by Bev Betkowski (Troy Media/University of Alberta) University of Alberta research is brewing up better ways to help ethanol producers make the most of plant waste they use to make their fuel. A process developed by researcher David Bressler’s lab in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences makes it possible to break down stubborn plant tissues to make clean-burning ethanol, and also creates a renewable high-value product “with remarkable properties,” said Michael Chae, operations director for the Biomass Energy Network and a manager with the research program. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) created in the U of A biorefining process have generally been found to have the strength and stiffness of steel, as well as properties that make it a potential thickener for industrial coatings and paint, and can be chemically tweaked for qualities like water resistance.