#833: Forge Hydrocarbons: New Technology Explained

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Forge Hydrocarbons is a start-up formed to commercialize a new way to produce biodiesel and gasoline from waste.

Dr. David Bressler is the inventor and science advisor to Forge Hydrocarbons.

DR DAVID BRESSLER:  The technology we adopted really has roots in and is similar to some of the coking technology that’s used in the bitumen upgrading world here in Alberta.  So the Syncrude-Suncor kind of technologies.  And because it’s a high temperature, high pressure process, the secret is, it also doesn’t require a catalyst or hydrogen.  So it allows us to use much dirtier, much less valuable feedstocks, which creates a better market opportunity as we convert it to hydrocarbons.   It also means the chemistry we’re doing, well, if you want to call it chemistry, is more like cooking than it is a chemical reaction.  And some of the solvents and other co-products we’re targeting have a unique status with, for example, the cosmetics industry, having not had a reagent or catalyst added to them.

With recent funding Forge Hydrocarbons is now designing a demonstration plant.  Dr Bressler says the technology is economical, has a tiny carbon footprint, and can be built on a small scale.

Thanks today to Alberta Innovates.

Listen to the full interview with David Bressler at Innovation Anthology.com

I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

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Alberta Innovates

Alberta Innovates is a provincially funded Corporation with a mandate to deliver 21st century solutions for the most compelling challenges facing Albertans. We do this by building on our province’s research and technology development strengths in the core sectors of health, environment, energy, food and fibre and platforms such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and omics. We are working with our partners to diversify Alberta’s economy, improve our environmental performance and enhance our well-being through research and innovation. 

The Alberta Innovates system has roots stretching back almost 90 years

In March, 2016 the consolidation of Alberta Innovates was announced and on November 1, a single, integrated innovation powerhouse, Alberta Innovates, was formed. Two applied research subsidiaries – Innotech Alberta and C-Fer Technologies –  serve public and private sector interests.

The Alberta Innovates system was first created in January 2010, as part of an overall innovation framework developed within the Alberta Research and Innovation Act. At that time, four corporations were established:

  • Bio Solutions
  • Energy and Environment Solutions
  • Health Solutions
  • Technology Futures.

The Alberta Innovates system has a 90-year legacy. Our expertise is built on the successes of:

  • Alberta Institute for Agriculture
  • Forestry and the Environment
  • Alberta Agricultural Research Institute
  • Alberta Forestry Research Institute
  • Alberta Life Sciences Institute
  • Alberta Ingenuity
  • Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
  • Alberta Research Council
  • iCORE
  • nanoAlberta
  • Alberta Water Research Institute (AWRI)
  • Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI)
  • Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA).

 

Program Date: 2016-12-20