For the last couple of weeks seniors Kyle Saathoff and Lane Peery have been conducting an independent study for a science project.

“We are trying to use waste products like old newspaper or corn stalks to make ethanol for fuel,” Saathoff said.

Currently, ethanol is made from an alcohol-based fuel made by fermenting and distilling starch crops such as corn.

“Our process uses the cellulose in the cell walls (which humans can’t digest) instead of sugars (which we can digest),” Saathoff said.

During this experiment they will try to use the alternative fuel to power a small lawn mower engine or something equivalent.

“We will be making small quantities, for safety reasons. There will only be just enough used to determine the purity. We want 80 percent or more so that it’s good enough to use in an engine,” Saathoff said.

So far it has been very successful but it’s still in the stage of research, planning, and approval stage. However, the more they learn, the more the project will come together.

“Our project is progressing at a very good rate and with hard work and determination that we’ve shown so far we should be able to complete it on time and on schedule,” Lane Peery. “The ultimate deadline is sometime in May of next year.” Peery said.

Many of the faculty and students look forward to seeing the finished project and how well the engine works.