SCIENTIST Martin Tangney has been shortlisted for a prestigious international award for his work in converting the waste from the production of whisky into biofuel.

Professor Tangney, founder and president of Edinburgh-based Celtic Renewables, has been shortlisted in the Innovator of the Year category in the Institute of Chemical Engineering's IChemE 2012 Awards.

The innovator award, which will be presented on Thursday in Manchester, recognises the "individual who best demonstrates his or her achievements and tangible application of chemical, biochemical and/or process engineering skills to address important economic, environmental or social issues".

Others shortlisted include scientists from Australia, the US, and Singapore.

Last month, Celtic Renewables signed a memorandum of understanding with Tullibardine Distillery in Perthshire, which became the first whisky distillery in the world to have its by-products converted into advanced biofuel, capable of powering vehicles that run on petrol or diesel directly.