Skip to main content

Soy Chemistry

Call for Papers: Special Soy Chemistry collection on the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community

 

The soy industry plays a crucial role in sustainable development by utilizing soybeans as a renewable feedstock for food, fuel, and material applications. Research and innovations in this field, largely funded by the United Soybean Board, provide a wealth of potential curriculum content. This allows educators to engage students with real-world examples that illustrate the application of green chemistry principles and life cycle assessments in advancing sustainable technologies.

 

These research and innovations serving as potential curriculum content will support the development of case studies that emphasize the applications of green chemistry and sustainability. These case studies will align with the green chemistry and sustainability requirements of professional organizations such as the American Chemical Society and Royal Society of Chemistry to help prepare students for future careers in these fields.

 

This call for papers invites contributions showcasing various soy research, technologies, and curriculum materials. Successful submissions should include a statement about the pedagogical relevance of the research. The aim is to raise awareness of soy as a versatile bio-based material while fostering increased interest in soy-based research and innovations and provide potential curriculum materials for case study development.

 

The call for papers will run from April 1st to May 31st, 2025. To submit a resource as part of the call for papers, use the GCTLC's online submission form

A Novel General Chemistry Experiment for Freshmen: Transgenic Soybean Detection Based on Microfluidic Molecular Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis

Summary

This educational resource introduces a microfluidic-based molecular fluorescence spectroscopy experiment designed for freshmen enrolled in General Chemistry courses. The experiment focuses on the detection of transgenic soybeans by analyzing nucleic acids using a centrifugal microfluidic platform combined with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). It serves as an interdisciplinary ...

Type
Laboratory experiment, Journal articles

Evaluating Sustainability: Soap versus Biodiesel Production from Plant Oils

Summary

This study, conducted by Nicola L. B. Pohl, Jennifer M. Streff, and Steve Brokman at Iowa State University, presents a comparative laboratory experiment designed for undergraduate organic chemistry students. The experiment explores the saponification and transesterification of plant oils (soybean, rapeseed, and olive) to produce soap and biodiesel, respectively.

Key Learning Objectives & ...

Type
Laboratory experiment, Journal articles

From Soybeans to Tofu: The Underlying Chemistry

Summary

Tofu, a traditional Chinese food, is widely consumed around the world, yet the chemistry behind its production is often overlooked. This study presents a simple demonstration designed for lower-level undergraduate courses in organic chemistry or biochemistry to elucidate the key principles involved in the tofu-making process. The research highlights the role of heat treatment in denaturing soy ...

Type
Journal articles

Identification of Fatty Acids, Phospholipids, and Their Oxidation Products Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry and Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Summary

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) have found increasing application in the analysis of biological samples. Using these techniques to solve problems in analytical chemistry should be an essential component of the training of undergraduate chemists. We present an experiment that teaches students how to ...

Type
Laboratory experiment, Journal articles

Protein N‐Glycans: Incorporating Glycochemistry into the Undergraduate Laboratory Curriculum

Summary

The article "Incorporating Glycochemistry into the Undergraduate Laboratory Curriculum: Isolation and Analysis of Soybean Glycoprotein β-Conglycinin" addresses the underrepresentation of glycoscience in undergraduate biochemistry labs by introducing a multiweek experimental series. Students isolate β-conglycinin from soy flour and analyze it using SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry. They also apply a ...

Type
Laboratory experiment, Lecture or course slides/notes (e.g., PPT, Prezi, PDF), Activities/Technology (e.g., in-class activities, online games, hands-on activities/manipulatives, outreach, virtual tools, etc.), Assessments, Journal articles

Reprocessable Networks from Vegetable Oils, Salts, and Food Acids: A Green Polymer Outreach Demonstration

Summary

This educational resource presents a hands-on outreach demonstration to explore the concepts of green polymer chemistry and sustainability. The lesson focuses on reprocessable polymer networks—a key innovation in sustainable material development—using common household ingredients such as vegetable oils, citric acid, and baking soda. Students learn about the environmental challenges posed by ...

Type
Laboratory experiment, Lecture or course slides/notes (e.g., PPT, Prezi, PDF), Journal articles

Rudolph Diesel Meets the Soybean: “Greasing” the Wheels of Chemical Education

Summary

This article explores the role of biodiesel as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based fuels, highlighting its historical context, chemical principles, and practical applications. It discusses the contributions of Rudolph Diesel, who originally designed his engine to run on vegetable oil, and examines the modern shift toward biodiesel as an environmentally friendly solution to energy ...

Type
Journal articles

Soybean Oil: Powering a High School Investigation of Biodiesel

Summary

This lab series challenges students to make and analyze biodiesel using soybean oil as a renewable fuel. It aligns with the NGSS Energy standards for K-12 classrooms. The lesson encourages students to tackle global issues with evidence and scientific reasoning. This lab enhances discussions on energy by exploring biodiesel as an alternative to petroleum-based diesel.

Full citation: Rosa, P. D. L ...

Type
Laboratory experiment, Journal articles

Teaching Green Chemistry with Epoxidized Soybean Oil

Summary

The integration of green chemistry principles in academics reflects growing student interest in renewable resources and environmental sustainability, driven by increasing awareness of global climate change. Educators must continually expand their green chemistry pedagogy to align with current industry and research trends. In this article, the synthesis of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) was explored ...

Type
Laboratory experiment, Journal articles