April 2009 by Chemical Institute of Canada

l’actualité chimique canadienne canadian chemical news ACCN

APRIL|AVRIL • 2009 • Vol. 61, No./n o 4

LOOKING GOOD!

Ways Chemistry is Helping us Look and Feel Great

Cosmetics • Functional Foods • Nutraceuticals A Publication of the Chemical Institute of Canada and Constituent Societies / Une publication de l’Institut de chimie du Canada et ses sociétés constituantes

CONTENTS

APRIL|AVRIL • 2009 • Vol. 61, No./n o 4

16 FEATURE

DEPARTMENTS 4

Guest Column Chroniqueur invité By Joe Schwarcz, MCIC

Letters Lettres

News Nouvelles

When Serendipity and Chemistry Collide How Cover FX is using positive chemistry to create leading cosmetics By Desiree Garland

ARTICLES

Ocean Nutrition on Omega-3s

Nutraceuticals from By-products of Plant Food Processing

Improving Food: Three AFMNet Projects that show the Benefits of Functional Food

By Maria Cootauco

By Andreas Schieber

Industrial Briefs

Chemfusion

Recognition Reconnaissance

Events Événements

By Anupriya Dewan

Careers Carrières

By Andrea Hruska

By Joe Schwarcz, MCIC

Beneficial bacteria ease intestinal ills By Matthew DiCicco

Giant killer Yogurt with a difference

www.accn.ca

ACCN

GUEST COLUMN CHRONIQUEUR INVITÉ

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL Roland Andersson, MCIC EDITOR/RÉDACTRICE EN CHEF Terri Pavelic STAFF WRITER/RÉDACTEUR Chris Rogers

Black Dermographism and the Cosmetic Connection By Joe Schwarcz, MCIC

ry this. Take a gold ring and slowly rub it across your cheek or the back of your hand. Some of you will see a black line, just as if you had used a pencil on the skin. This is known as “black dermographism,” which translates literally to “black writing on the skin.” In common language it is usually referred to as “gold smudge.” Now, if you are looking for a little fame and fortune, just find the cause of this problem. There are all sorts of theories to be sure, but not one that explains all cases. Of course, this may be because not all cases have the same cause. Let's start by listing the facts. The effect has been noted with all gold jewelry, irrespective of karat value. Women experience it more than men, and more if they are wearing makeup. Some women claim they see it more at certain times of the month or if they are stressed or if they had been eating acidic foods. There is no doubt about the connection to cosmetics. Any finely powdered metal will appear to be black, and cosmetics contain abrasives that can act like fine sandpaper on gold. Many cosmetics contain zinc oxide, titanium oxide, calcium carbonate and iron oxide as pigments. Both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are harder than gold or silver, so as the gold is drawn across the face small amounts will abrade and discolour the skin. Twenty-four karat gold makes more intense marks because it is the softest form of gold and is the most readily abraded. But what about men or women who wear no makeup and still experience gold smudge? Here we may be looking at a different cause. Gold jewelry of course is not pure gold; the metal is alloyed usually with copper and silver. Both of these metals can undergo a chemical reaction with sulphur compounds in the skin stemming from the breakdown of sulfur-containing proteins. Both copper sulfide and silver sulfide can form black marks on the skin. The breakdown of the proteins in question may be hormonally controlled, possibly explaining why some women experience gold dermography more noticeably at certain times of the month. These reactions are more likely when the skin is more acidic since copper and silver from the ring then become more soluble. I have searched the scientific literature and it seems that nobody has engaged in a systematic study of the causes of gold smudge. It is high time that science paid attention to such important issues and I would welcome offers from prospective scientists to take up this challenge. If you have any comments, or any theories about gold smudge, please let me know. I for one will start testing everyone I come across. So if you see people with black marks on their faces, you'll know that I'm on the job. ACCN Joe Schwarcz, MCIC, is the director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society. He hosts the Dr. Joe Show on Montréal’s radio station CJAD and Toronto’s CFRB. The broadcast is available at www.CJAD.com.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/COLLABORATEURS Desiree Garland Maria Cootauco Andreas Schieber Matthew DiCicco Anupriya Dewan Andrea Hruska GRAPHIC DESIGNER/INFOGRAPHISTE Krista Leroux COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER/ DIRECTRICE DES COMMUNICATIONS Lucie Frigon MARKETING MANAGER/ DIRECTRICE DU MARKETING Bernadette Dacey AWARDS AND LOCAL SECTIONS MANAGER/ DIRECTRICE DES PRIX ET DES SECTIONS LOCALES Gale Thirlwall EDITORIAL BOARD/CONSEIL DE RÉDACTION Joe Schwarcz, MCIC, chair/président Cathleen Crudden, MCIC John Margeson, MCIC Milena Sejnoha, MCIC Bernard West, MCIC EDITORIAL OFFICE/ BUREAU DE LA RÉDACTION 130, rue Slater Street, Suite/bureau 550 Ottawa, ON K1P 6E2 613-232-6252 • Fax/Téléc. 613-232-5862 editorial@accn.ca • www.accn.ca ADVERTISING/PUBLICITÉ advertising@accn.ca SUBSCRIPTION RATES/TARIFS D’ABONNEMENT Non CIC members/Non-membres de l’ICC : in/au Canada CAN$60; outside/à l’extérieur du Canada US$60. Single copy/Un exemplaire CAN$10 or US$10. L’Actualité chimique canadienne/Canadian Chemical News (ACCN) is published 10 times a year by the Chemical Institute of Canada / est publié 10 fois par année par l’Institut de chimie du Canada. www.cheminst.ca. Recommended by the Chemical Institute of Canada, the Canadian Society for Chemistry, the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering, and the Canadian Society for Chemical Technology. Views expressed do not necessarily represent the official position of the Institute or of the societies that recommend the magazine. Recommandé par l’Institut de chimie du Canada, la Société canadienne de chimie, la Société canadienne de génie chimique et la Société canadienne de technologie chimique. Les opinions exprimées ne reflètent pas nécessairement la position officielle de l’Institut ou des sociétés qui soutiennent le magazine. CHANGE OF ADDRESS/ CHANGEMENT D’ADRESSE circulation@cheminst.ca Printed in Canada by Gilmore Printing Services Inc. and postage paid in Ottawa, ON./ Imprimé au Canada par Gilmore Printing Services Inc. et port payé à Ottawa, ON. Publications Mail Agreement Number/ No de convention de la Poste-publications : 40021620. (USPS# 0007-718) Indexed in the Canadian Business Index and available on-line in the Canadian Business and Current Affairs database. / Répertorié dans la Canadian Business Index et accessible en ligne dans la banque de données Canadian Business and Current Affairs. ISSN 0823-5228

4 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

AVRIL 2009



Continuing Education for Chemical Professionals

NEW

PROCESS IMPROVEMENT COURSE

he Chemical Institute of Canada

2009 Schedule June 1–3

Hamilton, ON

September 21–23 Toronto, ON

Registration fees

$795 CIC members $995 non-members

(CIC) and the Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC) are

presenting a three-day course designed to enhance the knowledge and working experience of chemists, chemical

www.cheminst.ca/ profdev



• Introduction • Implementing a Kaizen Program • Using 5S • Developing Project Charters • Identifying Customer Requirements

engineers and chemical technologists.

• Measuring Baseline Performance

This course is designed for anyone

• Identifying Project Y

looking for ways to improve laboratory

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The participants will learn how to implement a Kaizen Improvement Program and will apply analytical tools through a relevant case study.

 DAY

• Mapping the Process • SIPOC • Detail Process Map

$100 student members For more information about the course and locations, and to access the registration form, visit:

DAY

• Value Stream Maps • Analyzing for Root Causes

INSTRUCTOR Denise Nacev, a certified Black Belt and Adult Educator, has 10 years experience in the design and implementation of Continuous Improvement Programs using Lean, Six Sigma and Kaizen. Denise is an

• Cause and Effect Diagrams • Pareto Charts • Regression Analysis

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independent consultant working with

• Stakeholder Analysis

companies in various industries,

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including a laboratory environment,

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to improve efficiencies and profitability.

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Canadian Society for Chemistry

LETTERS LETTRES

NEWS NOUVELLES

NONSENSE

National Centre for Green Chemistry to be Created

DEAR EDITOR, Shame on you for the uncritical regurgitation of nonsense from the University of Toronto PR department. The January 2009 issue of ACCN leads its “News” section with the ridiculous claim that: “U of T Scientists Show Climate Change Effecting Molecular Structure of Soil.” The ACCN article seems to be based on a November 24, 2008, news release from Toronto titled: “Global warming changing organic matter in soil.” This title distorts the claims of the researchers. To quote Professor Simpson in that same news release: “Through our research, we've sought to determine what soils are made up of at the molecular level and whether this composition will change in a warmer world.” Note the crucial use of “whether...will” and “composition.” The abstract of the Nature Geoscience article whose publication prompted the news release confirms this message, that a scientific investigation was made of soil composition, i.e. the relative amounts of different molecules. Sadly, the scientifically illiterate author of the news release perverted this message to: “...global warming actually changes the molecular structure of organic matter in soil.” ACCN has repeatedly published appeals for CIC members to draw attention to scientific inaccuracies in the media, and Joe Schwarcz, chair of the ACCN Editorial Board, has been an example to us all. How ironic that ACCN should itself fail so miserably. Paul Percival, FCIC

RESPONSE:

Thanks for keeping us on our toes! We sometimes rely on press releases from various institutions to keep up on the latest chemistry news. When time permits, we follow up with the institutions and companies to ensure we get the whole story. Editor

WHAT DO YOU THINK? editorial@accn.ca

6 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

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T h e f e d eral government has awarded $9.1 million to PARTEQ Innovations, which is the technology commercialization office at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON. The money will go towards the establishment of a national centre of excellence for the development and commercialization of green chemistry technologies. PARTEQ reports that Greencentre Canada will not only be the first entity of its kind in North America but will bring together Canada’s leading green chemistry researchers, industry partners and commercialization professionals with their shared goal being the development of cleaner, less energy-intensive solutions for traditional chemical and manufacturing processes. Greencentre Canada is funded under the national Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research program to bring promising research-based innovations to market. PARTEQ Innovations, Queen’s University

Performance Plants to Get Sustainable Development Technology Canada Funding Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) has announced it will provide up to $5,565,063 in funding to a project spearheaded by Performance Plants Inc. (PPI), an agricultural and biofuel biotechnology company. The funds will go to advancing trait technologies that improve conversion of cellulose into cost-effective biofuels and biochemicals. The challenge so far has been breaking down cellulose for conversion into a renewable energy source. To help in the endeavour, PPI has developed technologies that alter plant cell walls to improve their conversion into biofuels. With SDTC’s backing, the technology, called Enhanced Conversion Technology (ECT), will improve the amount of releasable

glucose and develop these traits in non-food crops to increase their conversion efficiency. The funding will also be used to help establish technologies to accelerate Performance Plants’ Biomass Enhancement and Water Use Efficiency technologies. The science will yield stabilization technologies that will reduce costs by increasing feedstock yield per hectare of land. Sustainable Development Technology Canada

EcoVu Receives Investment from Ontario Ministry The government of Ontario has invested in clean technology through the Innovation Demonstration Fund of the Ministry of Research and Innovation. The investment will be made in Ontario-based EcoVu, who will use the money to bring its water analysis and purification technology to the global market. The province will be supporting six of EcoVu’s projects that highlight its technology to prospective customers. The company hopes that with the investment, it will be able to hire 30 new employees in the next three years. “The world is looking for ways to live and do business more sustainably. We’re proud to support innovative Ontario businesses that want a piece of this multi-billion dollar global market, and that are on a mission to create clean air, clean water, healthier lives and good green jobs for the future,” said minister of research and innovation John Wilkinson. The global demand for water treatment products is expected to reach US$40 billion in 2011. EcoVu’s technology both detects contaminants and purifies water in a single step which is faster, cheaper and achieves high levels of purity. They are hoping this differentiator allows them to tap into the global marketplace. “EcoVu is a made-in-Ontario solution to complex, challenging water management issues here and around the world, and across many different applications and uses of water. Ontario’s investment underscores the importance and significance of our work in building cleantech capability in the province,” said Ray Novokowsky, president and CEO of EcoVu. Ministry of Research and Innovation

NEWS NOUVELLES be hosted next by Saint Mary's University on March 13–14, 2010. Mark Staradiotto, MCIC, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Dalhousie University

International Petroleum Investment Company Acquires NOVA Chemicals Corporation

Left to right: George Shimizu, MCIC, University of Calgary; Christina Price, Memorial University; Erin Morgan, MCIC, Dalhousie University; and Yuen-Ying Carpenter, Dalhousie University.

