U.S. firm says it can "grow" diesel

    BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhuanet) -- A biotechnology(生物技术) company says it can produce diesel¹ using the same ingredients(配制成分) that make grass grow, media reported on Monday.
    The Massachusetts company Joule Unlimited² has created a genetically³ engineered organism(有机体) capable of producing diesel fuel or ethanol, which can be used to run cars and jet engines.
    Joule, a producer of alternative energy technologies, was founded in 2007 and based in Cambridge.
    The organism that Joule created is called a cyanobacterium, and it uses water, sunlight and carbon dioxide to produce and secrete⁴ renewable fuels.
    Researchers have created fuel from solar energy through the use of corn and algae⁵. But biomass is the “Achilles' heel” of biofuel production because of its fluctuating costs and the expense of transporting, processing and disposing of it, the company CEO Bill Sims said.
    Joule’s process for photosynthetic⁶ fuel production uses a solar converter and microorganism to capture sunlight and convert carbon dioxide and water directly into liquid fuels and chemicals.
    Joule claims that it can produce renewable fuels and chemicals — including 15,000 gallons of diesel per acre annually⁷ at full commercial scale — at yields that are up to 50 times greater than processes that use biomass.
    In its projection⁸, Joule can produce diesel for as low as 30 U.S. dollars a barrel, including all of its costs, and ethanol for 50 dollars a barrel.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 diesel   

n.柴油发动机，内燃机

参考例句：

• We experimented with diesel engines to drive the pumps.我们试着用柴油机来带动水泵。
• My tractor operates on diesel oil.我的那台拖拉机用柴油开动。

2 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

3 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

4 secrete   

vt.分泌；隐匿，使隐秘

参考例句：

• The pores of your body secrete sweat.身上的毛孔分泌汗液。
• Squirrels secrete a supply of nuts for winter.松鼠为准备过冬而藏坚果。

5 algae   

n.水藻，海藻

参考例句：

• Most algae live in water.多数藻类生长在水中。
• Algae grow and spread quickly in the lake.湖中水藻滋蔓。

6 photosynthetic   

adj.光合的，促进光合作用的

参考例句：

• In some plants photosynthetic products are stored in the form polyfructosans. 在有些植物中，光合作用产物是以多聚果糖的形式储藏。
• Chlorotic or necrotic lesions were evidence of decreased photosynthetic tissues. 缺绿的或坏死的侵蚀斑便是减少了光合组织的证据。

7 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

8 projection   

n.发射，计划，突出部分

参考例句：

• Projection takes place with a minimum of awareness or conscious control.投射在最少的知觉或意识控制下发生。
• The projection of increases in number of house-holds is correct.对户数增加的推算是正确的。