a project idea involving the collection of biogas, rather than alcohol: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p027.shtml

Some useful search terms might be biomass alcohol energy science project, with the addition of ferment or yeast if that's the way you want to go.

Best wishes,
Amanda

Thank you, Dave and Amanda. ^_^ That was very helpful and I now worked everything out (I don't mean doing the project, but knowing how to do the project hehe). Again, thanks. ^_^