2009 Maritime Inorganic Discussion Weekend (MIDW) The fifth annual Maritime Inorganic Discussion Weekend was held in Moncton, NB, on March 14–15, 2009. This conference brought together approximately 100 undergraduate, and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and professors from across Canada and the U.S. to discuss their research progress pertaining to the study of inorganic and organometallic chemistry. Plenary lectures by Samuel Johnson, MCIC, University of Windsor and George Shimizu, MCIC, University of Calgary were accompanied by oral and poster presentations from undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral fellows. Prizes for presentations were awarded to Yuen-Ying Carpenter, MCIC, (Dalhousie), Erin Morgan (Dalhousie), Evan Owen (Mount Allison), and Christina Price (Memorial). To better reflect the widespread participation by chemists from across the Atlantic region and beyond, the conference has been renamed the Atlantic Inorganic Discussion Weekend (AIDW), which will

International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) and NOVA Chemicals Corporation have agreement on a deal which will see IPIC acquire all of the NOVA Chemicals outstanding common shares for a cash consideration of US$6 per share. The consideration per share represents a 348 percent premium over the February 20, 2009, closing price of NOVA shares on the New York Stock Exchange. The agreement will see NOVA Chemicals operate independently as a chemical and plastics company. “The opportunity to join IPIC comes at a good time for NOVA Chemicals and will enable us to offer both stability and long-term growth to many of our stakeholders,” said Jeff Lipton, CEO of NOVA Chemicals. “IPIC is well financed and has a track record of working successfully with companies like ours.” “Working with IPIC will enable NOVA Chemicals to continue to build on our world class technology and take it around the world,” said Chris Pappas, president and COO of NOVA Chemicals. “This arrangement is a good opportunity for our employees and our customers to grow our business.” International Petroleum Investment Company

Dow Chemical to Complete Rohm & Haas Buyout Dow Chemical and Rohm & Haas have come to an agreement which will see Dow’s previously announced acquisition of Rohm & Haas close on April 1, 2009. The agreement was announced when disputes initiated by Rohm & Haas on January 26, 2009, where resolved in a manner beneficial to each party.

According to Dow, the settlement agreement involves a new substantial equity investment in Dow of US$2.5 billion and at Dow’s option, an additional $500 million of equity, at the closing of the merger by the two largest shareholders of Rohm and Haas, one of which is the Haas Family Trusts. The other shareholders will receive the original cash consideration at the closing. “The restructuring of the terms of the transaction allows Dow to maintain financial flexibility as we proceed to implement our strategy in a way that realizes the original promise of this acquisition,” said Andrew N. Liveris, Dow chairman and CEO. Dow Chemical Company

Chemists Using LIBS to Analyze Suspect Bombs Chemists can now analyze the contents of a suspect bomb without touching it by using a technique called laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The method is often used for “stand-off” detection in harsh or potentially dangerous environments like blast furnaces, nuclear reactors, biohazard sites and aboard planetary probes like the Mars rovers. The tool was developed by Robert Gordon, a professor and head of chemistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago, when he had his lab group zap a crystal of silicon by firing pairs of near-infrared laser pulses at 80 femtoseconds (or 80 millionths of a billionth of a second). The “mini-Big-Bang-like” ablation sparked briefly and gave off ultraviolet light which the group checked for polarization. “We thought we’d see maybe a few percent polarization,” Gordon says. “But when we saw 100 percent, we were totally astonished.” The spectrum of light they studied included a series of lines that contain the hidden signatures of chemical elements. To get rid of background spectrum, current LIBS use a time-resolved method that operates similar to a camera shutter by snapping at nanosecond speeds. Questions still remain surrounding LIBS technology—including why the light gets polarized. According to Gordon, varying the angle and intensity of the laser pulses may help enhance LIBS. University of Illinois at Chicago

APRIL 2009 CANADIAN CHEMICAL NEWS 7

NEWS NOUVELLES

Inexpensive Chemicals to be Part of New Clean Water Solution A rapid sand filter system developed by a researcher at the University of North Carolina (UNC) is efficient, inexpensive and low-tech. It could bring clean drinking water to millions. “All that is needed is some PVC pipe, sand and inexpensive treatment chemicals,” said James Amburgey, an assistant professor of Civil and environmental engineering at UNC. “The only way to practically deploy a system to the people of less developed countries is for it to be inexpensive and simple.” Ambrugey’s sand filter technology uses a chemical pretreatment scheme using ferric chloride and a pH buffer added to the water. The process negatively charges Cryptospordium oocysts, causing it to charge near neutral, thereby eliminating the natural electrostatic repulsion instead of repelling sand grains, a limitation of older sand filtration technology. When the Cryptospordium surface is charged to near neutral, it is attracted to and sticks to sand grains because of der Waals forces. “Our tests, so far, have shown that this system utilizing only a single set of chemical pretreatment dosages is effective on all waters tested to date,” Amburgey said.

PwC Survey Shows Chemical CEOs Not Confident

Amendments Coming in Environmental Enforcement Act

PricewaterhouseCoopers has released a global CEO survey which shows that CEOs in the chemical industry are less confident about growth prospects than ever. According to the survey, only 17 percent of chemical company CEOs are very confident that they can increase revenues over the next 12 months. It is believed that the lack in confidence is due to the global credit problems and the global recession as well as the continued fallout from hurricanes Gustav and Ike. In addition, the automotive and construction industries, two key groups of customers, have been the hardest hit by the economic downturn. The survey also found that 35 percent of the 48 chemical industry CEOs surveyed expect that they will have to reduce the number of people they employ over the next year. PwC reports that this number is higher than in other industries. “Every chemicals industry CEO will need to make tough decisions about what actions are required to ensure their company’s shortterm survival,” said Michael Clifford, leader of the PwC Canada Chemicals Practice. “Retaining the right skills to deliver long-term business growth is essential, and companies that cut back too far now may struggle to take advantage of the economic recovery, when it occurs.” Clifford also said that, “Business models in the industry will need to continue to evolve. Commodity chemicals companies will follow specialty manufacturers by getting even closer to their customers; Chinese and Middle Eastern companies will buy into new markets or technologies; and almost all companies will need to adopt sustainable business solutions.” Despite the overall gloomy outlook, PwC reports that CEOs in the chemical industry are less pessimistic than their peers in the overall survey sample of 1,124 CEOs from a range of industries. The chemical industry leaders are less likely than other industries to be planning a reduction in the development of new products and services as a result of the current financialcrisis.

The Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association reports that the federal government recently tabled Bill C-16, the Environment Enforcement Act (EEA), amending certain enforcement, offence, penalty and sentencing provisions of several acts relating to the release of effluent to the environment, including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. According to the CCPA, the proposed bill adds administrative authority to investigate potential wrongdoing emanating from releases under acts where it did not previously exist. The EEA also significantly amends the penalty provisions associated with impermissible releases by establishing distinct-ranges of fines for different offences, creating minimum fines for the most serious offences, increasing maximum fines, specifying ranges of fines for individuals, other persons, small revenue corporations and ships of different sizes and by doubling the fine amounts for second and subsequent offenders. The bill also proposes to align the liability of duty provisions of directors, officers, agents of corporations and those of ship masters, chief engineers, owners and operators, consistent between all acts dealing with releases. The enactment adds to each of the Acts a requirement that details of convictions of corporations be made available to the public and that all fines collected be credited to the Environmental Damages Fund and be available for environmental projects, or the administration of that fund. Finally, this enactment creates the Environmentally Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Act that establishes an administrative monetary penalty scheme to serve as an alternative to the existing penal system and as a supplement to existing enforcement measures provided under environmental acts.

PricewaterhouseCoopers University of North Carolina

8 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

AVRIL 2009

Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association

ACCN

Send the latest

NEWS to editorial@accn.ca



Continuing Education for Chemical Professionals

LABORATORY SAFETY COURSE 2009 Schedule June 1–2

Hamilton, ON August 24–25

Montréal, QC September 21–22

he Chemical Institute of Canada

(CIC) and the Canadian Society for Chemical Technology (CSCT) are

the knowledge and working experience of

• Safety Policies, Training and Audits

chemical technologists and chemists. All course

• Hazard Classification Systems

participants receive the CIC’s Laboratory Health

• WHMIS, NIOSH, and beyond

and Safety Guidelines, 4th edition. This course is

• Hazardous Materials

intended for those whose responsibilities include

• Flammable and Combustible Materials

improving the operational safety of chemical laboratories, managing laboratories, chemical plants or research facilities, conducting safety audits of laboratories and chemical plants. During the course, participants are provided with an integrated overview of current best practices in laboratory safety.

• Corrosive Chemicals • Toxic Materials • Reactive Materials • Insidious Hazards • Compressed Gases • Cryogenic Liquids • Radiation

 DAY

• Physical Hazards

INSTRUCTOR

Registration fees

Eric Mead, FCIC, a former instructor with the

$550 CIC members $750 non-members

taught and practised laboratory workplace

chemical technology program at SIAST, has safety for more than 30 years. A former chair of the Chemical Institute of Canada, Mead has been commended for his work on behalf of the

For more information about the course and locations, and to access the registration form, visit:

chemical industry.

www.cheminst.ca/ profdev



• Introduction • Occupational Health and Safety Legislation

October 5–6

$75 student members

presenting a two—day course designed to enhance

Toronto, ON

Edmonton, AB

 DAY

• Fire • Glassware • Electrical Hazards • Machinery • Storage • Chemical Storage • Chemical Inventory • Storage Methods for Specific Hazard Classifications • Chemical Spills and Waste Disposal • Spill Containment and Cleanup

“The chemical field and profession are

• Spill Control Kits

built on a foundationof trust with society.

• Properties of Wastes

An integral part of that trust is the safe

• Large Chemical Spills

operationof facilitiesincludinglaboratories,

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whether industrial, academicor government.

• Identification and Control

The educationof engineers, scientists and

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technologistsmust reflect that level of trust.

• Head, Feet and Body Protection

We all share in the responsibilityfor safe

• Hearing and Breathing Protection

and ethical research, chemical processing

• Fume Hoods and HVAC

and analysis." —Eric Mead

• Machinery

Canadian Society for Chemical Technology

NEWS NOUVELLES

INDUSTRIAL Briefs

SDTC Funding Clean Tech Agreement Targets Canada’s largest single funder of clean techResponsible Care® nology, Sustainable Development Technology and Responsible Canada (SDTC), is making an appeal for Statements of Interests for its fifteenth round Distribution of funding. Created by the Government of Canada, the SDTC is a not-for-profit corporation created to finance and support late-stage development and pre-commercial demonstration of clean technologies by investors. “By supporting promising clean technology projects in the development and demonstration stages, SDTC gets them to market faster,” said Vicky J. Sharpe, president and CEO of SDTC. Since its inception, SDTC has allocated $342 million to 144 clean technology projects. Another $800 million has gone to leveraging project consortia members, for a total portfolio value of $1.14 billlion. The SDTC’s investments have proved profitable for a number of enterprises it has helped fund. For example, 28 projects that the fund has invested $85 million into have gone on to raise more than $780 million in follow-on funding in the last four years. SDTC is now actively seeking out innovative technologies across all economic sectors that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or result in cleaner air, soil and water while increasing economic performance.

The Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association reports that an agreement has been signed by the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) and the International Council of Chemical Trade Associations (ICCTA) to closely cooperate in the promotion of their respective Responsible Care® and Responsible Distribution initiatives. According to the CCPA, the cooperation of chemical producers and chemical distributors is one of the main objectives of the ICCA Responsible Care Global Charter and the joint ICCTA Responsible Care and Responsible Distribution initiatives. The new agreement also looks at Global Charter goals by introducing Responsible Care and Responsible Distribution initiatives in countries with emerging chemical sectors. As the global voices for their respective industries, both organizations are committed to the promotion and implementation of environmental health and safety initiatives and their cooperation is essential to the industry’s commitment to Responsible Care and Responsible Distribution.

Sustainable Development Technology Canada

Canadian Chemical Producer’s Association



BASF announces the appointment of Laurent Tainturier as president of BASF Canada. Tainturier’s appointment was effective as of March 1, 2009. He is administratively responsible for all business in Canada, including crop protection, chemicals, plastics and performance products. He will also play a key role in continuing BASF’s commitment to Responsible Care® and its initiatives. Tainturier manages BASF Canada’s internal business support groups such as communications, legal, finance and logistics. Prior to this appointment, he held positions in the Elastogran group, the European subsidiary of BASF Polyurethanes, including sales and business management for polyurethanes specialties in France. CCR Technologies Ltd. announces that Mohammed S. Abougoush has resigned as a director of the corporation, effective immediately. Management and the board of directors of the corporation thank Abougoush for his outstanding contributions as a member of the board. BioSyntech Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in biotherapeutic thermogels for regenerative medicine announces that its founder, Amie Selmani, has resigned from its board of directors effective January 23, 2009. Selman was BioSyntech’s chief executive officer from 1995 to 2004 and chairman of the board of directors until 2006. He will remain available as an advisor to the board. BioSyntech is in the process of wrapping up enrolment for the Canadian-European trial of its cartilage repair device. LAB Research Inc., a Canadian non-clinical contract research organization, announces it has settled outstanding litigations with Akela Pharma Inc. Akela launched the $2-million case in October 2008. LAB and its insurer paid Akela the full settlement, but stresses that the action does not constitute an admission of liability. Additionally, LAB issued 500,000 warrants with a strike price of $0.50 to Akela expiring December 31, 2010.

Canadian Society for Chemistry

Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) presents the Spring 2009 CIC Career Fair at the 92nd Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition

SPRING 2009 CIC CAREER FAIR Sheraton Hamilton Hotel and Hamilton ConventionCentre HAMILTON, ON • MAY 30–JUNE 1, 2009

www.csc2009.ca 10 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

CSC

AVRIL 2009

ACCN

RECHERCHÉS

articles en français! editorial@accn.ca

APRIL 2009 CANADIAN CHEMICAL NEWS 11

CHEMFUSION Joe Schwarcz, MCIC

ALL ABOUT SILICONES

alk about getting it wrong. Speaking to Britain’s Royal Society in 1937, noted chemist Frederic Kipping offered the casual remark that “any immediate and important advance in this section of chemistry does not seem very hopeful.” What was he talking about? Silicones! Substances that have turned out to be of immense value in almost every area of life. Take a peek into the electronics, construction, automobile, aircraft, food processing, textile, paint, adhesive, medical implant, plastic, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or cleaning product industries, and you’ll find silicones at the forefront. Kipping’s lack of optimism about his discovery is understandable. His silicones were very hard to produce and he couldn’t imagine the compounds progressing beyond a laboratory curiosity. It was clear though that these substances composed of chains of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms had some remarkable properties. Depending on how long the chains were, what sort of atomic branches were attached to the silicon atoms, and whether the chains were cross-linked, silicones took the form of thick or thin fluids, rubbery materials or tough resins. And they were all remarkably stable to temperature and had outstanding insulating properties. Necessity, as they say, is the mother of invention. And in the 1930s, it became necessary to find effective insulators for electric motors as well as sealing materials for searchlights and aircraft engines. Chemists at Corning Glass Works and at General Electric in the U.S. were feverishly working to find

12 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

AVRIL 2009

new materials to fit the bill and were naturally led to Kipping’s discovery. But converting Kipping’s laboratory synthesis to large scale production proved to be an insurmountable challenge. Could silicones be made by some other process? The Dow Chemical Company at the time had no interest in electrical equipment, but did have expertise in other areas of silicon chemistry. Corning approached Dow for technical help, resulting in eventual amalgamation to form the Dow-Corning Company. Cooperation with General Electric led to a practical silicone synthesis, thanks in great part to the ingenuity of GE’s Eugene Rochow. Rochow, whose interest in silicon chemistry had been triggered by building a quartz crystal radio (quartz is silicon dioxide) as a child, worked out a way to make silicones using essentially sand and methane as raw materials. Sand, also silicon dioxide chemically, can be readily converted to silicon by heating in the presence of carbon. Reacting silicon with methyl chloride made from methane and chlorine yields dichlorodimethylsilane which in turn reacts with water to form a basic silicone with the tongue twisting name of polydimethylsiloxane. Modifying the starting materials can lead to a stunning variety of silicones, with an equally stunning number of uses. The Si-O bond that characterizes silicones is exceptionally stable and accounts for the stability of silicones over a wide range of temperatures. Silicone fluids are outstanding lubricants at all temperatures, in fact jets and spacecraft would be hard-pressed to function without them. They are also amazingly water repellant. Want your boots to be waterproof? Spray with liquid silicone. Works on masonry too. Silicone rubbers, made by cross-linking the molecular chains are excellent sealants, you’ll find them in your car, around your windows and bathtubs, and increasingly in your kitchen. Don’t want muffins to stick, get out the silicone muffin pan. With silicone rolling pins you don’t have to worry about sticky dough and you can use your silicone spatula in a hot skillet without any worry of melting. Silicone dishes, often cheerfully colored, can go from freezer, to microwave, to oven, to dishwasher with no problem. And you can forget about rusting or staining. One of the major problems faced by food, paper, dye and textile industries is excessive foaming. Silicones come to the rescue here as well as extremely effective antifoaming

agents. They can even be added to cattle saltlicks to suppress the buildup of stomach gases after feeding on lush grass. Silicones gather at liquid-air interfaces and because of their extremely low surface tension weaken the bubble film so that it collapses. This effect has an application for humans to, as many digestive aids feature “simethicone” to relieve excessive gassiness. Cosmetic producers rely heavily on silicones. They make creams feel more creamy, they condition hair, they add shine to hair, they control the viscosity of lotions, they reduce stickiness and perform a myriad of other functions. And they do this without staining clothes or irritating the skin or provoking allergic reactions. I suspect that by now you are waiting for the usual “but.” Surely silicones can’t be all good. There must be some cost to pay for all that convenience. One problem is that the property that makes silicones so useful, stability, is also a concern. Silicones do not degrade readily in the environment, so any possible toxicity issues can exacerbate with time. A red flag was raised back in the 1980s when claims of disease caused by leaking breast implants drove Dow-Corning into bankruptcy. By the late 1990s it had, however become clear that women with implants in fact did not have any more health problems than women without implants. Silicones, though, have not been absolved of all blame. Today there is concern that two specific “cyclomethicones,” (compounds in which the silicon and oxygen atoms form a ring), referred to as D4 and D5, are environmentally persistent and may build up in, and possibly damage, aquatic organisms. There is no risk to humans using cosmetics with these ingredients but their inclusion in products will be restricted due to environmental concerns. But that is fine tuning. Silicones are here to stay, and contrary to their inventor’s pessimism, we can look forward to many hopeful advances in silicone chemistry. And who was the first to make these remarkable compounds? You may have guessed it already. Back in the 1920s, none other than Frederic Kipping. ACCN Joe Schwarcz, MCIC, is the director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society. He hosts the Dr. Joe Show on Montréal’s radio station CJAD and Toronto’s CFRB. The broadcast is available at www.CJAD.com.



Continuing Education for Chemical Professionals

RISK ASSESSMENT COURSE

he Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) and the Canadian Society

2009 Schedule October 19–20

for Chemical Engineering (CSChE)

are presenting a two-day course designed to enhance the knowledge and working experience of safety, environmental and process safety professionals. This course is geared to those whose responsibilities include: risk assessment, development of

Toronto, ON

management systems, and providing advice

October 26–27

is to reach a thorough understanding of

Edmonton, AB

Registration fees

$845 CIC members $995 non-members

$100 student members For more information about the course and locations, and to access the registration form, visit:

www.cheminst.ca/ profdev

to decision makers. The learning objective integrated risk assessment and management principles and techniques. During the course, participants will be provided with a broad overview of the technical tools available to assess risk in industrial environments and shown how these tools fit in the broader risk management systems.

INSTRUCTOR Ertugrul Alp, PhD, PEng, MCIC, principal, Alp & Associates Incorporated, has over 20 years experience in assessment and management of risks to environment,

DAY

• Introduction • Major Historical Accidents in Process Industries • Risk Concepts: How to Estimate Risk and Evaluate it’s Acceptability • Integrated Risk Management: Success Factors for High Performance • Risk Management Process • Techniques for Risk Analysis • Qualitative Techniques: Hazard Identification With Hands-on Applications • Index Methods • Frequency Analysis Techniques, SVA, LOPA (Fault and Event Trees) • Practical Hazard Awareness in Operating Plants

DAY • • • • • • • • • • •

health, safety, property and reputation. His experience covers a number of industrial sectors including: chemical, energy, pulp and paper, mining, steel, transportation, and government.



• • • •

Quantitative Techniques Fault and Event Trees Fire, Explosion, Dispersion Modeling Damage/Vulnerability Modeling Risk Estimation and Risk Presentation Applications to Plant Layout Design Health Risk Analysis Risk Evaluation and Decision-Making Risk Cost Benefit Analysis Elements for Process Safety Management with Reference to US OSHA PSM Regulations Emergency Management with Reference to Environment Canada and other Canadian Legislation Land Use Planning Risk Monitoring Stakeholder Participation Summary and Conclusion

Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering

ARTICLE: HEALTHY MAKE-UP

When Serendipity and Chemistry Collide

How Cover FX is using positive chemistry to create leading cosmetics

hen serendipity and chemistry collide a marriage is made. With a sole focus on foundation and making healthy makeup, Cover FX has produced a product that can be worn by anyone. “Cover FX is a company that was started in February of 2000 by Lee Graff and myself and Neil Shear,” said Jenny Frankel, a chemical engineer, vice-president and co-creator of Cover FX. “When we first started developing the products, that are now know as Cover FX, it was not necessarily to be where we are today, but was to support Lee’s views in the CosMedic clinic.” The CosMedic clinic, is currently located in the dermatology department at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, ON, and since its inception 25 years ago, Graff and Dr. Shear have worked there with dermatology patients, explained Frankel. The patients had a variety of skin concerns, pigment disorders or trauma type of scaring, and there was hope that through make-up, these imperfections would be eliminated.

