Science Research Paper

1. Science Research Paper

2. Purpose of Science Research Paper • A tool for communication • To exchange scientific knowledge

3. Some Renowned Journals • Journal of American Chemical Society • Chemical Communications • Journal of Cell Biology • Genetics • American Journal of Physics

4. Science Research Paper Format

5. Title • Title should reflect your research area • Examples of inappropriate titles - A magical fertilizer - Save the world with vegetables • Examples of good titles - Investigations on the breakdown of Aspartame - Effects of refrigeration and room temperature on proliferation of yeast on honey

6. Tense • Present tense for discussing general facts or concepts, and past tense for methods and specific results observed in the experiment

7. Abstract • Short summary of the project (< 300 words) • State the objectives of the project • Briefly describe the materials and procedures used in your project • Give a summary of your findings; discuss implications of findings

8. Evaluating different methods of synthesising biodiesel Example of Abstract (B4 editing) Biodiesel technology is actually gaining popularity nowadays. Many are interested in lowering the consumption of fossil fuel. Unlike fossil fuels, biodiesel produce fewer pollutants such as CO, SO2 and unburnt hydrocarbon. In the past, production of biodiesel engages the agricultural industries such as producing corn ethanol to develop crops for manufacturing biodiesel. However, it is energy- intensive [4], not renewable, not economical and its production contributes to pollution and global warming [5]. Lastly, it occupies cropland suitable for food production. However, what is special in the current biodiesel technology is that waste cooking oil (WVO) obtained from coffee shops is used as starting material to synthesize biodiesel. In this paper, the method of using acid- catalysed, base- catalysed and acid- base catalyzed transesterification to synthesise biodiesel is shown and the qualities of the biodiesel are compared. The best synthesized biodiesel will be eventually compared to commercially produced biodiesels to determine which one fares better.

9. Abstract (after editing) Three types of transesterification processes (acid-catalysed, base-catalysed, acid-base catalysed) were compared and evaluated in terms of yield, total and bound glycerol content, density, viscosity, heat of combustion and combustion rate. The base-catalysed transesterification was carried out with methanol and sodium hydroxide as a catalyst while the acid-catalysed transesterification was carried out with methanol and 98% w/w concentrated sulfuric acid as a catalyst. The acid-base catalysed transesterification was carried out by acid pretreatment followed by base catalysed transesterification. For all processes, reflux was carried out at 65°C for a total of one and a half hours.Results showed that the conversion of waste vegetable oil to biodiesel was the highest through acid-base catalysed transesterification, followed by base-catalysed transesterification and acid-catalysed transesterification. Correspondingly, the quality of biodiesel synthesised from acid-base catalysed transesterification was also generally the best.

10. Introduction • Call attention to the specific subject, define the problem or question that you are trying to answer with your investigation • Provide background information and present the results of other studies (literature review)

11. Introduction (Example) Biodiesel from heterotrophic microaglae oil Miao, X., Wu, Q (2005). Biodiesel from heterotrophic microalgae oil. Bioresour.Technol. 97, 841–846. Fatty acid methyl esters originating from vegetable oils and animal fats are known as biodiesel. Biodiesel fuel has received considerable attention in recent years, as it is a biodegradable, renewable and non-toxic fuel. It contributes no net carbon dioxide or sulfur to the atmosphere and emits less gaseous pollutants than normal diesel (Lang et al., 2001; Antolin et al., 2002; Vicenteet al., 2004). There are four primary ways to make biodiesel, direct use and blending, microemulsions, thermal cracking (pyrolysis) and transesterification (Ma and Hanna, 1999). The most common way is transesterification as the biodiesel from transesterification can be used directly or as blends with diesel fuel in diesel engine (Peterson et al., 1991; Zhang et al., 2003).

12. Introduction (Example) Biodiesel from heterotrophic microaglae oil Miao, X., Wu, Q (2005). Biodiesel from heterotrophic microalgae oil. Bioresour.Technol. 97, 841–846. Fatty acid methyl esters originating from vegetable oils and animal fats are known as biodiesel. Definition of biodiesel Biodiesel fuel has received considerable attention in recent years, as it is a biodegradable, renewable and non-toxic fuel. It contributes no net carbon dioxide or sulfur to the atmosphere and emits less gaseous pollutants than normal diesel (Lang et al., 2001; Antolin et al., 2002; Vicenteet al., 2004). Advantages of biodiesel There are four primary ways to make biodiesel, direct use and blending, microemulsions, thermal cracking (pyrolysis) and transesterification (Ma and Hanna, 1999). The most common way is transesterification as the biodiesel from transesterification can be used directly or as blends with diesel fuel in diesel engine (Peterson et al., 1991; Zhang et al., 2003). Methods of synthesising biodiesel

