Test biofuel from desert plants

Biofuels are of course derived from plants, but developing this form affects agricultural land.

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Therefore, the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Group (SRBC) selects desert plants, which can be irrigated with seawater to produce biofuels more efficiently than existing materials.

SRBC biofuel production model - (Photo: SRBC)

SRBC links research with the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi, which receives funding from Boeing, Etihad Airways and Honeywell UOP to develop and commercialize sustainable biofuels, emitting a quality environment. carbon is 50-80% lower than fossil fuels in use. The types of desert plants in the study are called generic halophytes.

Researchers at SRBC found that halophytes contains the right amount of oil for biofuel production and can exploit this whole bush to exploit fuel more efficiently than other plant sources.

In order to test this finding, scientists in the SRBC team will create two ecosystems every year, halophytes will be grown on sandy soil in Abu Dhabi, these plants will be irrigated with sea water and fertilizer. waste from fish and shrimp.

Gizmag magazine quoted Dr. Alejandro Rios, director of SBRC, said the project could have global impact because up to 97% of the water is in the oceans and 20% of the land of the green planet is desert. .