Pros And Cons Of Synthetic Fuel

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The article “Synthetic Fuel Could Eliminate U.S. Need for Crude Oil, Researchers Say” (Princeton University) is about creating a green and more efficient fuel. A group of researchers from Princeton, lead by Christodoulos Floudas, found a way to reduce the need of crude oil by replacing it with a “combination of coal, natural gas and non-food crops to make synthetic fuel” (Princeton University). This makes the country more independent from overseas suppliers. Synthetic fuel also has environmental advantages; researchers believe the use of synthetic fuel could potentially “cut green house emissions by 50 percent over the next few decades” (Princeton University). Accomplishing synthetic fuel would not be quick or easy, Floudas estimated ”it would take 30 to 40 years to fully adopt synthetic fuel and would cost about $1.1 trillion for the entire system” (Princeton University). Synthetic fuel is modified through the Fischer-Tropch process, which makes it cleaner and more efficient than petroleum fuels. Unlike ethanol and other biofuels; the new fuel can be used in both gasoline and dies...

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