13. Materials and Methods • Complete information of materials and methods used ,conditions present, actions, experimental design, etc. • Usually has sub-headings and matches those to be used in Results • Sufficient information must be given so that the experiments could be reproduced

14. Materials and Methods (Example) Antimicrobial action of novel chitin derivative Je, J-Y., Kim, S-K (2005). 97, 841–846. Biochimica et BiophysicaActa 1760 , 104 – 109 2.1. Materials Chitin (MW ¨ 310 kDa, degree of deacetylation 10%) prepared from crab shells was donated by Kitto Life Co. (Seoul, Korea). For the preparation of chitin derivative, 2-chloroethylamino hydrochloride purchased from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO). The microorganisms tested for antibacterial activity were obtained from KCTC (Korean Collection of Type Cultures). Onitrophenyl-h-d-galactoside (ONPG), 1-N-phenyl-naphthylamine (NPN) was obtained from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO). All other reagents were of the highest grade available commercially.

15. Materials and Methods (Example) Antimicrobial action of novel chitin derivative Je, J-Y., Kim, S-K (2005). 97, 841–846. Biochimica et BiophysicaActa 1760 , 104 – 109 2.2. Synthesis of water-soluble chitin derivative Chitin derivative was synthesized as shown in Scheme 1. Chitin was aminoalkylated using the method of Clifford and Naoyuki [13]. Aqueous 3.0 M (15 ml) 2-chlorethylamino hydrochloride was added to chitin (0.30 g) with stirring at 65 C. NaOH of 3.0 M (15 ml) was added to the reaction mixture dropwise, and continuously stirred for 18 h. After reaction, solid state chitin was removed using filter paper. Subsequently, the reaction mixture was acidified with 0.1MHCl, 0.0001MHCl, and dialyzed against water for 2 day. The product was freeze dried to give the amino-derivatized chitin (AE-chitin: 0.403 g).

16. Results Antimicrobial action of novel chitin derivative Je, J-Y., Kim, S-K (2005). 97, 841–846. Biochimica et BiophysicaActa 1760 , 104 – 109 • Display data with logical development showing how your findings satisfy your objectives • Use tables and figures Fig. 4. Release of 260 nm absorbing material from S. aureus suspensions treated with 73.5 Ag/ml ( –.– ) and 147 Ag/ml (–o–) of AEC.

17. Discussion • Summarise your Results • Interpret and explain (where possible) the data and results of the experiment • Compare your findings to those of other studies– list similarities or differences observed

18. Discussion (Example) Antimicrobial action of novel chitin derivative Je, J-Y., Kim, S-K (2005). 97, 841–846. Biochimica et BiophysicaActa 1760 , 104 – 109 As shown in Table 2, AEC markedly inhibited the growth of most Gram-negative bacteria, E. coli, S. typhimurium and P. aeruginosa. MIC values of AEC were 62.5 Ag/ml against E.coli and S. typhimurium, respectively. In the case of P. aeruginosa, AEC was more effective than other Gram-negative bacteria, MIC value was 7.813 g/ml. AEC also effectively inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, MIC values were 125  g/ml, 62.5  g/ml and 62.5  g/ml against S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, and E. faecalis, respectively.

19. Conclusion • Draw conclusions from results obtained • Summarize your evidence for each conclusion • Relate to objectives of research • Suggest future work

20. References • For better credibility, you have to review the literature and show that your contribution extends from a solid foundation of research • List only the references cited in your research paper. • At least 5 references are cited from various sources (at least 3 scholarly refs.) • Use citation builder (convenient to use) : http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/lobo2/citationbuilder/index.php

21. Acknowledgement • Thank people who helped you with your project

22. Other points to take note • Length of report ( 3000 words) • Typed written, double spacing, Times New Roman font of size 12 or Arial Font of size 11 • Proper citation (APA format)

23. In-text Citation (Example) Introduction There are four primary ways to make biodiesel, direct use and blending, microemulsions, thermal cracking (pyrolysis) and transesterification (Ma and Hanna, 1999). References Ma, F., Hanna, M.A., (1999). Biodiesel production: a review. Bioresour.Technol. 70, 1–15.

24. Useful information /resources (will be uploaded in SMTP website) • Guidelines on writing a science research paper • Guidelines on writing a science research paper for innovation project • Assessment rubric for science research paper • Assessment rubric for science research paper for innovation project • Assessment rubric for math research paper • Assessment rubric for web report

25. Other points to take note • Deadline for research paper: Term 3 – after Semi Judging (report results up to semi-finals) • SRC application forms