Alberta Innovates supports and highlights innovation across Alberta.
Here are seven highlighted stories of energy and resources innovation from the last few years.
Forge Hydrocarbons: renewable fuels technology.
From fryer to flight. Not long ago, it would have been impossible for used cooking oils and fats to have much value beyond their primary use. Then in 2003, University of Alberta professor, David Bressler devised a way to convert this waste into biofuels.
The idea came when he noticed some fats and oils were like hydrocarbon fuels. Except for an acid group at the end of the molecule, they were chemically very close in structure. The trick was to find a way to break off the acid group, leaving the hydrocarbon behind.
Here are seven highlighted stories of energy and resources innovation from the last few years.
Forge Hydrocarbons: renewable fuels technology.
From fryer to flight. Not long ago, it would have been impossible for used cooking oils and fats to have much value beyond their primary use. Then in 2003, University of Alberta professor, David Bressler devised a way to convert this waste into biofuels.
The idea came when he noticed some fats and oils were like hydrocarbon fuels. Except for an acid group at the end of the molecule, they were chemically very close in structure. The trick was to find a way to break off the acid group, leaving the hydrocarbon behind.
