EDMONTON - A University of Alberta scientist has figured out a way to transform cow parts into plastic.
David Bressler is trying to patent a process that turns cattle carcasses buried in land fills over mad cow concerns into plastic being tested for use in cars.
He says the product could earn ranchers some extra cash instead of them having to pay to have the risky cow materials dealt with.
Bressler uses water to break apart protein in cattle brains and spinal cords into small bits that can be bound together with a chemical.
He says the end product can be fine-tuned, depending on how flexible it needs to be.
He says the plastic — which he doesn't have a name for yet — could hit the market in two or three years.
© The Canadian Press, 2011