龙舌兰可能是解决澳大利亚交通燃料危机的答案

龙舌兰可能是解决澳大利亚交通燃料危机的答案

A team of researchers at the University of Exeter and University of Adelaide has found the agave plant used to make tequila could be established in semi-arid Australia as alternative to fuel.

埃克塞特大学和阿德莱德大学的一个研究小组发现，用来制作龙舌兰酒的龙舌兰植物可以在半干旱的澳大利亚种植，作为燃料的替代品。

In addition, the efficient, low-water process could also help produce ethanol for hand sanitiser, which is in high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

此外，这种高效、低水的工艺还可以帮助生产用于洗手液的乙醇，而在19日的流感大流行期间，乙醇的需求量很大。

The plant, a high-sugar succulent widely grown in Mexico to make the alcoholic drink tequila now has the potential to produce bioethanol (biofuel), according to University of Sydney agronomist Associate Professor Daniel Tan.

据悉尼大学农学副教授丹尼尔坦(Daniel Tan)介绍，这种植物是一种高糖多汁植物，在墨西哥广泛种植，用来生产龙舌兰酒，现在有潜力生产生物乙醇(生物燃料)。

“The agave plant is now being grown as a biofuel source on the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland by MSF Sugar, and it promises some significant advantages over existing sources of bioethanol such as sugarcane and corn,” Professor Tan said.

谭教授说：“这种龙舌兰植物目前正被无国界医生作为生物燃料在昆士兰北部的阿瑟顿高原上种植，它有望比甘蔗和玉米等现有的生物乙醇资源具有一些显著的优势。”。

“Agave is an environmentally friendly crop that we can grow to produce ethanol-based fuels and healthcare products,” said he says.

他说:“龙舌兰是一种环保作物，我们可以种植它来生产以乙醇为基础的燃料和保健产品。”

“It can grow in semi-arid areas without irrigation; and it does not compete with food crops or put demands on limited water and fertiliser supplies. Agave is heat and drought tolerant and can survive Australia’s hot summers.”

“它可以在没有灌溉的半干旱地区生长;它不与粮食作物竞争，也不要求有限的水和肥料供应。龙舌兰耐高温、耐旱，可以在澳大利亚炎热的夏季生存。”

Professor Tan assembled the research team and led its economic analysis.

谭教授召集了研究小组并领导了其经济分析。

“The results suggest that bioethanol derived from agave is superior to that from corn and sugarcane in terms of water consumption and quality, greenhouse gas emissions, as well as ethanol output.”

“结果表明，从龙舌兰中提取的生物乙醇在用水量、质量、温室气体排放以及乙醇产量方面都优于从玉米和甘蔗中提取的生物乙醇。”