Sustainable and Cost-Effective 3D-Printed Calorimeters for Undergraduate Laboratory Experiments

The widespread use of disposable polystyrene (PS) coffee cups as calorimeters in undergraduate chemistry laboratories for thermochemistry and thermodynamics experiments raises environmental and economic concerns, especially in institutions serving large numbers of students. This study explores the practicability of replacing polystyrene (PS) calorimeters with 3D-printed alternatives fabricated from polylactic acid (PLA) and polypropylene (PP). These materials were chosen for their differing cost, sustainability, and chemical resistance profiles. Calorimetric experiments measuring the heats of dissolution of KBr and Na2SO4, and the heat of neutralization of HCl with NaOH, were conducted using both the conventional PS calorimeters and the 3D-printed calorimeters (PLA and PP). Results showed that the PLA and PP calorimeters provided comparable accuracy, improved precision, and excellent agreement with reported literature values while requiring reduced reagent volumes. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) calculations confirmed no statistically significant differences between all the calorimeters used. The PLA calorimeters were identified as the most sustainable and cost-effective option, demonstrating chemical resilience and reproducibility across repeated use. This work offers a practical roadmap for integrating sustainable practices into chemistry education without compromising experimental quality.