CANBERRA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Australian scientists believe they may soon be able to use the country's iconic gum trees to develop enough renewable jet fuel for up to 5 percent of the world's aviation industry.
Scientists from the Australian National University (ANU) said by using compounds called monoterpenes found in eucalyptus oil, they could create a "high energy," low-carbon fuel suitable for use in missiles and jet planes.
Lead researcher Carsten Kulheim from the ANU Research School of Biology said if gum trees, part of the eucalypt family, were planted in the same numbers as those planted for paper, they could provide enough fuel for "5 percent" of the world's airplanes.
"If we could plant 20 million hectares of eucalyptus species worldwide, which is currently the same amount that is planted for pulp and paper, we would be able to produce enough jet fuel for five percent of the aviation industry," Kulheim said in a statement on Monday.
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