Biodiesel
4 S# F: O* `) ^0 ~# E/ yYuthachai of Thailand has invented a home-grown alternative to expensive imported diesel, a Biodiesel derived from vegetable oil. Biodiesel is winning political backing in Thailand because it uses coconut and palm oil, both of which are in price slumps, and it limits the reliance on overseas petroleum source, which have become increasingly expensive. : m( w+ V) O6 j' n( r, r
Yuthachai, 56, has patented his coconut-oil fuel-making process. He developed his Biodiesel 18 years ago, using knowledge he gained from working on a plantation and fixing farm machinery. He now sells his fuel at service stations, but refuses to sell his patent, despite attractive offers from overseas oil firms. He is determined to retain control of his formula and keep it accessible to farmers, so they can make their own fuel. 4 F& h- o! n ^8 e! @+ T
There are several formulations of Biodiesel, but Yuthachai is one of the most basic, using 20 parts crude coconut oil to one part kerosene. It requires only simple, affordable technology to make and works in unmodified, slow-running engines. l; t. _0 a3 I. W* b
Despite the public interest in Biodiesel, the government has been cautions about Yuthachai fuel. Since there is currently no regulatory system for vegetable-oil fuels, Yuthachai fuel cannot be used in regular vehicles. But farmers and ferry operators are more enthusiastic, buying 700,000 liters a day of Biodiesel made from crude vegetable oils to run farm machines and boats. Demand is growing: A liter of Biodiesel is 4—6 U.S cents cheaper than diesel.
# ] Y2 H4 ^% H8 [0 LAccording to some scientists, the Biodiesel produced from crude coconut oil may not run through engines as easily as diesel, and fatty-acid deposits can damage engines in the long run. a solution may soon come from using waste cooking oil. An experimental Biodiesel plant to refine the waste oil is being built in Thailand. The plant will show the Biodiesel-making potential of the waste oil is being built in Thailand. The plant will show the Biodiesel-making potential of 60,000 tones of waste cooking oil that Bangkok generates daily.
8 N2 d' r9 P. @. ^: vOther Asian countries have been researching Biodiesel—Malaysia, and the Philippines for 20 years—But Thailand is the first country to have public policy supporting its commercialization.
& O( K: }5 D H9 N- C; jThat trend looks like continuing, with the government in talks with a U.S. company to build a more advanced plant in Thailand. Until that’s working, homegrown Biodiesel will help boost the fortunes of struggling Thais. , ?% d' K, z- d& E" ?- R
: k" \+ e; G' c F/ V- D练习：
; P/ B8 m, P t/ d+ m) S- Y7 P1.Thailand suffers a lot due to the price slumps of its Biodiesel. : G7 Q( a& N1 j+ D/ c0 q1 K3 V
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
, J1 b, A' @$ \* R2.Biodiesel is superior in quality to traditional petroleum. 7 x3 L& B# z# \' K( ^: e9 H# S
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned; M/ r& H ]5 s Y3 b$ m
3.Biodiesel can be made from coconut and palm oil, or from waste cooking oil. % i+ o( O3 T* U3 p; ]6 E3 f
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned/ ` }+ m, u! V4 @! ]' P. y* N
4.Malaysia, and the Philippines are the first countries in the would to have public policy supporting the commercialization of biodiesels.
! k1 J' u' v5 t4 w; p$ M A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
) @ v& I0 M. F- o# M5.Yuthachai’s fuel is welcomed by both farmers and ferry operators for its low prices. 7 ~3 p& U) g. J, W/ ?
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned1 y; \- ?, N# X+ o; ~# {$ P
6.Yuthachai, the inventor of biodiesel, is currently the general manager of a US-Thailand joint venture in Bangkok.
" o3 a, U8 o. d8 c; K( U& o A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned0 k% j+ O }7 ?& C
7.It seems that Yuthachai places his fellow farmers’ interest before his own. , \, P5 P9 f5 g3 l/ x
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not mentioned
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/ g9 k! k& ^# c2 ?3 ~参考答案:! i9 X% c1 j4 p) e
Biodiesel
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发表于 2012-8-15 23:30:26
