Bilal Bomani: Plant fuels that could power a jet

Translator: Fran Ontanaya Reviewer: Morton Bast

譯者: Fred Lee 審譯者: Regina Chu

What I'm going to do is, I'm going to explain to you

各位，我將在此向您介紹一種

an extreme green concept

極其綠色環保的概念，

that was developed at NASA's Glenn Research Center

源自太空總署格倫研究中心，

in Cleveland, Ohio.

位於俄亥俄州克利夫蘭。

But before I do that, we have to go over

但在正式開始前，我們必須先就

the definition of what green is,

何為綠色環保下個明確定義，

'cause a lot of us have a different definition of it.

因為每個人對此都有不同的定義。

Green. The product is created through

綠色環保：該產物是以

environmentally and socially conscious means.

具環保和社會意識的方式創造出來。

There's plenty of things that are being called green now.

目前，稱為綠色環保的產物很多。

What does it actually mean?

究竟什麼才是真正的綠色環保？

We use three metrics to determine green.

我們從三項指標判斷。

The first metric is: Is it sustainable?

第一：它是否具備永續性？

Which means, are you preserving what you are doing for future use

也就是說，您是否保留了資源給將來

or for future generations?

或給下一代使用？

Is it alternative? Is it different than what is being used today,

它是否可替代？是否不同於 目前使用的物質，

or does it have a lower carbon footprint

相較於傳統用途，

than what's used conventionally?

其產生的碳足跡是否更少？

And three: Is it renewable?

第三：是否可循環利用？

Does it come from Earth's natural replenishing resources,

是否取自地球上 可再生的自然資源，

such as sun, wind and water?

例如陽光、風和水資源？

Now, my task at NASA is to develop

目前，我在太空總署負責的工作就是

the next generation of aviation fuels.

開發新一代航空燃料。

Extreme green. Why aviation?

必須是極其綠色環保。 為什麼是航空燃料？

The field of aviation uses more fuel than just about

因為航空領域的燃料使用量高於

every other combined. We need to find an alternative.

其它各領域的合計用量。 尋找替代能源的行動刻不容緩。

Also it's a national aeronautics directive.

這也是美國發佈的一項航空指令。

One of the national aeronautics goals is to develop

國家航天部門計劃達成的目標之一

the next generation of fuels, biofuels,

是使用本國安全、環保的資源，

using domestic and safe, friendly resources.

開發新一代生質燃料。

Now, combating that challenge

如今，為了迎戰此項挑戰

we have to also meet the big three metric —

我們還必須滿足這三項重要指標。

Actually, extreme green for us is all three together;

事實上，對我們而言極其綠色 就是同時滿足這三大指標，

that's why you see the plus there. I was told to say that.

這也是你看到「加號」的原因。 有人說應該這麼表達。

So it has to be the big three at GRC. That's another metric.

所以在格倫你必須達到這三大標準。 還有另一項準則。

Ninety-seven percent of the world's water is saltwater.

97% 的地球水資源是海水。

How about we use that? Combine that with number three.

我們該如何利用呢？ 試試從第三點要求出發。

Do not use arable land.

不得使用耕地。

Because crops are already growing on that land

因為耕地主要用於農作物生長

that's very scarce around the world.

目前耕地已成為地球上的稀缺資源。

Number two: Don't compete with food crops.

第二：不得影響其它糧食作物。

That's already a well established entity, they don't need another entry.

地球已經是一個成型的實體， 不需要外來物入侵。

And lastly the most precious resource we have on this Earth

最後一點，地球上最寶貴的資源

is fresh water. Don't use fresh water.

就是淡水。 所以，不得使用淡水。

If 97.5 percent of the world's water is saltwater,

如果海水資源 占地球水資源的 97.5%，

2.5 percent is fresh water. Less than a half percent

那麼淡水資源只有 2.5%。 其中可供人類開發利用的

of that is accessible for human use.

連一半都不到。

But 60 percent of the population lives within that one percent.

而這僅有的 1% 還需要供養全球 60% 的人口。

So, combating my problem was, now I have to be extreme green

所以，要解決我的難題， 就必須做到極其綠色環保，

and meet the big three. Ladies and gentlemen,

並能達到這三大要求。 女士們，先生們，

welcome to the GreenLab Research Facility.