14 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

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By Desiree Garland

“With a lot of these imperfections there really are no immediate, and sometimes, long term cures to the physical imperfections and these patients just want the problem to go away,” Frankel said. According to Frankel, when this clinic was started 25 years ago, Shear recognized the importance of having makeup to compliment dermatology treatment as a complete service to the patient. Prior to the introduction of Cover FX, Graff would use a variety of different products in the market place. Frankel explained that Graff would source the cosmetics herself, that Graff wasn’t a makeup artist (her background was in psychology), however, she would purchase products mix and blend different products for her patients. “What she recognized in the first years of her clinic was there was never one product out there that satisfied the needs of her patients,” said Frankel. “The patients that came to see Lee would have moderate to major skin imperfections, and there was a certain amount of coverage

that was required from these foundations. What she recognized was that the products that were currently out there in the market place, if they offered the coverage, were very thick and pasty and unnatural looking.” According to Frankel, being in a dermatology setting, healthy skin was the number one concern. Many existing products contained harsh ingredients that would be

Lee found herself mixing and blending shades so not only could she find perfect texture and coverage but also the perfect shade for the patient intolerable for sensitive skin. Another main concern was the shade variety, the products that already existed did not appeal to a multicultural skin pallet. “Ingredients were a large concern, because a lot of these products were made out of ingredients that Shear would advise his patients not to use. Ingredients that might be irritating to sensitive skin like rosacea as an example,” said Frankel “Another problem Lee faced was, being in Toronto, where 168 different languages are spoken, the skin tones that walked into Lee’s clinic were such that a global shade pallet was required, and most companies don’t accommodate for a global customer. Lee found herself mixing and blending shades so not only could she find perfect texture and coverage but also the perfect shade for the patient,” said Frankel. According to Frankel, Dr. Shear approves all of the ingredients within a formulation; an ingredient is not used unless it has been certified as non-comedogenic by the ingredient manufacturer. All Cover FX products are oil free, fragrance free and paraben free. The first and most important ingredient in all the foundation products is sunscreen, explains Frankel. “Sunscreen, coming out of dermatology, was a very important property to have in all of our foundations. It adds value to the foundation, it’s also going to protect the skin from

the main cause of skin aging; all of our products have sun protection,” said Frankel. Along with sunscreen; antioxidants, peptides are all extremely important ingredients when it comes to creating a healthy foundation. “All of our products have antioxidants that protect the skin's natural elastin and collagen, as well as to preserve the ingredients in the formulation from any type of oxidation. We also have peptides, which improve cellular function to provide rejuvenating properties to the skin.” said Frankel. Along with using natural ingredients and new industry innovations, Cover FX is creating new technologies to better suit its products. According to Frankel, derma-fix and derma-vale are two new technologies that were developed by Cover FX. “We developed a combination of polymers that we refer to as derma-fix technology and this is a very interesting combination that allows our products to bind to the skin and itself to provide optimal coverage as well as all day wear,” said Frankel. “If you were to look at the skin very closely it is a surface covered in peaks and valleys and as we use derma-vale in the skin you form a very smooth surface on the skin so the appearance of pores and fine lines are minimized and the makeup looks more natural.” said Frankel. Making sure the makeup is healthy is a key concern, however the aesthetic value is just as important. Surface coated pigments ensure that the most natural coverage is being offered. According to Frankel, surface coated pigments are the only type of pigments used in Cover FX. The products are all about coverage and pigments are essential to foundation products for providing coverage. By having surface coated pigments you reduce pigment drag in your formulation and you are also able to elevate the pigment concentration in the formulation for optimum coverage. Cover FX was never actually intended for a retail consumer environment, the product was for the use in Graff’s clinic. At one point there was a wait time of over one year to see Graff, that is when the decision was made to take Cover FX to the next level. The fact that there were already 30 shades of foundation to choose from, and it had been tested on people with rosacea, a very intolerant sensitive skin, showed it could easily be worn by the regular consumer, explained Frankel.

“It doesn’t matter if you want the lightest mineral coverage or the most opaque cream coverage, Cover FX has a product for everyone and we have over 30 global shades to choose from. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the fairest or the darkest tone; we have a product for you,” said Frankel. With a global consumer, Cover FX tries to stay on top of global trends. Right now they are focusing on not only healthy skin but also a healthy environment. “We launched a corn resin component, it looks like plastic, but it’s made from corn resin so its 100 percent biodegradable. That product is in Mineral FX, and it is actually over 95 percent all natural because the minerals are all naturally derived as well,” said Frankel.

Along with sunscreen; antioxidants, peptides and amphetamines are all extremely important ingredients when it comes to creating a healthy foundation “You want to go to companies that specialize in certain things that focus solely on one type of product. At the end of the day, it’s about delivering a product that does what it says it’s going to do, a product that delivers,” said Frankel. ACCN

Healthy skin was the number one concern: Jenny Frankel, chemical engineer, VP and co-creator of Cover FX. APRIL 2009 CANADIAN CHEMICAL NEWS 15

ARTICLE: OMEGA-3’S

QA &

Q & A with

Ocean Nutrition on Omega-3s By Maria Cootauco

CCN recently spoke with Lori Covert, vice-president of Marketing and Communications at Ocean Nutrition about functional foods, Omega-3’s and its benefits in a typical consumer’s diet.

Q: Ocean Nutrition deals mainly with Omega-3 fatty acids. What are the benefits of including this nutrient into a balanced diet?

A: Omega-3 EPA/DHA is an essential nutrient vital to overall good health. Because the human body cannot produce it on its own, it is necessary to consume this nutrient by eating fish, or eating foods fortified with fish oil, or by consuming foods fortified with fish oil, or fish oil supplements. There are over 8,000 clinical studies to support the health benefits of Omega-3 EPA/DHA from fish oil. Research suggests that including this essential nutrient in a balanced diet may reduce the risk of heart disease, symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, depression, postpartum depression and stress. There is also evidence to suggest that Omega-3 EPA/DHA may improve cognitive function and may play a positive role in weight management.

Q: For years, consumers have gone without the inclusion of Omega-3’s in their margarine, eggs and bread. Why do we need functional foods now?

During the last 100 years, the world population has increased dramatically and the food industry has emerged to feed the growing world population. The food industry has been extremely successful in feeding the increasing human population by using technology to optimize the use of the limited food resources available in the planet and by increasing the shelf life of food products. Unfortunately, to achieve this goal, major changes in the composition of our food were done. The use of vegetable oils high in Omega-6 and hydrogenated oils became prevalent and fish consumption was reduced. As a result, the content of trans fats, saturated fats and Omega-6 were increased dramatically compared with the diet of our ancestors in the last couple of million years and also the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids were reduced. Initially, these changes seemed harmless. However, because our bodies evolved during two million years with a very different diet, they were not prepared to deal with the new diet. Artificial trans fats did not exist in our diet ever before. Omega-6 and Omega-3 were balanced in a ratio close to 1:1 and now it is a whopping 25:1. While

16 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

AVRIL 2009

Omega-6 is a necessary nutrient for the human body, if left unbalanced by Omega-3, it can lead to chronic inflammation in many of the body’s system. We know now that these changes in the fat composition of our food created a spike of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases in the population. Therefore, the food industry is now reducing the content of saturated fats and trans fat in our food while trying to increase the content of Omega-3 fatty acids to restore the balance with Omega-6.

Q: Statistics indicate that the functional food and nutraceutical market is outpacing the traditional processed food market. What do you think is so appealing to customers about functional food?

A: Today’s consumer is very health focused. The internet has provided consumers with a wealth of health and nutrition information at their fingertips. Consumers understand that their diet has a direct affect on their health and they are making healthier food and beverage choices, creating a huge market for foods fortified with nutrients. Specifically, for Omega-3, we know that the body cannot create this essential nutrient on its own and that it must be obtained through food or supplements. For consumers, the ability to consume Omega-3 EPA/DHA in their everyday diet is extremely important.

Q: What is the regulation surrounding functional food? Is there a body to govern quality and safety?

A: In Canada, the Canadian Food and Drug Act sets out the regulatory standards for functional foods. The body responsible for administering the standards is Health Canada.

Q: Is there any evidence to show that the rise in functional food consumption has reduced the occurrence of certain diseases?

Functional foods are not new. There are plenty of examples in history about how functional foods have addressed nutritional deficiencies and helped to eradicate or reduce the incidence of certain diseases. For example, the addition of folic acid to flour, baked goods

and pasta has dramatically reduced the incidence of neural tube defects in newborns in countries where this fortification is mandatory. For example, in Canada, incidence of neural tube defects decreased by 46 percent after fortification became mandatory. Fortification with vitamin A has helped to reduce incidence of blindness due to vitamin A deficiency and the addition of iodine to table salt has largely eliminated hypothyroidism in the wealthier nations. There are over 8,000 clinical trials that support the use of Omega-3 EPA/DHA in reducing the risk of and/or symptoms of many diseases. We expect that when fortification of foods with Omega-3 EPA/DHA becomes prevalent, the incidence of diseases related to Omega-3 EPA/DHA deficiency will decrease significantly.

Q: Why should consumers choose functional foods over regular food?

A: Functional foods are a logical choice over regular food. In the case of Omega-3 EPA/ DHA fortified foods, it’s an easy, convenient way to meet your daily requirements for Omega-3. The only other way to get both Omega-3 EPA and DHA into your diet is through eating oily fish. However, approximately 80 percent of North Americans do not consume enough oily fish in their diet and they are deficient in Omega-3 EPA/DHA. For the same price as non-fortified foods, or for a slight premium, you get access to these vital nutrients in Omega-3 EPA/DHA fortified foods. However, it is important for consumers to know that not all Omega-3s are created equal. There are three types of Omega-3: EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid. Only Omega-3 from fish oil offers both EPA and DHA, the two essential nutrients that account for all of the health benefits associated with Omega-3. Algal sources of Omega-3 offer only DHA, and plant based sources contain only ALA. The problem with ALA is that the body must first convert it into EPA and DHA, but since the body converts it very inefficiently (less than one percent), it is virtually impossible to achieve any of the health benefits associated with Omega-3 from plant sources. Consumers should choose food fortified with fish oil to ensure that they are getting the benefits of both EPA and DHA.

Q: Is it for everyone?

Yes, foods fortified with Omega-3 EPA/ DHA are for everyone. Omega-3 is essential through all stages of life. And if you are not consuming at least two 4 oz servings of oily fish per week then you need to consume foods fortified with Omega-3 EPA/DHA from fish oil or take fish oil supplements to avoid being deficient in Omega-3 EPA/DHA.

Q: How much more (or less) effective are nutrients found in functional foods compared to natural foods? If someone were to consume equal quantities of Omega-3 in functional food versus natural food, is there a difference in the benefits they'll experience?

A: Whether Omega-3 EPA/DHA is consumed in functional food versus natural food, the health benefits would be the same. The only source of both Omega-3 EPA/DHA is through consumption of oily fish. Unfortunately, many people do not like eating fish or they do not

foods fortified with Omega-3 EPA/DHA are for everyone consume enough fish. As well, Omega-3 content in fish varies between species. ONC’s raw material is derived from sardine and anchovy off the coast of Peru, one of the most pristine oceanic environments in the world. Sardine and anchovy have high EPA/DHA concentrations. Additionally, these species have a short life cycle and they are also at the bottom of the food chain. Consequently, they don’t accumulate contaminants. Furthermore, every batch of fish oil is tested and hand selected before refining. During the production process the oil must pass more than 200 quality checks. MEG-3® fish oils conform to world-wide quality and purity standards, including those established by the European Commission (EC), Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA), Health Canada, and the United States Food and Drug Administration

(FDA). MEG-3® fish oil is the only fish oil that is verified by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). We achieve our commitment to quality by producing, testing, warehousing, and transporting according to cGMP and HACCP.

Q: What do you say to people who have concerns about modified foods?

A: Omega-3 EPA/DHA fortified foods are not genetically modified. Omega-3 EPA/DHA is simply an added nutrient similar to the way that bread or cereal is often enriched with added vitamins or nutrients. In North America 80 percent of the population is deficient in Omega-3 EPA/DHA. The absence of this nutrient from the North American diet has been shown to have far a reaching impact on the health of North Americans. The challenge is to provide these important nutrients to people in a manner which is easy, convenient and available to the population at large. The inclusion of EPA and DHA in everyday food items is the best way for consumers to easily access these nutrients. Our vision is that there will be a whole category of branded food products that include Omega-3 EPA/DHA. Consumers will be able to get their recommended intake of Omega-3 EPA/DHA by choosing the foods they love to eat every day. This choice will provide flexibility and convenience plus great taste so it will be easy for all consumers to get access to these vital nutrients.

Q: What is the future of functional foods? What new products can we look forward to seeing in the years to come?

