This research project explores an innovative approach to reducing food waste and reliance on petrochemicals by repurposing waste canola oil from Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s dining services into UV-curable resin for stereolithography printing using the AESO synthesis method. Our results demonstrate resin derived from waste canola oil maintains comparable properties to its commercial competitors, suggesting a viable method for reducing environmental harm while contributing sustainable advancements to additive manufacturing technologies.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Franzen, Richard
• Dell'Aera, Thomas
• Shea, Daniel
• Sollecito, Emily
• Feeney, Jessica

Subject

• Food
• Sustainability
• Environment
• Project-Based Learning

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042524-001625
• 121612

Advisor

• Bhatia, Mehul A.
• Maag, Alex R.

Year

• 2024

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
• 13 - Climate Action

Date created

• 2024-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Source

• E-project-042524-001625

Rights statement

• In Copyright