歡迎參觀「綠實驗室」研究中心。

This is a facility dedicated to the next generation

我們中心主要利用鹽土植物

of aviation fuels using halophytes.

生產新一代航空燃料。

A halophyte is a salt-tolerating plant.

鹽土植物是一種抗鹽植物。

Most plants don't like salt, but halophytes tolerate salt.

大部分植物都不具備抗鹽性， 但鹽土植物可以。

We also are using weeds

我們同樣也使用雜草，

and we are also using algae.

我們也使用藻類。

The good thing about our lab is, we've had

好消息是過去兩年，

3,600 visitors in the last two years.

已有 3,600 名參觀者來訪。

Why do you think that's so?

為什麼是好消息呢？

Because we are on to something special.

因為我們可是在做一件了不起的事。

So, in the lower you see the GreenLab obviously,

位於下方的是綠實驗室,

and on the right hand side you'll see algae.

右側的就是藻類。

If you are into the business of the next generation

如果您也在從事新一代 航空燃料的研發工作，

of aviation fuels, algae is a viable option,

那麼藻類會是一項不錯的選擇，

there's a lot of funding right now,

目前已撥了不少專款，

and we have an algae to fuels program.

我們就選了一種用於燃料研發。

There's two types of algae growing.

我們正在種植的藻類共有兩種。

One is a closed photobioreactor that you see here,

一種是您看到的利用封閉型 光生物反應器種植的藻類，

and what you see on the other side is our species —

而在另一側的， 是我們特別種植的品種——

we are currently using a species called Scenedesmus dimorphus.

目前我們正在使用一種 叫做二形柵藻的藻類。

Our job at NASA is to take the experimental and computational

我們在太空總署的工作 是進行試驗和計算，

and make a better mixing for the closed photobioreactors.

找出更適宜用於 封閉光生物反應器的混合物。

Now the problems with closed photobioreactors are:

目前用封閉光生物反應器的問題有：

They are quite expensive, they are automated,

設備成本高，都採用自動化操作，

and it's very difficult to get them in large scale.

難以用於大規模生產。

So on large scale what do they use?

那麼，大規模生產要用什麼？

We use open pond systems. Now, around the world

我們利用露天池塘系統。 目前，世界各地

they are growing algae, with this racetrack design

都採用您所見到的 賽車跑道型池塘養殖藻類。

that you see here. Looks like an oval with

它看上去像橢圓形，

a paddle wheel and mixes really well,

裝了水車且攪拌順暢，

but when it gets around the last turn, which I call turn four — it's stagnant.

但當它轉到最後一圈， 就是我所說的第四圈時，就會卡住。

We actually have a solution for that.

對於這一點我們已有一個解決方案。

In the GreenLab in our open pond system

在綠實驗室的露天池塘系統

we use something that happens in nature: waves.

我們利用自然現象：波浪。

We actually use wave technology on our open pond systems.

我們真的把波浪技術 用在我們的露天池塘系統。

We have 95 percent mixing and our lipid content is higher

我們的攪拌率達 95%， 而我們的油脂含量更高，

than a closed photobioreactor system,

相較於封閉光合反應器系統，

which we think is significant.

在我們看來這點很重要。

There is a drawback to algae, however: It's very expensive.

使用藻類也有弊端： 它的成本較高。

Is there a way to produce algae inexpensively?

是否有成本更低的藻類養殖方法？

And the answer is: yes.

答案是當然有。

We do the same thing we do with halophytes,

我們把對待鹽土植物的方法 照搬到藻類，

and that is: climatic adaptation.

即：氣候適應性。

In our GreenLab we have six primary ecosystems

綠實驗室分六大主要生態系統，

that range from freshwater all the way to saltwater.

從淡水向鹽水延伸。

What we do: We take a potential species, we start at freshwater,

我們的方法是拿一種 具潛力的物種，先用淡水養，

we add a little bit more salt, when the second tank here

在第二個培養池則加一點鹽，

will be the same ecosystem as Brazil —

使其生態系統與巴西相同，

right next to the sugar cane fields you can have our plants —

即模擬甘蔗田旁的環境， 來培育我們的藻類。

the next tank represents Africa, the next tank represents Arizona,

下一個培養池模擬非洲， 再下一個是亞利桑那州，

the next tank represents Florida,

然後是佛羅里達州，

and the next tank represents California or the open ocean.