A: The future of functional foods is exciting. Omega-3 EPA/DHA foods are becoming mainstream products. Consumers can buy a huge variety of Omega-3 EPA/DHA fortified foods such as milk, bread, yogurt, juices, nutritional bars, etc. In the next few years we will see clear beverages fortified with Omega-3 EPA/ DHA from fish oil. Packaged Facts indicates that projected global retail sales of Omega-3 enhanced products by 2012 will reach US$ 8 billion. For 2009, it is expected that project global retail sales of Omega-3 enhanced food and beverage products will rise to US$ 6.2 billion, up 15.8 percent from 2008. ACCN APRIL 2009 CANADIAN CHEMICAL NEWS 17

ARTICLE: NUTRACEUTICALS

Nutraceuticals from By-products of Plant Food Processing

By Andreas Schieber

pidemiological studies indicate that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables imparts health benefits. For this reason, Health Canada and other health organizations around the globe recommend the intake of several servings of fruits and vegetables each day. According to the World Health Organization, 400–500 g of fresh fruit and vegetables (including berries, green leafy and cruciferous vegetables and legumes) is recommended to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. Unfortunately, large parts of the population in both developed and developing countries fall short of these recommendations. The beneficial effects of plant-derived food are attributed mainly to high-molecular weight dietary fibre on one side and low-molecular weight secondary plant metabolites on the other side. The latter components are chemically very heterogeneous and comprise, for example: carotenoids, polyphenols, glucosinolates, saponins and alkaloids. The polyphenols are broadly classified into phenolic acids (hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids), flavonoids, xanthones and stilbenes and constitute an extremely diverse class of secondary metabolites. They have been associated with a number of health-promoting properties such as antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antithrombotic and vasoprotective activities. The structures of selected phenolic compounds are shown in Figure 1. While many secondary plant metabolites have previously been considered antinutrients and removed from foods by technological processes, the increasing knowledge about their protective role both in the plants and human health has led to a paradigm shift. Research efforts are nowadays directed towards accumulating secondary metabolites in plants, that is by breeding, genetic engineering, and stressing of plants by biotic and abiotic elicitors to induce their natural defense system. An alternate route that can be realized in a more time-efficient manner is the development of “functional foods” by adding bioactive components that have been extracted from various sources. Products isolated or purified from food that are generally sold in medicinal forms not usually associated with food, like capsules, are referred to as nutraceuticals. Nutraceuticals are demonstrated to have a physiological benefit or provide protection against chronic disease.

Why are by-products of food processing such a rich source of nutraceuticals? It is quite evident that the above mentioned trend to produce functional foods by adding bioactive compounds has entailed numerous investigations on the extraction of secondary plant metabolites, which in turn raises the question as to the sources of these components. In this context, by-products from fruit and vegetable processing such as peels, seeds and stems have attracted intense interest during the past decade. Depending on the raw material and the technologies applied, they emerge in large quantities and are often a considerable disposal

18 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

AVRIL 2009

problem for the food industry. For example, during wine and apple juice production, approximately 20 percent and 35 percent respectively of the raw material remains as pomace (press residue). Even higher proportions of by-products emerge from processing of some exotic fruits such as mangoes, where the peels and seeds may amount up to 60 percent of the total fruit weight. Because of their high water contents, the by-products are prone to microbial spoilage and need to be dried immediately after processing, which is an economically limiting factor. Secondary plant metabolites such as polyphenols play an important role in the defense system of the plant and protect them from biotic and abiotic stress. For example, flavonoids act as UV absorbing compounds and signal molecules. Phenolic compounds also show antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens. Because of their biological role in plants, secondary metabolites are located primarily in the outer layers of fruits and vegetables and in the seeds. During processing, these plant parts are usually removed by peeling or are retained in the press residues, e.g. skins and seeds in grape pomace. For this reason, the by-products contain large amounts of secondary plant metabolites in concentrated form and represent promising sources of bioactive compounds, which may be included in functional foods.

Extraction of polyphenols from by-products—selected examples Because of their numerous beneficial effects on human health, polyphenols have been a subject of intense research efforts, and various processes for their recovery from by-products have been developed. Selected sources of fruit and vegetable processing residues and the major fractions of phenolics are shown in Table 1. Grape seeds are an abundant source of proanthocyanidins with varying degrees of polymerization, which find application as nutraceuticals in numerous products. In the United States, grape seed extracts have GRAS status, which means that they are generally recognized as safe. Pomace from red wine production has long been used for the extraction of anthocyanins, which are the red and blue pigments also found in cranberry, elderberry, blueberry, blackberry, black currant, strawberry, red cabbage, purple carrots and eggplant. The anthocyanins are usually recovered from grape pomace using sulfite-containing solvents, which increases the water solubility of anthocyanins and thus facilitates their extraction. However, the sulfite cannot be removed quantitatively from the extract and is considered as an allergen. An alternative process for the extraction of anthocyanins and other polyphenols which does not require the use of sulfite has recently been reported. This process is based on the enzymatic depolymerization of the plant cell walls, which leads to an enhanced release of the phenolics, followed by purification of the anthocyanins using polymeric adsorber resins. Like grape press residues, apple pomace is also a rich source of valuable food ingredients such as pectin, which is widely used as a hydrocolloid in products like jams, jellies, fruit preparations, and others.

Table 1: By-products of fruit and vegetable processing as a source of phenolic compounds

COOH

By-product

Phenolic compounds (major fractions)

Fruit-derived

HO a. Caffeic acid

OH HO

R OH

Anthocyanins, hydroxycinnamates, flavonol glycosides

Cranberry pomace

Caffeic acid, ellagic acid

Grape pomace

Anthocyanins, flavonol glycosides, stilbenes, phenolic acids

Mango peels/kernels

Flavonol glycosides, xanthone glycosides, hydrolysable tannins, alk(en)ylresorcinols

Sea buckthorn pomace

Procyanidins

Star fruit residues

Procyanidins Hydroxycinnamates, flavonoids

Cauliflower by-products

Kaempferol glycosides, hydroxycinnamates

Olive mill waste

Oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, verbascoside, dihydroxyphenylglycol

Onion peels

Quercetin glycosides

Potato peels

Phenolic acids

phenolic compounds. Cauliflower leaves, for example, contain kaempferol glycosides and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives which showed antioxidant activities in various assays. In onions, the levels of antioxidative quercetin derivatives are considerably higher in the peels than in the flesh. Since onion flavonoids are readily absorbed, they could contribute significantly to antioxidant defense. Protocols for their recovery based on subcritical water extraction and water/ethanol/citric acid extraction have recently been developed. Potato peels emerge in large quantities because of french fries and chips production. They contain appreciable amounts of phenolic acids, especially chlorogenic acid. So far, strategies for the exploitation of potato peels as a source of phenolic compounds and other nutraceuticals are missing.

O-R OH c. anthocyanins

Anthocyanins

Blueberry processing waste

Artichoke pomace

Chlorogenic acid, quercetin glycosides, dihydrochalcones, flavanols

Black currant residues

Vegetable-derived

OH O b. quercetin (R=OH) and kaempferol (R=H)

Apple pomace

HO d. hydroxytyrosol Figure 1. Structure of selected phenolic compounds Furthermore, apple pomace contains various types of polyphenols, especially chlorogenic acid, dihydrochalcone derivatives, quercetin glycosides, and flavanols. A number of studies indicate that phenolic compounds from apples might reduce the risk of colon cancer because of their antioxidative and antiproliferative activities and by favorably modulating gene expression. Therefore, the extraction of polyphenols for use as functional food ingredients appears to be a promising approach. In a previous study, a process for the utilization of apple pomace was developed which allows the simultaneous extraction of pectin and polyphenols. Apart from the recovery of two valuable components, the process also leads to refined pectins without compromising their rheological properties. Vegetable-derived by-products have also been shown to be promising sources of

Some final considerations In this report, only selected examples of by-products of fruit and vegetable processing could be presented, with a focus on polyphenolics. However, numerous other residues emerging from processing of plant-derived raw materials, including fruits, vegetables, oilseeds, and legumes are underutilized. Furthermore, in addition to polyphenols, lots, of other valuable compounds are present which could be extracted, purified and investigated for their potential health-promoting properties. The rapidly increasing number of publications demonstrates the enormous potentialof

by-products. However, many processes described so far have been performed on laboratory scale or at best on pilot plant scale. In order for these approaches to find their way into industrial reality, they must be economically feasible, which sometimes may pose a challenge because of the additional processing steps needed for valorization. From a scientific point of view, further studies are needed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of nutraceuticals recovered from by-products. Some might also ask: Do we eat “waste”? The answer is a clear no. It is quite evident that efficient purification steps are necessary before bioactive compounds can be used as natural food ingredients. Not only must these processing steps lead to purified nutraceuticals, they also must remove any natural and anthropogenic toxins which might be present in the raw material. It should also be noted that food ingredients that are recovered from by-products are already part of our diet, for example pectins from apple pomace and citrus peels, or anthocyanin pigments from grape pomace. ACCN Andreas Schieber is an associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals in the department of agricultural, food and nutritional science at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, AB. His main research interests are the recovery, characterization and application of functional compounds from by-products of food processing and the development of analytical methods for the control of food quality and authenticity.

APRIL 2009 CANADIAN CHEMICAL NEWS 19

ARTICLE: v FUNCTIONAL FOODS

IMPROVING FOOD:

Three AFMNet Projects that Show the Benefits of Functional Food Advanced Food and Materials Network (AFMNet) is Canada's front line of research and development in the area of advanced foods and bio-materials. AFMNet is a dynamic, national network of hundreds of scientific researchers, professionals, industry partners and government agencies. AFMNet is working on improving food and food processing, with a higher priority on nutritional value and increased health benefits, such as the way peptides and amino acids can improve gut health, or how the Omega–3 fatty acids in fish reduce heart disease. The AFMNet is a unique, catalytic organization that accelerates scientific opportunities by identifying and funding numerous food and materials related research projects; networking and involving academic, industrial and governmental experts across Canada; collecting and sharing results, and news of their applications; and facilitating technology transfer for commercial use.

 Beneficial bacteria ease intestinal ills Researchers are looking at new techniques to make the colon a healthier place

robiotics—sometimes called “helpful” bacteria—are said to reduce colon cancer, increase mineral absorption and outcompete harmful bacteria. Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are exploring new ways to help probiotics get to the large intestine safely, and to flourish there. Some good bacteria naturally inhabit the colon. However, they can’t prosper without a proper diet and help from prebiotics—food ingredients that stimulate probiotic growth, helping to crowd out bad bacteria such as Escherichia coli. That’s where Nicholas Low and his research team at the department of food and bioproduct sciences come in. They’re conducting research on how to effectively combine and encapsulate prebiotics and probiotics for transport and delivery to the large intestine. “This research could be of significant health benefit to people everywhere,” Low says. The project’s main focus is to find appropriate oligosaccharides— carbohydrates found naturally in many plants—to use as prebiotics, and to determine how they affect probiotic growth. Oligosaccharides make good prebiotics because they’re a superb carbon source for probiotics, and are not utilized well by harmful bacteria. They usually escape digestion in the small intestine and make it to the colon where they can support the growth of “helpful” bacteria. Most probiotics found in food are mainly in yogurt and other cultured dairy products. Typically, they are killed by the stomach’s

20 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

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By Matthew DiCicco harsh acidic environment, by common food processing techniques, or by both. The stomach is designed to kill off bacteria, good or bad, so researchers are looking to find an efficient balance of prebiotics and probiotics that they can encapsulate to reach the right spot in the intestines. Encapsulation is an important component of the research. Without proper protection, the probiotics will die in the stomach en route to the large intestine, or travel past the colon without disintegrating. Encapsulation with a suitable protein could help the compound to bypass the stomach and disintegrate at the correct time and place leading to maximum health benefits. In the future, this multi-component material will be employed as a food ingredient to produce functional foods with the goal of targeted delivery in human and animal digestive systems. Right now, however, getting the three components to work together effectively will be a big achievement on its own. “It is a significant scientific endeavor to get these three components working together,” says Low. Others involved in this research project are Michael Nickerson and Darren Korber from the department of food and bioproduct sciences at the University of Saskatchewan. Funding for the research was provided by AFMNet, the Saskatchewan Agricultural Development Fund and Bioriginal Food & Science Corporation.

