Oleotek Inc.: Green chemistry and wealth creation

Experts in action!

Founded in 2002 as a non-profit coproration, Oleotek manages the activities of the Cégep de Thetford college technology transfer centre in industrial oleochemistry.

Its mission? To contribute to the growth and development of the regional hub of excellence in industrial oleochemistry by providing quality services to businesses ranging from applied research and technical assistance through technological innovation projects to information dissemination and training.

What is oleochemistry? Oleochemistry deals with the physicochemical transformation of vegetable oils and animal fats into various bioproducts.

This practice dates back to Antiquity. Did your ancestors make their own soaps? If so, a branch of your family tree helped to sprout the buds of oleochemistry.

Oleochemistry is not just a transformation process used to develop environmentally-friendly products. It is also a tool for revitalizing the economy of Les Appalaches Regional County Municipality (RCM), which is facing a sad reality: the phasing out of asbestos mines that used to employ several hundred people.

A one-of-a-kind facility in eastern Canada

In 2009, Oleotek established an anti-explosion pilot plant in 2009. Thanks to reactors, extractors, decanters and other state-of-the-art equipment, Oleotek can now:

• offer scaling up services for processes developed at lab scale; 
• produce batches of up to several tons; and
• adapt existing technologies.

Oleotek’s first mandates included developing an automobile rust proofing product and an R&D project on insulating electrical oils for transformers developed from modified vegetable oils.

“In the past, many oleochemical products—or bioproducts—some of them biodegradable, others, compostable, were developed,  but they were not always effective, or very economical,” noted Cyril Devauchelle, Oleotek’s Director of Business Development, “and even less so in our northern climate. The team is very excited about taking up the challenge of developing efficient, cost-effective bioproducts. This is the expertise we are building.”

Between its research and mandates for SMEs, there’s certainly no shortage of work. Researchers continue to join the team and new alliances are being forged. Canada Economic Development has been a partner of Oleotek from the outset. Since 2003, the Agency has awarded the corporation various contributions for its market study for the establishment of pilot plant and business development activities with Quebec enterprises.

In Oleotek’s laboratories, chemists and technicians work on developing renewable products derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. Intended to replace petroleum products in the composition of such products as plastics, fuels and lubricants, these innovations lead not only to sustainable development, but also to the economic diversification of the Les Appalaches RCM.

Oleotek’s activities are also in line with Canada Economic Development’s Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) through the manufacture of greener products.

Chances are that the region will become THE national benchmark in oleochemistry.