Profile

The Biorefining Conversions Network

University-based research network forms a vital link with ACR and offers leading-edge pathways tooptimizing value in Albertas resource industry
In mid-2012, Alberta Chamber of Resources Executive Director Brad Anderson was invited to chair the Strategic Advisory Board of the Biorefining Conversions Network, a University of Albertabased group supporting research and development related to biorefining and biomass conversion technologies. With already heavy workloads gobbling up the schedule and competing demands presenting a host of other, perhaps more readily obvious business-related choices, it probably wouldnt have been unreasonable to politely turn the invitation aside. But, digging a little deeper, it soon became clear that the attributes and advantages of participationon behalf both of the ACR membership and the networks growing and diverse partnershipwere huge. The more I looked at what the BCN did and at the caliber of the people involved, the more everything seemed to fall into place with what we do at the ACR, Brad says. The synergies were really amazing: its all about fostering and applying innovation in support of the orderly and responsible development of Albertas resources, capturing the highest value from those resources, all about the discovery and sharing of best practices. And, in assessing the fit, it helped, too, that the BCN had posted a pretty solid track record of performance over the previous three years. To help give focus to the fragments of bioindustrial research and development and create a critical mass of capacity in Alberta, the network was officially launched in April 2009 with an investment of $3 million from the predecessor organization of Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions. As the work ensued, that initial stake was used to leverage additional funds and attract new projects into the network; three years later the total value of funds was roughly C$6.7 million and today runs close to $10 million. BCNs main goal is helping to catalyze the development of a bioindustrial sector in Alberta through a number of targeted outcomes, or side benefits, that include: the development of patentable, commercially viable, novel biomass conversion technologies; technology transfer; and the training of highly qualified personnel. Like any organization or discipline engaged in esoteric leading-edge science, the BCNs world is often (and necessarily)

The BCN Mission: Support Albertas research community, industry, and other partners for the development of advanced bioindustrial technologies compatible with both traditional and emerging industries awash in technical jargon that can easily intimidate the uninitiated. It encompasses terms, for example, such as the biorefining concept, fractionating biomass, nanomembranes, bioplastics, deoxygenation, bio-polyols, and reductive ozonolysis. But appropriately emblematic of the BCNs capacity to transcend technical, organizational, and industrial boundaries in pursuit of broad-based excellence in its work, Dr. David Bressler, BCN Executive Director, and Professor, Agriculture, Food & Nutritional Science, U. of A., can very approachably frame the substance of what the network does in user-friendly terms: Were trying to create a mechanism to do science in a different way, he says. And, often acting as if we were a companys research arm, were working with industry stakeholders across the board from the forestry, energy, chemical, and agricultural sectors to identify ways to diversify product bases through research. Put as plainly as possible, the BCN projects that have made great strides toward commercialization over the yearsinclude: Lipids-to-Hydrocarbon: The refined patented technology converts lipid based products such as animal fats, vegetable oils and other industrial by-products (e.g. tall oil) to valuable hydrocarbons such as solvents, natural gas, jet fuel, diesel and lubricating oil fractions without the need for coreagents, hydrogen, or catalysts. Production of Dimethyl Ether from Biomass: An improved method for catalytic conversion of biomass based methanol to dimethyl ether, a potential fuel and important chemical intermediate. Production of Bio-Polyols and Chemical Intermediates from Lipids: This ongoing program focuses on developing clean, continued on page 65

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continued from page 63 green technologies for the conversion of Alberta-based plant oils into renewable materials and chemicals such as resins, adhesives, and aldehydes. Government-Forestry Industry Linkages: The BCN estab lished working partnerships with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development and forest industry stakeholders (e.g. Weyerhaeuser, Miller Western, West Fraser, Alberta Newsprint) to identify opportunities to convert underutilized forest and pulp and paper byproduct streams to value-added bioproducts, and linked with researchers across Alberta delivering teams around industry needs. Put a bit more formally and technically: the BCN supports research and development of biorefining and biomass conversion technologies using a multidisciplinary approach today centred around feedstock pre-processing and logistics, biocatalysis and fermentation, and advanced chemical conversions. Dr. Bresslerwho also sits on the scientific advisory board of a $350-million US-based venture capital fund and wears many other hats over the course of a typical workday, as wellemphasizes the unique structure of the network as facilitating particularly responsive, flexible, and dynamic partnershipsrelationships that identify or translate research needs, and enable the building of one-of-a-kind academic teams around what industry has identified as its prioritiesan unusual way to do things within the academic system. The recently-formed ACR connection throws a twoway lifeline, one end instilling a more broadly-based and improved awareness in the BCN of the needs of the industry, the other linking ACR members to a research network that rather than selling pre-hatched ideas is, instead, focused on building trust relationships between the research community and industry. You need all the different disciplines academia has to provide in order to support the industry, Dr.Bressler says. So instead of trying to make every academic an applied researcher, its good to have the network to handle the translation.

The BCN actively seeks out academic collaborators and industry partners who share a common interest in shaping the future of bioindustrial technologies, and there are a number of ways to explore the opportunities. Visiting the websiteat www.bcn.ualberta.cais a good first step. The BCN also hosts a strategic meeting each fall, bringing together academic, industrial, and government representatives from the traditionally separate agriculture, forestry, oil and gas, and petrochemical sectors and, again, details of the event can be explored online.

Albertas Industrial Heartland is Canadas largest hydrocarbon processing region and an ideal location for future chemical, petrochemical, oil, and gas investment. Industrial development and investment attraction in the Heartland is guided by a municipal partnership dedicated to ensuring benets for both industry and the community.

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