 Giant killer Pea peptides fight hypertension and kidney disease

Photo by Ian McCausland

ea proteins that have been hydrolyzed and split into smaller pieces called peptides have been shown to combat kidney disease and hypertension, say researchers at the University of Manitoba. Rotimi Aluko, of the department of human nutritional sciences, says pea peptides provide relief for hypertension in two ways: they block renin, the root cause of increased blood pressure found early on in the biochemical pathway, and they reduce kidney disease progression.

By Anupriya Dewan

Current medications target Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE), which amplifies the effects of renin, making it a less effective method of curing the kidney disease. The body regulates blood pressure using a variety of compounds, including renin, by changing the diameter of blood vessels. Renin increases blood pressure by producing a compound that helps blood vessels contract. But if excess renin is released, blood vessels contract more than they should, increasing blood pressure to dangerous levels. ACE normally amplifies renin’s effect and makes the problem worse. “Inhibiting renin is like cutting off the head of a giant called hypertension. It can’t be a problem anymore,” says Aluko. “Blocking ACE is like cutting off an arm or a leg. The giant still lives.” The isolated pea peptides block renin’s activity, which prevents the blood vessels from contracting excessively. With the blood vessels dilated, the blood pressure remains normal because there is more space for blood to flow through. With little renin activity present, there’s also no amplification due to ACE, solving the problem at its root. As a result, these peptides are more effective at treating hypertension than drugs on market today because medications target ACE, not renin. The isolated peptides also increased cyclooxygenase 1 (COX1) levels, which is known to reduce inflammatory agents released by the kidney. Reduced inflammation improves kidney function and reduces the ability of kidney disease to elevate blood pressure, solving the cause of hypertension at its root. While animal studies look promising and are targeting the root cause of the problem for the first time, the work isn’t done yet. Aluko plans to do clinical studies to measure the impact of the peptides on humans. "Curing hypertension may become as easy as drinking juice or taking a pill that contains the peptide," says Aluko. Also working on this project are Harold Aukema and Paramjit S. Tappia from the University of Manitoba. Funding for this project has been provided by AFMNet, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Manitoba Centre of Excellence Fund.

• Network with fellow science and engineering professionals. • Exchange cutting-edge information. • Participate in the enhancement of your profession. • Engage the next generation.

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APRIL 2009 CANADIAN CHEMICAL NEWS 21

ARTICLE: FUNCTIONAL FOODS

 Yogurt with a difference HIV/AIDS patients can benefit from eating micronutrientsupplemented probiotic yogurt

ausea, decreased immunity and diarrhea are some of the side effects many HIV/AIDS patients experience every day, especially as their immune system weakens. Fortunately, many side effects may be eased or potentially eradicated with daily consumption of a newly formulated, micronutrient-supplemented probiotic yogurt, say researchers at the Lawson Health Research Institute. Gregor Reid of The University of Western Ontario department of microbiology and immunology, and Jaimie Hemsworth, a MSc student from Brescia College, have recently finished testing micronutrientsupplemented probiotic yogurt—a regular yogurt with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and a range of micronutrients added.

By Andrea Hruska

“We modulate our health in many ways through the food we eat,” says Reid. “The bacteria inside us play a huge role in our very existence.” Probiotics improve immunity in a number of ways that include signalling the T-cells—a type of white blood cell that attacks invaders—to begin working. In HIV/AIDS patients, the depletion of their immune system (measured by a lowering of their CD4 cell count) makes them highly susceptible to harmful bacteria and common viruses such as the flu, pneumonia and the common cold. In the spring of 2008, Hemsworth performed a pilot study at the HIV Clinic in London, ON that showed the micronutrient-supplemented probiotic yogurt had potential to improve the well-being of HIV patients. She then travelled to Africa to the Lawson research site at the National Institute for Medical Research in Tanzania to determine if the concept could help AIDS patients there. A program called Western Heads East had already taught local mothers how to make probiotic yogurt. With Hemsworth’s assistance, they prepared the new formulation in their community kitchen. HIV/ AIDS patients were recruited with the help of student Ruben Hummelen and randomized to receive either the new formulation or a regular yogurt to serve as the control group. Recruitment exceeded expectations and 112 patients enrolled. They received the yogurt for one month on a daily basis and the results showed that those with the lowest immunity that received the new formulation yogurt had their disease-fighting ability significantly boosted. They also had more energy for tackling the challengesof daily life. Funding for this research project has been provided by AFMNet. ACCN

“Reprinted with permission from the Advanced Food and Materials Network and Advance Magazine.”



Chemical Institute of Canada

Do you need liability insurance? What if something happened? The CIC is exploring the possibility of offering its members affordable liability insurance as part of the membership benefits.

What do you think? Watch your e-mail inbox for an invitation from our insurance partner Marsh Canada to complete a survey on liability insurance. All answers will help us negotiate the best package at the best price. See the deadline in the invitation. You may win a prize!

22 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

AVRIL 2009

RECOGNITION RECONNAISSANCE

 Chemical Institute of Canada

CIC Can Help With Your Career! Being a member of one of the CIC Societies has its advantages during uncertaintimes: • If you lose your job, and have been a full-fee member for at least one year, the CIC will waive your membership fees. This optionis available for up to two years; • Unemployed members can attend the annualCSC or CSChE conferences at the same price as an undergraduate student. They can stay informed on what’s going on in the scientific community and participate in careerbuilding events; • Local Section activities are valuable networkingopportunities. Most positions are not advertised; • Take advantage of our range of CareerServices. See details at

www.cheminst.ca/careers

24 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

AVRIL 2009

Each year, the University of Saskatchewan department of chemistry invites a distinguished chemist or chemical engineer to present the J. W. T. Spinks Lectures. This year’s lecturer is Mark Lautens, FCIC, AstraZeneca Professor of Organic Synthesis and NSERC/Merck Frosst Industrial Research Chair, from the department of chemistry, University of Toronto. Lautens will visit Saskatoon on April 21–22, 2009 to present his lectures entitled “Meddling with Metals: The Role of Metal Catalysts in the Synthesis of Medicinally Interesting Targets” and “Heterocyclic Synthesis via Ring Forming and Ring Opening Reactions”. Both chemical professionals and the general public are cordially invited to attend. This lecture series, established in 1975, recognizes the many contributions which J. W. T. Spinks made to the departments of chemistry and chemical engineering at the University of Saskatchewan and to the chemical profession. He served as department head, dean of graduate studies, president of the University and president of the Chemical Institute of Canada. He was associated with the University of Saskatchewan from 1930 until his death in 1997. His most prominent student was Henry Taube, the 1983 chemistry Nobel Prize winner.

Andrew N. Hrymak, FCIC, has been appointed as the dean of the Faculty of Engineering at The University of Western Ontario. Hrymak is professor and chair of the department of chemical engineering at McMaster University and has also served as director of the Walter G. Booth School of Engineering Practice and also as director of the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute. Hrymak holds a BEng degree from McMaster and a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University.

Glen Loppnow, MCIC, department of chemistry, University of Alberta was awarded a 3M National Teaching Fellowship. The 3M National Teaching Fellowship rewards great teaching, and the teaching leadership required to share innovations with the broader educational community. Loppnow approaches teaching by looking at chemistry through the eyes of his students, some who aren’t chemistry majors. He challenges his students to be creative and to use things that are important to them to convey the concepts that they are learning. Loppnow is helping pioneer Science 100, a holistic approach to teaching undergraduate sciences at the University of Alberta, putting eight profs from eight different disciplines—mathematics, physics, psychology, and so on—together in one class.

Ian Smith, FCIC, was named to the Order of Canada. Smith is Director General of the NRC Institute for Biodiagnostics and is being recognized for his work in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and its global contributions to health care. He is a leader in the field of biodiagnostics and brought about advancements of a moveable MRI Ian Smith, FCIC receiveshis Public system that allows surgeons to do non-invasive Service award from Stephen Harper scans before, during and after surgery. and Michaëlle Jean. Smith also received Canada Public Service Agency’s 2008 Outstanding Achievement Award in January 2009. The award is the highest honour in the Public Service of Canada, recognizing senior public servants who have distinguished themselves by a sustained commitment to excellence. Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean and the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada presented the award at a ceremony at Rideau Hall. ACCN



Chemical Insititute of Canada

Nominations are now open for the

ChemicalInstitute of Canada

2010AWARDSAct now!

Do you know an outstanding person who deserves to be recognized?

The Chemical Institute of CanadaMedal is presented as a mark of distinctionand recognition to a personwho has made an outstanding contributionto the science of chemistryor chemical engineering in Canada. Sponsored by the Chemical Institute of Canada. Award: A silver medal and travel expenses. The Montréal Medal is presented as a mark of distinction and honour to a residentin Canada who has shown significant leadership in or has made an outstandingcontribution to the professionof chemistryor chemical engineeringin Canada. In determining the eligibility for nominations for the award, administrative contributions within the Chemical Institute of Canada and other professional organizations that contribute to the advancement of the professions of chemistry and chemical engineering shall be given due consideration. Contributions to the sciences of chemistry and chemical

engineering are not to be considered. Sponsoredby the Montréal CIC Local Section. Award: A medal and travel expenses.

Macromolecular Science and EngineeringAward is presented The

to an individual who, while residing in Canada, has made a distinguished contribution to macromolecularscience or engineering. Sponsored by NOVA Chemicals Corporation. Award: A framed scroll, a cash prize, and travel expenses. The CIC Award for Chemical Education is presented as a mark of recognitionto a personwho has made an outstanding contribution in Canada to education at the post-secondary level in the field of chemistry or chemicalengineering. Sponsoredby the CIC Chemical Education Fund. Award: A framed scroll and a cash prize.

Deadlines

The deadline for all CIC awards is

July 2, 2009 for the 2010 selection.

Nomination Procedure Submit your nominations to: Awards Manager Chemical Institute of Canada 130 Slater Street, Suite 550 Ottawa, ON K1P 6E2 T. 613-232-6252, ext. 223 F. 613-232-5862 awards@cheminst.ca

Nomination forms and the full Terms of Reference for these awards are available at www.cheminst.ca/awards.

APRIL 2009 CANADIAN CHEMICAL NEWS 25

RECOGNITION RECONNAISSANCE

In Memoriam The Chemical Institute of Canada reflects on the death of a chemical landmark, Neil Bartlett, FCIC, on August 15, 2008, due to an aorta aneurism. Neil Bartlett was born September 15, 1932 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, U.K. One of his earliest, formative memories was of a laboratory experiment he conducted in a grammar school class as a twelve year old. In the experiment, he mixed a solution of aqueous ammonia (colorless) with copper sulfate (blue) in water, causing a reaction which would eventually produce “beautiful, wellformed crystals.” From that moment “I was hooked,” Bartlett wrote (Neil Bartlett, “Forty Years of Fluorine Chemistry” in Fluorine Chemistry at the Millennium, ed. R.E. Banks, Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, 2000). Bartlett attended King's College in Durham, U.K., where he received his BSc in 1954 and his PhD in 1958. That year, Bartlett was appointed a lecturer in chemistry at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where in 1962 he carried out his work on the noble gases (www.cheminst.ca/ milestones_bartlett). In 1966, he became a professor of chemistry at Princeton University while also serving as a member of the research staff at Bell Laboratories. In 1969, he joined



the University of California, Berkeley, as a professor of chemistry, retiring in 1993. From 1969 to 1999 he also served as a scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Landmark designation The American Chemical Society and the Canadian Society of Chemistry jointly designated the research of Neil Bartlett on the noble gases as an International Historic Chemical Landmark. The ceremony took place on May 23, 2006, at The University of British Columbia (UBC). The text of the plaque on the campus of UBC reads in English and French: “In this building in 1962, Neil Bartlett demonstrated the first reaction of a noble gas. The noble gas family of elements–helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon– had previously been regarded as inert. By combining xenon with a platinum fluoride, Bartlett created the first noble gas compound. This reaction began the field of noble gas chemistry, which became fundamental to the scientific understanding of the chemical bond. Noble gas compounds have helped create anti-tumor agents and have been used in lasers.” « C'est en 1962, dans cet édifice, que Neil Bartlett a fait la première démonstration de la réactivité d'un gaz rare. Dans la classification

périodique des éléments, les gaz rares— hélium, néon, argon, krypton, xénon et radon - étaient auparavant considérés inertes. En combinant du xénon et du fluorure de platine, Bartlett a créé le premier composé de gaz rare. Cette expérience a constitué le point tournant du domaine de la chimie consacré aux gaz rares et elle est devenue fondamentale pour la compréhension scientifique de la liaison chimique. Les composés de gaz rares ont contribué à créer des agents servant au traitement de tumeurs et ont été utilisés dans les lasers ». Bartlett's fame goes beyond the inert gas research to include the general field of fluorine chemistry. He had a special interest in the stabilization of unusually high oxidation states of elements and applying these states to advance chemistry. Bartlett is also known for his contributions toward understanding thermodynamic, structural, and bonding considerations of chemical reactions. He helped develop novel synthetic approaches, including a low-temperature route to thermodynamically unstable binary fluorides, including NiF4 and AgF3. He discovered and characterized many new fluorine compounds and also produced many new metallic graphite compounds, including some that show promise as powerful battery materials. ACCN By William Cullen, FCIC

Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering

2009 CSChE Chemical Engineering Local Section Scholarships The Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering offers two CSChE Chemical Engineering Local Section Scholarshipsannually to undergraduate students in chemical engineering at a Canadian university. Sponsoredby the Edmonton CSChE, Sarnia CIC, and London CIC Local Sections. Deadline: April 30, 2009 For details visit www.chemeng.ca/ls_scholarships.

