Oleogels as sustainable alternatives to hydrogenated oils
Oleogels offer a sustainable alternative to hydrogenated oils, mimicking their properties without producing trans fats. Utilizing natural ingredients, these oleogels are suitable for diverse food applications such as pastries, spreads, and more, with enhanced stability and functionality.
Overview
Oleogels present a novel, sustainable alternative to traditional hydrogenated oils, which are often associated with health concerns due to trans fatty acid production. By incorporating liquid oils into complex structures using biopolymers of proteins and carbohydrates, oleogels replicate the desirable properties of hydrogenated oils without the associated risks. These oleogels are designed for a wide range of applications in the food industry, including pastries, spreads, and confectionery, offering consumers a healthier choice.
Technical specifications
Oleogels are developed using natural ingredients such as proteins (e.g., soy protein, lentil protein), waxes (e.g., bees wax, carnauba wax), and carbohydrates (e.g., starch, cellulose). These components are processed through green technologies to produce oleogels with specific properties tailored for various applications. Key attributes such as solid fat content, fatty acid profile, texture (hardness, adhesiveness), viscosity, and thermal properties (melting point) are meticulously characterized. Additionally, oleogels demonstrate superior oil binding capacity and stability metrics, including peroxide index and thio-barbituric acid number, crucial for maintaining quality over time.
Technology readiness level
Currently, this technology is at TRL 2, indicating that the concept has been formulated and initial research is underway. Further development and validation are planned to enhance the properties and applications of oleogels, aiming to reach a higher readiness level for commercial deployment.
About University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a large, comprehensive public research university in Edmonton with multiple campuses and a strong applied research culture. Industry engages through co-located labs and pilot-scale facilities, as well as established co-op and internship programs that place talent with partners year-round. Integration with Alberta’s province-wide hospital system supports clinical research and accelerates translation. Companies also benefit from proximity to regional industry clusters and collaboration hubs on and near campus for joint R&D and prototyping. Supported by NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC, and Canada Foundation for Innovation funding—plus provincial and industry support—the tech transfer office manages IP, licensing, and startup formation with streamlined sponsored-research agreements.
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