David Berthiaume

Executive Director

Expertise:

  • Project management
  • Synthetic organic chemistry
  • Green chemistry
  • Scaling up of chemical synthesis processes

Education:

  • MBA Business Administration (2002) – Université Laval
  • Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry (2000) – CHUL Research Center- Université Laval
  • Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry (1998) – Université Laval

Experience:

  • Executive Director, Kemitek– since 2006
  • Scientific Director, Kemitek – 2003 to 2006
  • R&D Chemist, Project Manager and Production Manager, Matrix Innovation – 2000 to 2002
    Research and development of new resins for solid phase chemistry (functionalized resins).
  • Master’s degree student, CHUL Research Center – 1999-2000
    Designed and synthesized enzymatic inhibitors for breast cancer research.

Implications:

  • Member of the advisory committee and President, Tech-Access Canada – since 2014
  • Director, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) – 2007 to 2013
  • Administrator, Secretary Treasurer, President of Réseau Trans-tech – 2007 to 2017
  • Secretary Treasurer, Conseil québécois du biodiesel (CQB) – 2007 to 2010
  • Administrator, Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Thetford Mines – 2008 to 2010

Accomplishments:

  • Funding and realisation of two important infrastructure investments (5,2M$ and 1,7M$)
  • Obtention and renewal of a Technology Access Centre recognition

Scientific Accomplishments:

  • Study on the oxidative stability of Canadian biodiesels according to the EN 14112 method (Rancimat)
  • Study on the valorization of animal fats (mink oil, seal oil)
  • Developed new technology for the combustion of waste oils.
  • Developed a new process for the fractioning of fats by precipitation of a urea complex.
  • Developed rust-proofing oil for cars with a low level of volatile organic components (VOC).
  • Developed a new oleochemical heat transfer fluid for use in electrical transformers, at low temperatures

Memberships:

  • Member of the Ordre des Chimistes du Québec (OCQ)
  • Member of the American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS)

Publications & Patents:

  • Patent-pending: Insulating oils for use in electrical equipment (2005)
  • Berthiaume, D.; Poirier, D. “O-Methoxycarbonyl cyanohydrin as a new protective group for carbonyls” Tetrahedron 56, 5995-6003 (2000)
  • Poirier, D.; Berthiaume, D.; Boivin, R.P. “Unexpected formation of O-methoxycarbonyl cyanohydrin showing potential as a protective group of ketones” Synlett 1423-1425 (1999)