CSChE

26 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

AVRIL 2009



Canadian Society for Chemistry

Nominations are now open for the

CanadianSociety for Chemistry

2010AWARDSAct now!

Do you know an outstanding person who deserves to be recognized?

The Rio Tinto Alcan Award is presented to

a scientist residing in Canada who has made a distinguished contributionin the fields of inorganic chemistry or electrochemistry while working in Canada. Sponsored by Rio Tinto Alcan. Award: A framed scroll, a cash prize, and travel expenses. The Alfred Bader Award is presented as a mark of distinction and recognition for excellence in research in organic chemistry carried out in Canada. Sponsored by Alfred Bader, HFCIC. Award: A framed scroll, a cash prize, and travel expenses. The Strem Chemicals Award for Pure or Applied Inorganic Chemistry is presented to a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant who has made an outstanding contributionto inorganic chemistry while working in Canada, and who is within ten years of his or her first professional appointment as an independent researcher in an academic, government, or industrial sector. Sponsored by Strem Chemicals Inc. Award: A framed scroll and travel expenses for a lecture tour. The Boehringer Ingelheim Award is presented to a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant whose PhD thesis in the field of organic or bioorganic chemistry was formallyaccepted by a Canadian university in the 12-month period preceding the nominationdeadline of July 3 and whose doctoral research is judged to be of outstanding quality. Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. Award: A framed scroll, a cash prize, and travel expenses. The Clara Benson Award is presented in recognition of a distinguished contribution to chemistry by a woman while working in

Canada. Sponsored by the Canadian Council of University Chemistry Chairs (CCUCC). Award: A framed scroll, a cash prize, and travel expenses. The Maxxam Award is presented to a scientist residing in Canada who has made a distinguished contribution in the field of analyticalchemistry while working in Canada. Sponsored by Maxxam Analytics Inc. Award: A framed scroll, a cash prize, and travel expenses. The R. U. Lemieux Award is presented to an organic chemist who has made a distinguished contribution to any area of organic chemistry while working in Canada. Sponsored by the Organic Chemistry Division. Award: A framed scroll, a cash prize, and travel expenses. The Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research Award is presented to a scientist residing in Canada, who shall not have reached the age of 40 years by April 1 of the year of nomination and who has made a distinguished contribution in the fields of organic chemistry or biochemistry while working in Canada. Sponsored by Merck Frosst Canada Ltd. Award: A framed scroll, a cash prize, and travel expenses. The Bernard Belleau Award is presented to a scientist residing in Canada who has made a distinguished contribution to the field of medicinal chemistry through research involving biochemical or organic chemical mechanisms. Sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb Canada Co. Award: A framed scroll and a cash prize. The John C. Polanyi Award is presented to a scientist for excellence in research in physical, theoretical or computational chemistry or chemical physics carried out in Canada. Award: A framed scroll.

The Fred Beamish Award is presented to an individual who demonstrates innovation in research in the field of analytical chemistry, where the research is anticipated to have significant potential for practical applications. The award is open to new faculty members at a Canadian university and they must be recent graduates with six years of appointment. Sponsored by Eli Lilly Canada Inc. Award: A framed scroll, a cash prize, and travel expenses. The Keith Laidler Award is presented to a scientist who has made a distinguished contributionin the field of physical chemistry while working in Canada. The award recognizes early achievementin the awardee’s independent research career. Sponsored by the Physical, Theoretical and Computational Division. Award: A framed scroll. The W. A. E. McBryde Medal is presented to a young scientist working in Canada who has made a significant achievement in pure or appliedanalytical chemistry. Sponsored by Sciex Inc., Division of MDS Health Group. Award: A medal and a cash prize.

Deadline

The deadline for all CSC awards is July 2, 2009 for the 2010 selection.

Nomination Procedure Submit your nominations to: Awards Manager Canadian Society for Chemistry 130 Slater Street, Suite 550 Ottawa, ON K1P 6E2 T. 613-232-6252, ext. 223 F. 613-232-5862 awards@cheminst.ca

Nomination forms and the full Terms of Reference for these awards are available  at www.chemistry.ca/awards.

RECOGNITION RECONNAISSANCE 

Chemical Institute of Canada

2008 CIC Society Silver Medalists The CIC is proud to announce the 2008 Silver Medal winners. The medals are awarded to undergraduate students on behalf of each society.

Les médaillés d’argent 2008 des sociétés de l’ICC

McMaster University Biochemistry Sandra Rabi Chemistry Pavel Antiperovitch

Memorial University Chemistry Nadine Hewitt

L’ICC est fière d’annoncer les gagnants des médailles d’argent 2008. Chaque société octroie ces médailles à des étudiantes et des étudiants de premier cycle.

Ryerson University

CSC Silver Medal Winners

Simon Fraser University

The CSC encourages undergraduate students in chemistry and related subjects by offering an award to the student with the highest marks in his or her penultimate year of studies at each chemistry and/or biochemistry department in Canada. The recipients of the CSC Silver Medal receive an engraved medal and a certificate of merit. The society offers its congratulations to those students who received the CSC Silver Medal.

Chemistry Kavitharan Tharumakulasingam

Chemistry Du Ruo (Eric) Cai

Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Environmental Chemistry Tyler House

Thompson Rivers University

Gagnants de la médaille d’argent de la SCC

Chemistry John Toman

La SCC souligne les efforts des étudiants de premier cycle en chimie ou autres matières connexes en décernant un prix à l’étudiante ou l’étudiant qui obtient les meilleurs résultats scolaires au cours de son avant-dernière année d’études dans un programme conduisant à l’obtention d’un diplôme en chimie ou en biochimie. Les récipiendaires des médailles d’argent reçoivent une médaille gravée accompagnée d’un certificat de mérite. La Société tient à féliciter les étudiantes et les étudiants qui ont mérité cette médaille.

Trent University

Acadia University

Université de Montréal

Collège Universitaire de St-Boniface

Chemistry Sarah Ward and John Scott

Bishop's University Chemistry/Biochemistry Bryan Jaksic

Brandon University Chemistry Sarah Stroeder

Brock University Chemistry Robert Giacometti

Cape Breton University Chemistry Curtis William White

Carleton University Chemistry Paul Johnson

28 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

AVRIL 2009

Chemistry Stephen McCarthy

Université de Moncton Biochimie Tanya Arseneault

Chimie Heather Ashdown

Chimie Laurence Mayrand-Provencher

Dalhousie University

Université du Québec à Trois Rivières

Chemistry Mark MacDonald

Chimie et biochimie Daniel Leblanc

The King's University College

Université Laval

Chemistry Mark Blackburn

Chimie Sébastien Cardinal

Lakehead University

University College of the Fraser Valley

Chemistry Nick Andreychuk

Chemistry Elna Deglint

McGill University

University of Alberta

Biochemistry Adam Michael Fontebasso Chemistry (Bio-organic option) Philip Campbell

University of British Columbia

Chemistry Michelle Morrow

Chemistry Kayli Johnson

RECOGNITION RECONNAISSANCE

University of Calgary

University of Regina

University of Waterloo

Chemistry Shane Brandon Dawe

Chemistry Christopher Lohans

University of Guelph

University of Saskatchewan

Biological Chemistry Adrian Millman Biochemistry Shane Caldwell Chemistry Avila De Sousa

Chemistry Dang Minh Van

Chemistry Xiaowen Liu Biochemistry Janet Simons

University of Manitoba

University of Toronto— Mississauga

Chemistry Sean Walker Biochemistry Samantha Pauls

University of New Brunswick Chemistry Jordan Donahue

University of Toronto Chemistry Theodorah Nah

Chemistry (Biological Chemistry Specialist) Uvaraj Uddayasankar

University of Toronto— Scarborough Chemistry Parnian Sane

University of Windsor Biochemistry Dennis Ma Chemistry Tamara Milovic

University of Winnipeg Chemistry Cheuk Wing Lam

York University Chemistry Kevin Davis

ACCN

APRIL 2009 CANADIAN CHEMICAL NEWS 29

RECOGNITION RECONNAISSANCE

CSChE Silver Medal Winners In addition to the medal and certificate of merit offered by all the societies, the CSChE awards have an additional prize of $50 and a one-year undergraduate membership to the CSChE. Winners have achieved top marks in their penultimate year of a chemical engineering program. The society wishes to congratulate those students who received the CSChE silver Medal.



2009 Alfred Bader Scholarships

Gagnants de la médaille d’argent de la SCGCh

Canadian Society for Chemistry

La SCGCh décerne comme toutes les autres sociétés des médailles et des certificats de mérite. Cependant, elle désire accorder un prix additionnel de 50 $ et une adhésion de premier cycle à la SCGCh aux étudiantes et étudiants qui auront obtenu les meilleurs résultats scolaires au cours de leur avant-dernière année d’études dans un programme de génie chimique. La société désire féliciter les étudiantes et les étudiants qui ont mérité la médaille de la SCGCh.

The CSC offers up to three $1,000 Alfred Bader Scholarships annually as a mark of excellence for achievement in organic chemistry or biochemistry by undergraduate students completing their final year of student in an honours programme.

Dalhousie University Chemical Engineering Alex Marie Lawrence

Lakehead University Chemical Engineering Michael Liba

Deadline May 30, 2009

McMaster University Chemical Engineering Nicole Malta

For details visit

www.chemistry.ca/ baderscholarships

Royal Military College Chemical Engineering Alexandre Guertin

Ryerson University Bevin Braganza

Université de Sherbrooke CSC



Génie biotechnologique Guillaume Beaudet

Génie chimique François Rivard and David Desjardins

University of Alberta Chemical Engineering Mark Szybunka

University of Calgary Chemical Engineering Alexander Soltani

University of New Brunswick Chemical Engineering Chelsea Ellis

University of Saskatchewan Chemical Engineering Jonathan Godwin

ACCN

L'Institut de chimie du Canada

Avez-vous besoin d’assurance responsabilité? Et si un problème survenait? L’ICC explore la possibilité d’offrir à ses membres de l’assurance responsabilité à prix abordable comme avantage d’être membre de l’ICC.

Qu’en pensez-vous? Surveillez votre boîte de courriels. Vous recevrez bientôt un message de notre partenaire en assurances Marsh Canada vous invitant à remplir un sondage sur l’assurance responsabilité. Toutes vos réponses serviront à négocier la meilleure option au meilleur prix. Portez attention à la date d’échéance, vous pourriez gagner un prix!

30 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

AVRIL 2009

RECOGNITION RECONNAISSANCE

EVENTS ÉVÉNEMENTS

Canada

CSCT Silver Medal Winners The CSCT extends congratulations to those students attending community college or Cégep who received the society’s medal. The students listed have achieved top marks in their final year of a CSCT chemical, biochemical, or chemical engineering technology-related program.