最後則模擬加州或公海。

What we are trying to do is to come up with a single species

我們的目的是找出一種 可在世界各地都能活的物種，

that can survive anywhere in the world, where there's barren desert.

包括荒漠地帶。

We are being very successful so far.

目前我們已卓有成效。

Now, here's one of the problems.

但還有一個問題有待解決。

If you are a farmer, you need five things to be successful: You need seeds,

如果你是個農民，就需要 五樣東西確保收成：

種子、土壤、水和陽光，

you need soil, you need water and you need sun,

and the last thing that you need is fertilizer.

最後就是肥料。

Most people use chemical fertilizers. But guess what?

大部分人使用化肥。 但你們可能不知道吧？

We do not use chemical fertilizer.

我們不使用化肥。

Wait a second! I just saw lots of greenery in your GreenLab. You have to use fertilizer.

等一下！我才在綠實驗室看到很多 綠色植物，不可能不使用化肥。

Believe it or not, in our analysis of our saltwater ecosystems

無論你信不信，我們對鹽水 生態系統的分析發現，

80 percent of what we need are in these tanks themselves.

我們 80% 的所需物質 可在這些培養池自行生成。

The 20 percent that's missing is nitrogen and phosphorous.

其餘缺少的 20% 是氮和磷。

We have a natural solution: fish.

有一種天然方法可以解決：養魚。

No we don't cut up the fish and put them in there.

當然不是把魚剁碎放在那裡。

Fish waste is what we use. As a matter of fact

我們利用的是魚排出的廢物。

we use freshwater mollies, that we've used our climatic adaptation technique

實際上我們使用淡水花鱂， 但通過氣候適應性技術

from freshwater all the way to seawater.

將其養在從淡水到海水的池子裡。

Freshwater mollies: cheap, they love to make babies,

淡水花鱂價格低廉，很愛生小孩，

and they love to go to the bathroom.

而且好喜歡上廁所。

And the more they go to the bathroom, the more fertilizer we get,

而且牠們去廁所愈多次， 我們獲得的肥料就愈多，

the better off we are, believe it or not.

我們藻類就養得愈好， 信不信由你。

It should be noted that we use sand as our soil,

還有一點必須注意的是 我們用沙土作為土壤，

regular beach sand. Fossilized coral.

採用普通沙灘沙，珊瑚化石。

So a lot of people ask me, "How did you get started?"

有很多人問我： 「你們是怎麼起步的？」

Well, we got started in what we call the indoor biofuels lab.

一切都起源於我們的 室內生質燃料實驗室。

It's a seedling lab. We have 26 different species of halophytes,

這是一座種苗實驗室。我們已有 26 種不同的鹽土植物品種，

and five are winners. What we do here is —

並有 5 種極有展望。 我們目前在進行的

actually it should be called a death lab, 'cause we try to

可說是死亡實驗， 因為我們設法將幼苗殺死，

kill the seedlings, make them rough —

讓它們能忍耐惡劣環境，

and then we come to the GreenLab.

然後再轉移到綠實驗室。

What you see in the lower corner

您可以在下方角落處看到

is a wastewater treatment plant experiment

我們利用污水處理方法

that we are growing, a macro-algae that I'll talk about in a minute.

培植大型藻類的實驗， 稍後我會談及。

And lastly, it's me actually working in the lab to prove to you I do work,

最後，是我親手在實驗室操作一切， 證明我真的有做事，

I don't just talk about what I do.

我不是出張嘴就好。

Here's the plant species. Salicornia virginica.

現在這是第一種植物： 美國珊瑚草。

It's a wonderful plant. I love that plant.

這是種絕妙的植物，我愛死了。

Everywhere we go we see it. It's all over the place, from Maine

無論到哪兒我們都會看到它。 到處都是。

從緬因州到加州都能看到。 我們喜歡這種植物。

all the way to California. We love that plant.

Second is Salicornia bigelovii. Very difficult to get around the world.

第二種是畢氏海蓬子。 世界各地都很難看到。

It is the highest lipid content that we have,

它在我們所有植物當中 脂質含量最高，

but it has a shortcoming: It's short.

但有個短處：太短太矮了。

Now you take europaea, which is the largest or the tallest plant that we have.

現在你看到的是海蓬子， 我們擁有的最大或最高的植物。

And what we are trying to do

我們試圖

with natural selection or adaptive biology — combine all three

用天擇或適應生物學， 將三者合一

to make a high-growth, high-lipid plant.

