Leaf concentrate mass experiment: Difference between revisions

Michigan Tech's Open Sustainability Technology LabContact Dr. Joshua Pearce at Free Appropriate Sustainable Technology.

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Introduction

The goal of this experiment is to combine your data with many other people's data to find the most effective low-cost means of producing leaf concentrate at the household scale. The general experiment is to grind up a known mass of leaves, squeeze out the liquid, boil the liquid, and skimming off the protein concentrate, dry it and weigh it. We want to know what way gets the most protein concentrate from a given amount of leaves.

Safety

Follow standard safety procedures for the equipment you use. The risks for doing this experiment are similar to cooking dinner. Do not eat the leaf concentrate unless it has already been shown to be non-toxic. ALLFED is currently working on toxic screening all known types of leaves.

Equipment or Bill of Materials

Used for all methods

1. 100 g. of Leaves
2. heating element
3. pot
4. container
5. tap water (as needed)

Method 1

1. blender
2. cheesecloth
3. sieve

Method 2

1. juicer

Method 3

1. blender
2. Press

Operation & Procedure

1. Identify and obtain leaves. These must be killed leaves (e.g. you strip them off of the tree in your back yard) - not dead leaves (e.g. leaf litter). If you are having trouble identifying the leaves use this guide from The Arborday Foundation
2. Weigh out 100g
3. Obtain juice from leaves by method 1:
   1. Blend leaves into fine pulp in blender
   2. wrap leaf grounds in cheesecloth
   3. Place wrapped leaves in rapidly boiling water, boil for five minutes.
   4. Remove leaves, and use sieve to strain while pressing cheesecloth.
   5. Collect skimmed concentrate in a clean container
   6. Put concentrate in clean pot - drive off water at medium heat
   7. When dry weight and record concentrate mass

Repeat experiment for each leaf type 3 times.

or

1. Obtain juice from leaves by method 2:
   1. Put leaves in juicer
   2. Boil leaf juice (possibly with added water) for 5 minutes
   3. Collect skimmed concentrate in a clean container
   4. Put concentrate in clean pot - drive off water at medium heat
   5. When dry weight and record concentrate mass

Repeat experiment for each leaf type 3 times.

Data to email to pearce@mtu.edu

1. Method used and equipment used -- e.g. type of grinder used (e.g. make model of blender or juicer),
2. Leaf type
3. mass from #1, #2, and #3 repetitions

References

• https://www.leafforlife.org/PAGES/MAKINGLC.HTM

• https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/data/compendium-botanicals