Gagnants de la médaille d’argent de la SCTC

Conferences May 26–29, 2009. 2nd Georgian Bay International Conference on Bioinorganic Chemistry (CanBIC-2009) Parry Sound, ON, www.canbic.ca.

La SCTC tient à féliciter les étudiants qui se sont vu décerner la médaille de la SCTC. Ces étudiantes et les étudiants des cégeps ou des collèges communautaires ont obtenu les meilleurs résultats scolaires au cours de la dernière année de leur programme de technologie chimique, biochimique ou de génie chimique.

May 30–June 3, 2009. 92nd Canadian  Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, Hamilton, ON, www.csc2009.ca.

British Columbia Institute of Technology

July 5–9, 2009. 13th International IUPAC Conference on Polymers and Organic Chemistry(POC09), Montréal, QC, www.poc09.com.

Chemical Technology Marjorie Deagle

Centennial College Biological, Chemical, Environmental Michael Tam

Dawson College Chemical Technology Steven Warywoda

Durham College Biotechnology Chrystal Bartholomew Chemical Engineering Technology Terry Rigby Environmental Technology Kevin Adkinson Pharmaceutical and Food Science Technology Amanda Taylor

Humber College Chemical Engineering. Technology Binod Acharya

Mohawk College Biotechnology Technician— Internship Heather Lynne Cruwys Biotechnology Technician Jodie Nicole Myderwyk Chemical Engineering Technology Thuong Le Chemical Engineering Technology— Environmental Robert Ryan Brennan

Environmental Technician Karla Joanne Rayner Environmental Technician— Internship Jennifer Lee Morris

New Brunswick Community College Chemical Technology Elizabeth Teakles

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Chemical Technology Amy Margerison

Seneca College Chemical Engineering Technology Jaiyeola Williams Chemical Laboratory Technology— Pharmaceutical Irena Lapshina

Sheridan College Chemical Engineering Technology— Environmental Alexey Avdushin

Chemical Engineering Technology Bao Thai Truong

SAIT Polytechnic Chemical Technology Carrolyn Ohler

St. Clair College Chemical Technology Victor Pouget

ACCN

July 20–24, 2009. 7th CanadianComputational Chemistry Conference, Halifax, NS, www.bri.nrc.ca/cccc7. August 23–27, 2009. 8th World Congress of Chemical Engineering, Montréal, QC, www.wcce8.org. August 15–19, 2010. 3rd International IUPAC Conference on Green Chemistry, Ottawa, ON, www.icgc2010.ca.

U.S. and Overseas Conferences August 1–9, 2009. IUPAC 42nd Congress and 45th General Assembly, Glasgow, U.K., www.iupac2009.org. September 27–30, 2009. Engineering our Future, Perth, Australia, www.chemeca2009.com. August 15–19, 2010. 3rd International IUPAC Conference on Green Chemistry, www.icgc2010.ca. December 15–20, 2010. Pacifichem 2010, Honolulu, Hawaii, www.pacifichem.org.

DID YOU KNOW

all issues of ACCN prior to 2009 are free to view on‑line at www.accn.ca?

APRIL 2009 CANADIAN CHEMICAL NEWS 31

RECOGNITION RECONNAISSANCE

CNC-IUPAC Travel Awards for 2009 Bourses de voyage du CNC-UICPA pour 2009 The Canadian National Committee for the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (CNC-IUPAC) established the CNC-IUPAC Travel Awards in 1982. These awards are financed jointly by the Canadian Society for Chemistry’s Gendron Fund and by CNC-IUPAC’s Company Associates—Merck Frosst, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bruker BioSpin, H. L. Blachford Ltd. and Cansolv Technologies Inc. The purpose of these awards is to help young Canadian scientists and engineers, who should be within ten years of gaining their PhDs, present a paper at an IUPAC-sponsored conference outside Canada and the U.S. Deadline for receipt of applications: October 15, 2009. Details of the application procedures can be found at www.cnc-iupac. ca/awards_e.html. Le Comité national canadien de l’Union internationale de chimie pure et appliquée (CNC-UICPA) remet des bourses de voyage de CNC-UICPA depuis 1982. Ces bourses sont subventionnées par le Fonds Gendron (administré par la Société canadienne de chimie) et par les compagnies associées au CNC-UICPA : Merck Frosst, Boehringer Ingelheim et Bruker BioSpin, H.L. Blachford Ltd. and Cansolv Technologies Inc. L’objectif de ces bourses est de venir en aide aux jeunes scientifiques et ingénieurs canadiens qui ont obtenu leur doctorat dans les dix dernières années afin de leur permettre de présenter leurs travaux lors d’un congrès commandité par l’UICPA à l’extérieur du Canada et des États-Unis. Date limite pour postuler : le 15 octobre 2009. Renseignements supplémentaires: www.cnc-iupac.ca/awards_e.html. 32 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

AVRIL 2009

Shawn K. Collins, MCIC, was born in 1974 and raised in Val d'Or, QC. He obtained a BSc honours degree from Concordia University in 1996 while working w i t h O z z i e S . Te e. He completed his PhD in 2001 with Alex G. Fallis, FCIC, at the University of Ottawa. After a NSERC postdoctoral fellowship with Larry E. Overman, University of California, Irvine, CA, he joined the Université de Montréal in September 2003 as assistant professor. Collins' research group is interested in the development of new stereo and enantioselective synthetic methods. In particular, his group has developed new methods for the synthesis of planar chiral macrocycles and novel olefin metathesis catalysts for the formation of helicenes. His group’s recent work will be presented at the 15th IUPAC Symposium on Organometallic Chemistry Directed Towards Organic Synthesis (OMCOS-15) in Glasgow, Scotland in July 2009.

To r s t e n H e g m a n n , MCIC, and MRSC, received his PhD in 2001 from the Martin-Luther U n i ve rs i t y i n H a l l e, G e r m a ny, u n d e r t h e supervision of Carsten Tschierske, for work on metal containing liquid crystals (or metallomesogens) and liquid crystal macrocycles. He then moved to Queen’s University in Kingston, ON as a postdoctoral fellow in the group of Robert P. Lemieux, MCIC, working on ferroelectric liquid crystal mixtures with a DAAD/NATO postdoctoral fellowship. In 2003, he joined the department of chemistry at the University of Manitoba, where he is currently an associate professor, focusing on the design and synthesis of different nanocomposites as well as on structure-property relationships in these materials. With the support of the 2009 CNC/IUPAC Travel Award, Hegmann will attend the 42nd IUPAC Congress ‘Chemistry Solutions’ in Glasgow, Scotland in August 2009.

Vy D o n g , M C I C , obtained her PhD at the California Institute o f Te c h n o l o g y w i t h David MacMillan and completed postdoctoral training at University of California at Berkeley with Robert Bergman and Kenneth Raymond. She began her independent career at the University of Toronto in the summer of 2006. The Dong Group focuses on developing new organometallic pathways to overcome key challenges in synthesis and catalysis, including carbon-hydrogen bond functionalization, carbon-dioxide activation, and olefin elaboration. Dong is grateful to CNC/IUPAC for a travel award to attend the 15th IUPAC International Symposium on Organometallic Chemistry Directed Towards Organic Synthesis (OMCOS 15) in Glasgow, Scotland in July 2009.

Laurel Schafer, MCIC, received her PhD in 1999 from the University of Victoria under the supervision of David Berg, MCIC. She then took an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California Berkeley to work with T. Don Tilley. In 2001, she was awarded an NSERC University Faculty Award and joined the department of chemistry at The University of British Columbia and was promoted to associate professor in 2007. Since beginning her independent career, she has received the Boehringer Ingelheim Young Investigator Award for Organic Synthesis (2004), a Teaching Excellence Award (2004) and she is presently an A. P. Sloan Fellow (2007–2009). Her research focuses on the application of early transition metal amidate complexes as tunable and novel complexes for the catalytic synthesis of amines.

With the assistance of the CNC/IUPAC Travel Award for 2009 she will attend the 15th IUPAC Symposium on Organometallic Chemistry Directed Towards Organic Synthesis in Glasgow, Scotland in July 2009. Aaron Wheeler, MCIC, joined the University of Toronto as a faculty member in July 2005, with a primary appointment in the department of chemistry and cross-appointments at the Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) and the Banting and Best Department of Medical Research (BBDMR). During his short time in Toronto, Wheeler has been awarded the Fred Beamish Award, and the Canada Research Chair in Bioanalytical Chemistry. Prior to coming to Toronto, Wheeler completed his PhD in chemistry working with Dick Zare at Stanford University, and then spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow at UCLA, working with Robin Garrell, department of chemistry and biochemistry, CJ Kim, department of mechanical engineering, and Joe Loo, department of biological chemistry. Wheeler's research interests include microfluidics, proteomics, high-throughput screening, separations, mass spectrometry, and cell-based assays. Wheeler will use the CNC-IUPAC award to participate in the 42nd IUPAC World Chemistry Congress, which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland in August 2009. ACCN



CHALLENGES FOR A

CHANGING WORLD

8th World Congress of Chemical Engineering(WCCE8) is being held in The

Montréal, QC, August

23–27, 2009.

INDUSTRIAL PROGRAM The Congress theme “Challenges for a Changing World” addressesthe importantchallenges of the 21st century. Research and discussionon this theme will be demonstrated throughout the IndustrialProgram: • Financing Industrial Research and Development; • Process Intensification for Sustainable Manufacturing; • XTL (X to Liquid); • Technologies in Comparison (TiC); • Process Safety and Loss Management; • Improving our Transportation System; • North American Sustainability—Panel Discussion on Opportunities and Barriers for Energy Sustainability; • LNG.

TECHNICAL PROGRAM

Upcoming CSC Student Conferences

WCCE8 will reflect a global forum for chemical engineers where learning, discovering, and understanding through discussion and networking will be at the forefront of all activities: • Energy—providing sufficient energy to enable economic growth and human development; • Green Processing and Process Intensification—the design of improved environmentally and socially acceptable processes; • New Materials and Processes—the invention of new materials and biologically based processes and products to simplify life; • Biotechnology—the evolution of our discipline as it adapts to the increasingly complex world; • Chemical Engineering and Society—examining past waves of chemical engineering education and how the current wave affects society today; • Contemporary Topics in Chemical Engineering—featuring a broad range of current issues.

ChemCon2009

Canadian Society for Chemistry

The 34th Annual APICS/CIC Undergraduate Chemistry Conference (ChemCon 2009) will be held May 14–16, 2009, hosted by the St. Francis Xavier University Chemistry Society. This year’s theme is ‘Students with Solutions’. For more information contact so_chem@stfx.ca or visit stfx.ca/events/ chemcon2009/.

WCUCC 2009 The 2009 Western Canadian Undergraduate Chemistry Conference will be held May 7–9, 2009, hosted by the Thompson Rivers University Chemistry and BiochemistryClub. For more information contact wcucc2009@wcucc.com or visit www.wcucc.com.

You can view the full technical and industrialprograms at www.wcce8.org or sign up to receive more information on the congress at www.wcce8.org/onlineform.html. Montréal is a scenic and vibrant multi-cultural city with a European flavour, and is renowned for its cultural and artistic life with remarkable restaurants and an excellent hotel network. Montréal is easy to reach by air with direct flights from the U.S.A., Latin America, and Europe, and from Asia through the Vancouver and Toronto hubs. We look forward to seeing you in Montréal. CSC

APRIL 2009 CANADIAN CHEMICAL NEWS 33

CAREERS CARRIÈRES

34 L’ACTUALITÉ CHIMIQUE CANADIENNE

AVRIL 2009

RLD

PM40021620

CHA

GING WO N A H C A R O F S LLENGE

8TH WORLD CONGRESS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING INCORPORATING THE 59TH CANADIAN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING CONFERENCE AND THE XXIV INTERAMERICAN CONGRESS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

MONTRÉAL, QUEBEC, CANADA • AUGUST 23-27,

www.wcce8.org

2009