培育出長的高、脂質高的植物。

Next, when a hurricane decimated the Delaware Bay — soybean fields gone —

接下來，颶風侵襲德拉瓦灣後， 大豆農田消失了，

we came up with an idea: Can you have a plant

我們有了一個想法： 我們能不能找到

that has a land reclamation positive in Delaware? And the answer is yes.

一種利於德拉瓦州土地 墾植的植物？答案是肯定的。

It's called seashore mallow. Kosteletzkya virginica —

它叫做海濱錦葵。海濱錦葵—

say that five times fast if you can.

用你最快的速度說五遍。

This is a 100 percent usable plant. The seeds: biofuels. The rest: cattle feed.

這種植物百分之百可利用。 種子當生質燃料。其餘當牛草料。

It's there for 10 years; it's working very well.

它已在那長了十年；實用性非常好。

Now we get to Chaetomorpha.

現在我們看一下硬毛藻。

This is a macro-algae that loves

這是一種大藻類，就愛營養過剩。

excess nutrients. If you are in the aquarium industry

如果你從事水族產業，

you know we use it to clean up dirty tanks.

你就知道我們用它清潔髒水池。

This species is so significant to us.

這個物種對我們意義重大。

The properties are very close to plastic.

它的特性和塑膠非常接近。

We are trying right now to convert this macro-algae into a bioplastic.

目前我們正在嘗試把這種 大藻類轉化成生物塑膠。

If we are successful, we will revolutionize the plastics industry.

如果我們成功了， 我們將會革新塑膠工業。

So, we have a seed to fuel program.

所以，我們有「種子變燃料」計畫。

We have to do something with this biomass that we have.

我們必須用這種生質做些什麼。

And so we do G.C. extraction, lipid optimization, so on and so forth,

所以我們做氣相層析萃取， 脂質優化等實驗。

because our goal really is to come up with

因為我們真正的目標是研發出

the next generation of aviation fuels, aviation specifics, so on and so forth.

下一代航空燃油， 航空專用產品等等。

So far we talked about water and fuel,

目前為止我們討論了水和燃料，

but along the way we found out something interesting about Salicornia:

但是隨著時間推移我們發現 一件和海蓬子有關的趣事：

It's a food product.

這是一種食品。

So we talk about ideas worth spreading, right?

所以我們在談值得傳播的想法，對吧？

How about this: In sub-Saharan Africa, next to the sea, saltwater,

這樣如何？在撒哈拉以南的非洲， 靠近海邊，鹽水，

barren desert, how about we take that plant,

貧瘠的沙漠，我們不妨帶這種植物去，

plant it, half use for food, half use for fuel.

進行種植，一半用於食物， 一半用於燃料。

We can make that happen, inexpensively.

我們可以做到這點，這很便宜。

You can see there's a greenhouse in Germany

你們可以看到，德國有一個溫室，

that sells it as a health food product.

把它當成健康食品出售。

This is harvested, and in the middle here is a shrimp dish, and it's being pickled.

這是採下來的，中間是 一道蝦菜，正在醃製中。

So I have to tell you a joke. Salicornia is known as sea beans,

我得給大家說個笑話。 海蓬子又被稱為海菜豆，

saltwater asparagus and pickle weed.

海蘆筍和鹽角草。

So we are pickling pickle weed in the middle.

所以我們在中間鹽漬鹽角草。

Oh, I thought it was funny. (Laughter)

哦，我還以為這很好笑。（笑聲）

And at the bottom is seaman's mustard. It does make sense,

最後是水手的芥菜。 這樣說是有道理的，

this is a logical snack. You have mustard,

這是一種想當然爾的點心， 你有芥菜，

you are a seaman, you see the halophyte, you mix it together,

你是一名水手，你看到這種 耐鹽植物，把它混在一起，

it's a great snack with some crackers.

和薄脆餅搭配是道很好的點心。

And last, garlic with Salicornia, which is what I like.

最後，就是我喜歡的蒜漬海蓬子。

So, water, fuel and food.

因此，水，燃料，食物。

None of this is possible without the GreenLab team.

對於綠實驗室團隊，一切都有可能。

Just like the Miami Heat has the big three, we have the big three at NASA GRC.

