RESUMEN
Novel strategies for sustainable replacement of finite fossil fuels are intensely pursued in fundamental research, applied science and industry. In the case of jet fuels used in gas-turbine engine aircrafts, the production and use of synthetic bio-derived kerosenes are advancing rapidly. Microbial biotechnology could potentially also be used to complement the renewable production of jet fuel, as demonstrated by the production of bioethanol and biodiesel for piston engine vehicles. Engineered microbial biosynthesis of medium chain length alkanes, which constitute the major fraction of petroleum-based jet fuels, was recently demonstrated. Although efficiencies currently are far from that needed for commercial application, this discovery has spurred research towards future production platforms using both fermentative and direct photobiological routes.
Asunto(s)
Aeronaves , Biocombustibles/provisión & distribución , Biotecnología/métodos , Hidrocarburos/provisión & distribución , Queroseno/provisión & distribución , Energía Renovable , Alcanos/química , Alcanos/metabolismo , Alcanos/provisión & distribución , Biocombustibles/normas , Etanol/provisión & distribución , Ácidos Grasos/biosíntesis , Ácidos Grasos/química , Hidrocarburos/química , Hidrocarburos/normas , Industrias , Queroseno/normasAsunto(s)
Salud Ambiental , Contaminantes Ambientales , Hidrocarburos , Petróleo , Dióxido de Silicio , Carcinógenos Ambientales , Contaminantes Ambientales/economía , Contaminantes Ambientales/provisión & distribución , Contaminantes Ambientales/toxicidad , Restauración y Remediación Ambiental , Industria Procesadora y de Extracción , Efecto Invernadero , Humanos , Hidrocarburos/economía , Hidrocarburos/provisión & distribución , Hidrocarburos/toxicidad , Petróleo/economía , Petróleo/provisión & distribución , Petróleo/toxicidad , Medición de Riesgo , Factores de Riesgo , Dióxido de Silicio/economía , Dióxido de Silicio/provisión & distribución , Dióxido de Silicio/toxicidadRESUMEN
Most of the progress in human culture has required the exploitation of energy resources. About 100 years ago, the major source of energy shifted from recent solar to fossil hydrocarbons, including liquid and gaseous petroleum. Technology has generally led to a greater use of hydrocarbon fuels for most human activities, making civilization vulnerable to decreases in supply. At this time our knowledge is not sufficient for us to choose between the different estimates of, for example, resources of conventional oil.
Asunto(s)
Evolución Biológica , Cultura , Hidrocarburos/provisión & distribución , Petróleo/economía , Petróleo/provisión & distribución , Animales , Conservación de los Recursos Energéticos , Fuentes Generadoras de Energía/economía , Fuentes Generadoras de Energía/estadística & datos numéricos , Geografía , Hidrocarburos/normas , Petróleo/normas , Petróleo/estadística & datos numéricos , Política , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
Areas of exploration for new hydrocarbons are changing as the hydrocarbon industry seeks new resources for economic and political reasons. Attention has turned from easily accessible onshore regions such as the Middle East to offshore continental shelves. Over the past ten years, there has been a marked shift towards deep-water continental margins (500-2,500 m below sea level). In these more hostile regions, the risk and cost of exploration is higher, but the prize is potentially enormous. The key to these endeavours is a quantitative understanding of the structure and evolution of the thinned crust and lithosphere that underlie these margins.