Recycling Spreads
Butter that creamy, sweet bovine creation most often is
seen dripping from corn on the cob, perking up popcorn or
nestled snugly in a mound of mashed potatoes.
But when the curtain falls on this year's New York
State Fair, the 900 or so pounds of butter making up the
famous butter sculpture will not end up on a plate anywhere,
or in the garbage. Instead, it will be powering vehicles at
a Syracuse college.
This year's butter will be turned into biodiesel fuel
by students and faculty at the State University College of
Environmental Science and Forestry. The biodiesel will fuel
cars and buses at ESF.
"Butter is 80 percent fat and oil and 20 percent water
and protein," Nicholson said. "What we have to do
is render it heat it to separate the fats and oils from the
water and protein."
The water and protein is thrown away. Then the oil and fat
is clarified making it pure and clean.
