生物原油提炼路上的拦路虎——废水
生物质能产生的石油可以作为化石燃料的可持续替代品。但技术上的挑战使其难以扩大生产规模，并使其在经济上的可行性变得困难。
One technology known as hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) allows for production of biocrude oil from wet biomass such as algae, food waste, or animal manure. This process sidesteps costly drying procedures; however, it creates a wastewater byproduct that is considered an environmental hazard.
一种被称为热液液化(HTL)的技术，可以从海藻、食物垃圾或动物粪便等湿生物质中生产生物原油。这个过程避免了昂贵的干燥程序;然而，它产生的废水副产品被认为是一种环境危害。
A new study from the University of Illinois discusses methods to manage this wastewater, providing a possible path to commercially viable production.
伊利诺伊大学的一项新研究讨论了处理这些废水的方法，为商业化生产提供了可能的途径。
Jamison Watson, doctoral student in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at U of I, says the study provides a comprehensive overview of current wastewater treatment methods that can help producers and researchers going forward.
加州大学农业和生物工程系的博士生Jamison Watson说，这项研究提供了当前废水处理方法的全面概述，可以帮助生产者和研究人员向前迈进。
HTL techniques are still in the exploratory phase. But as oil becomes more expensive and more scarce, Watson predicts that will change.
HTL技术仍处于探索阶段。但是随着石油变得更加昂贵和稀缺，沃森预测这种情况将会改变。
People haven't really started to address engineering challenges like upscaling to a large facility. We just think we're ahead of our time, he says.
“人们还没有真正开始应对工程方面的挑战，比如向大型设施升级。我们只是走在了时代的前面。”他说。
Watson explains the study is a result of a collaboration among researchers working with different aspects of the technologies. Some of that work happens in the research lab of Yuanhui Zhang, professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Illinois. Zhang is Watson's advisor, and co-author of the paper.
沃森解释说，这项研究是研究人员在不同技术领域合作的结果。其中一些工作是在伊利诺伊大学农业与生物工程教授张元辉的研究实验室进行的。张是沃森的导师，也是这篇论文的合著者。
We work on producing oil from biomass such as food waste and algae through HTL. One of the byproducts of this process is the post-HTL wastewater (PHW), also called aqueous phase, Watson says. "We saw this big issue: what can we do with the wastewater? We have no way of managing it; we can't just dilute it; we can't just release it into the environment."
“我们致力于通过HTL从食物垃圾和藻类等生物质中生产石油。这一过程的副产品之一是后htl废水(PHW)，也称为水相，”沃森说。“我们看到了一个大问题:我们该如何处理废水?我们没有办法管理它;不能只是稀释它;也不能只是把它释放到环境中。”
The study provides a detailed analysis of currently available methodologies, and it describes six different approaches to treating PHW. Those include separation of chemicals, cultivation of biomass, anaerobic fermentation, bioelectrochemical systems, hydrothermal gasification, and recycling of PHW as a solvent or reactant for HTL.
该研究对目前可用的方法进行了详细的分析，并描述了六种不同的PHW治理方法。这些技术包括化学物质的分离、生物质的培养、厌氧发酵、生物电化学系统、水热气化以及循环利用PHW作为HTL的溶剂或反应物。
Some of the potential applications created through these approaches include extraction of chemicals and gases, production of electricity or hydrogen, or purifying the liquid so it is clean enough to water crops or even use as drinking water, Watson says.
沃森说，通过这些方法产生的一些潜在应用，包括提取化学物质和气体，生产电力或氢气，或对液体进行净化，使其足够清洁，可以给农作物浇水，甚至用作饮用水。
For each of the six methods, Watson and his collaborators describe the technology, discuss the benefits and challenges, and assess future potential, as well as feasibility of upscaling to commercial application.
对于这六种方法中的每一种，沃森和他的合作者详细描述了技术细节，探讨了益处和挑战，并评估了未来的潜力，以及升级到商业应用的可行性。
