Algae, Coal, and Jatropha: the Future of Aviation Fuels? | Science Blog
We submitted some of this information previously, but not only do we think it bears repeating, it reinforces our contention that coal-to-liquids and bio-fuels are complementary, mutually supportive and synergistic technologies.
Coal-to-liquid conversion provides a broad range of liquid fuels, up to and including, perhaps most importantly, gasoline; and, perhaps just as importantly, complex organic chemical derivatives for our chemicals and plastics industrial manufacturing base. At the same time, algae, and other biological sources, can provide simpler organic compounds for conversion into hydrocarbon fuels other than gasoline, such as alcohol, diesel or jet fuel, while at the same time cleaning up, recycling, emissions, i.e., CO2, from the processes of coal, or any other fossil fuel, utilization.
The technologies complement, enable and conserve each other. They are, truly, synergistic.
An excerpt:
" A C-5 Galaxy, supersized military transport capable of carrying one million pounds, became the Air Force's first coal-powered jet in a test conducted at Memphis, TN, the week of January 15. Using a 50-50 blend of standard aviation fuel and a coal-derived fuel similar to that used by British military jets with great success, the monster aircraft performed ideally, making at least two landings and takeoffs in the test."
(Important to note, isn't it, the implication that, according to this report, British military jets are already using a "coal-derived fuel" ... "with great success"? - JtM)
"Coal may be a fossil fuel to cause objections in some quarters. But if there's one thing the U.S. has that makes it No. 1 in the world, it's coal reserves. And burning them may provide us something to use until we figure out how to grow, store, process and market our future aviation fuels."
And then be able to direct the products of our coal conversion industry into more profitable, more useful process streams for the manufacture of other valuable necessities, we would add.