GE (General Electric) has announced that it is partnering with the University of Alberta (UA) and Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (AITF) to develop techniques that reduce carbon dioxide transmissions from extraction and upgrading processes and from the treatment process for the water generated during oil recovery. From the news item on Nanowerk,

In the quest to develop more cost-effective ways to reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels, GE is partnering with the University of Alberta (UA) and Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (AITF) on a $4 million CO2 capture project supported by the Climate Change and Emissions Management (CCEMC) Corporation.

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The technology is based on naturally occurring zeolites identified by UA. These materials are rocks with molecularly sized pores, which allow small molecules to enter while excluding larger molecules. Zeolites are widely used in the chemical industry as catalysts, and this project seeks to form these materials into membranes that can be used for high temperature gas separation. The materials also have the potential to be used as filters for contaminated water. The CCEMC is providing $2 million in support of this project, with an equal cost share from GE and its project partners.

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[Anthony] Ku [chemical engineer and project leader for GE Global Research on the carbon dioxide capture project] noted that  successful commercialization and widespread adoption of this technology could reduce CO2 emissions from the production of synthetic crude oil from the Oil Sands by up to 25%.

I’m glad to see another initiative in Alberta aimed at reducing environmental impacts. Last year in Sept. 2009, Alberta’s Premier (Ed Steilmach) signed a memorandum of understanding with Rice University (based in Texas) to collaborate on initiatives similar to this. (Sept. 22, 2009 posting)