Dr. Richard McFarlane

Professional Bio

Ph.D. Physical Chemistry | University of Ottawa
M.Sc. Chemical Engineering | University of Alberta
P.Eng. | Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta

Richard McFarlane is a Research Scientist/Engineer in the Energy Services division at InnoTech Alberta. He has a background in physical chemistry and chemical engineering. He has led large projects with substantial budgets and is named on 6 patents in Canada and the US.

Over the past 30 years, Richard’s main areas of research and industrial activity include: chemical processing including partial upgrading of bitumen, heavy oil and distillate fractions; treatment of rag layers from bitumen-water separation; asphaltene aggregation and flocculation in oil mixtures; desalting of water-in-bitumen emulsions; and reducing acidity (TAN) of heavy oil and bitumen. These and others of his research and development activities have supported industrial development of heavy oil and bitumen activities in Alberta.