正如邁阿密熱火隊有三巨頭一樣， 太空總署的綠實驗室也有三巨頭。

That's myself, professor Bob Hendricks, our fearless leader, and Dr. Arnon Chait.

就是我，我們無所畏懼的隊長 韓巴柏教授和夏安農博士。

The backbone of the GreenLab is students.

綠實驗室的支柱是學生。

Over the last two years we've had 35 different students

在過去兩年中我們 有過 35 個學生，

from around the world working at GreenLab.

他們來自世界各地， 在綠實驗室工作。

As a matter fact my division chief says a lot, "You have a green university."

事實上，我們的主任經常說： 「你在辦一所綠色大學。」

I say, "I'm okay with that, 'cause we are nurturing

我說：「我同意您的說法， 因為我們在培育

the next generation of extreme green thinkers, which is significant."

下一代頂尖的 環保思想家，這點很重要。」

So, in first summary I presented to you what we think

所以，我想總結一下， 首先我向大家介紹了

我們認為一種食物、燃料和水的 全球化解決方案。

is a global solution for food, fuel and water.

There's something missing to be complete.

這其中漏了一樣東西。

Clearly we use electricity. We have a solution for you —

很明顯，我們使用電能。 我們向各位介紹一個解決方案——

We're using clean energy sources here.

我們實驗室用的是清潔能源。

So, we have two wind turbines connected to the GreenLab,

所以，我們有兩個風力發電組 和綠實驗室相連，

we have four or five more hopefully coming soon.

我們希望很快會有第四個、第五個。

We are also using something that is quite interesting —

我們也使用一些很有意思的東西。

there is a solar array field at NASA's Glenn Research Center,

太空總署格倫研究中心 有一個太陽能電池方陣，

hasn't been used for 15 years.

15 年沒有用過了。

Along with some of my electrical engineering colleagues,

我和幾位電氣工程專業的同事，

we realized that they are still viable,

我們意識到這個方陣還能使用，

so we are refurbishing them right now.

於是我們正在翻新，

In about 30 days or so they'll be connected to the GreenLab.

大約 30 天後它們將被接入綠實驗室。

And the reason why you see red, red and yellow, is

大家之所以看到紅、紅和黃，

a lot of people think NASA employees don't work on Saturday —

是因為許多人認為太空總署的員工 週六休息。

This is a picture taken on Saturday.

這是一張在週六拍的照片。

There are no cars around, but you see my truck in yellow. I work on Saturday. (Laughter)

附近沒有汽車，但是大家能看到我的 黃色卡車。我週六工作的。（笑聲）

This is a proof to you that I'm working.

這是我在上班的證明。

'Cause we do what it takes to get the job done, most people know that.

因為我們竭盡全力去實現工作目標， 多數人知道這點。

Here's a concept with this:

有個與此相關的概念：

We are using the GreenLab for a micro-grid test bed

我們把綠實驗室接上 一座微型電網試驗場，

for the smart grid concept in Ohio.

為了俄亥俄州的智慧電網概念。

We have the ability to do that, and I think it's going to work.

我們有能力實現目標， 而且我認為它會卓有成效。

So, GreenLab Research Facility.

這就是綠實驗室研究中心。

A self-sustainable renewable energy ecosystem was presented today.

今天我介紹了一個能 自給自足的可再生能源生態系統。

We really, really hope this concept catches on worldwide.

我們真的非常希望 這個概念會在世界範圍流行。

We think we have a solution for food, water, fuel and now energy. Complete.

我們認為我們的解決方案覆蓋了 食物、水、燃料和新能源。很全面。

It's extreme green, it's sustainable, alternative and renewable

這個方案極其環保，而且具有 永續性、可替代性和可再生性。

and it meets the big three at GRC:

它滿足格倫研究中心三大原則：

Don't use arable land, don't compete with food crops,

不占用耕地，不和糧食作物競爭，

and most of all, don't use fresh water.

以及不使用淡水。

So I get a lot of questions about, "What are you doing in that lab?"

經常有人問我： 「你在那個實驗室做什麼？」

And I usually say, "None of your business, that's what I'm doing in the lab." (Laughter)

我通常會說：「我在實驗室裡做的事 和你一點關聯也沒有。」（笑聲）

And believe it or not, my number one goal

信不信由你，我在這項計畫上的

for working on this project is

頭號目標是

I want to help save the world.

我想幫忙拯救這個世界。