Curtin Malaysia researchers recognised for ground-breaking innovations

Miri – 17 July 2023 – Two researchers from Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) have been honoured with prestigious gold awards for their exceptional research projects at two international innovation events. Their innovative work highlights Curtin Malaysia’s commitment to cutting-edge research and its impact on society.

Ir. Dr. Man Djun Lee, a lecturer in the Mechanical Engineering Department of Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science, received a Gold Medal at the International Virtual Expo of Innovation Product and System Design 2023 (INVIDE2023) hosted by Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), in collaboration with the Malaysian Innovation Foundation (YIM) and Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Technology (SRIT), India. Ir. Dr. Lee’s achievement stems from his research project, ‘Sustainable Papermaking with Oil Palm Frond Biomass’, which introduces an innovative approach to enhance paper strength and sustainability.

The project addresses a common challenge in the paper industry, where recycled fibres often suffer from reduced conformability and inter-fibre bonding compared to virgin fibres, a phenomenon known as hornification. Driven by the desire to reclaim the lost potential of recycled pulp, Ir. Dr. Lee’s study focuses on the blending approach, specifically utilising oil palm frond fibre as a solution. Despite the abundance of oil palm trees in Malaysia, the potential of oil palm fibre remains largely untapped, and often overlooked as waste material.

The study evaluated three different weight percentages of fibre loading combined with newspaper pulp. The resulting paper underwent rigorous testing, including assessments of tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and examination of its morphology using scanning electron microscopy. These results underscore the tremendous potential of incorporating oil palm frond fibre into the pulp and papermaking process, offering significant contributions to both economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Additionally, Dr. Tan Inn Shi, a senior lecturer in the Chemical and Energy Engineering Department, won a Gold Award for her project entitled ‘Innovative Production of 3G-LLA: A Novel Building Blocks for Eco-friendly Bioplastic’ at the International Innovation and Invention Competition through Exhibition 2023 (iCompEx 2023), an annual innovation competition hosted by Sultan Abdul Halim Muádzam Shah Polytechnic (POLIMAS) since 2013.

Dr. Tan’s research project was funded by the Ministry of Higher Education’s Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS), and her project team included Dr. Henry Foo Chee Yew, Kevin Tong Tian Xiang, Dr. Lam Man Kee, Ir. Tian Foon Howe, and Dr. Wong Mee Kee.

The team presented their innovative work in producing L-lactic acid (LLA) from red macroalgae Eucheuma denticulatum extract (EDE) as a crucial building block for producing polylactic acid (bioplastic) using microwave-assisted autohydrolysis (MAAH). The utilisation of water as the exclusive solvent creates an environmentally friendly biorefinery approach and an optimal galactose yield was attained. The team also successfully achieved optimal LLA yield using lactic acid bacteria along with biorefinery waste as the nutrient supplement.

Both Ir. Dr. Lee and Dr. Tan’s accomplishments underscore Curtin Malaysia’s status as a leading research institution, driving innovation in various fields. These awards demonstrate the calibre of talent and commitment to excellence at Curtin Malaysia, leading to substantial contributions to society on a global scale.

Expressing his delight, Ir. Dr. Lee shared, “I am honoured to receive this recognition for my research. It motivates me to continue working towards sustainable solutions that actively address environmental challenges faced by the papermaking industry. I extend my appreciation to Curtin Malaysia for providing an environment conducive to innovation and supporting my endeavours.”

Dr. Tan expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am thrilled to receive this gold award for our research in producing  3G-LLA. Our efficient and eco-friendly approach to producing 3G-LLA represents a promising step towards a more sustainable future and demonstrates the potential of green chemistry. I am grateful to Curtin Malaysia for its support and for fostering an atmosphere of research excellence.”

Professor Simon Leunig, Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive of Curtin Malaysia, praised the achievements of Ir. Dr. Lee and Dr. Tan, stating, “We are extremely proud of our researchers’ accomplishments and recognition at these prominent innovation events. Their ground-breaking work reflects Curtin Malaysia’s dedication to pioneering research that positively impacts society. We congratulate Ir. Dr. Lee and Dr. Tan on their well-deserved awards and their continuous pursuit of innovation.”

“As an institution committed to fostering research excellence and technological advancements, Curtin Malaysia continues to support its researchers in their pursuit of innovative solutions for global challenges.”

The International Virtual Expo of Innovation Product and System Design 2023 (INVIDE2023) is an innovation competition where innovative products and systems related to various science and technological fields are exhibited as solutions for contemporary problems faced by society. The aim of the expo is to give new exposure to the various levels of inventors, as well as encourage a culture of innovation design focused on latest technologies, such as Internet of Things (IoT) and technologies-related inventions in line with the theme of the Expo, ‘Embracing The Spirit of Innovation and Technology’.

The International Innovation and Invention Competition through Exhibition 2023 (iCompEx 2023), meanwhile, showcases original innovation projects and new discoveries of researchers to the public and has had a successful tradition of honouring scientific and technological breakthroughs in research and innovation (R&I) since 2013. It serves as an ongoing platform for young inventors to showcase their ideas and creations that are beneficial to all, in order to elevate the country’s status as a regional innovation hub. The theme for the 2023 edition of iCompEx was ‘Dream, Create, Inspire: Powered by Innovation’.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit www.curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

INVIDE2023 Gold Medal winner, Ir Dr Lee Man Djun

iCompEx 2023 Gold Award winner, Dr Tan Inn Shi