Curtin Malaysia researchers win MTE and CITREX awards for research innovation

Miri – 28 March 2023 – Researchers from Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) have once again did their university proud by bagging gold and silver awards at the recent Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) 2023, in addition to a gold medal at the 13th Creation, Innovation, and Research Exposition 2023 (CITREX 2023).

Held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) is one of the technology exhibitions that have been continually organised since its inception more than 20 years ago. It is the largest such event in the region featuring an expo on innovations, and an awards programme honouring technology innovators who are helping transform industry and public service, and contributing to sustainability.

Two teams from Curtin Malaysia participated in MTE 2023 and were recognised with two awards at the MTE International Innovation Awards (IIA), which have a long and successful tradition of honouring scientific and technological breakthroughs and recognising achievement in research and innovation (R&I).

Winning the Gold Award for their research innovation entitled ‘Magnetic Functionalised-Multi-Wall-Carbon-Nanotubes-Based Buckypaper’ was a team led by senior lecturer in chemical and energy engineering Dr. Tan Yie Hua. Other members of the team were Associate Professor Mubarak Mujawar (Universiti Teknologi Brunei), Professor Mohammad Khalid (Sunway University) and PhD student Fahad Saleem Ahmed Khan (Curtin Malaysia).

Their innovative buckypaper is based on magnetic functionalised multi-wall carbon nanotubes that have been developed for various engineering applications. The buckypaper has excellent mechanical, adsorption and electrical properties, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, including wastewater treatment, energy storage, sensing, and electromagnetic interference shielding.

The Gold Award was awarded to the team in recognition of their innovation’s potential to revolutionise various industries by providing a new material that has unique properties and is highly versatile in its applications.

Winning the Silver Award, meanwhile, was a team led by senior lecturer in chemical and energy engineering Dr. Tan Inn Shi, who along with her teammates Dr. Henry Foo Chew Yew (Curtin Malaysia), Professor Stephanie Chan Yen San (Curtin Malaysia), Dr. Lam Man Kee (University Technologi Petronas) and Prof. Lee Keat Teong (Universiti Sains Malaysia) won for their innovation entitled ‘Marine Macroalgae: The Future of Sustainable Bioplastic’.

The team’s research involved producing L-lactic acid (L-LA) from Eucheuma denticulatum extract (EDE) using microwave-assisted hydrolysis. To find an efficient process for producing sustainable bioplastic, the team focused on increasing the yield of galactose from EDE through hydrolysis. They discovered that microwave-assisted dilute acid hydrolysis (MADAH) had a higher performance in galactose production than microwave-assisted hydrothermal hydrolysis (MAHTH), and the optimal conditions for both processes were determined.

This research could pave the way for commercialising macroalgae-based bioplastic applications, thereby contributing to a more sustainable future while creating new market opportunities for eco-friendly bioplastics.

Another awards programme where Curtin Malaysia researchers shone was the 13th Creation, Innovation, and Research Exposition 2023 (CITREX 2023) held at Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP). The annual CITEX showcases innovations and the trailblazing spirit of researchers who compete for Gold, Silver and bronze medals.

A team comprising associate professor of chemical and energy engineering Dr. John Lau Sie Yon and higher degree by research (HDR) student Shamini Anboo won the Gold Medal for their innovation entitled ‘Development of Facile Self-Assembly Magnetic Hybrid Nanoflowers Biocatalyst’.

Their co-researchers comprised Dr. Jibrail Kansedo (Curtin Malaysia), Dr. Yap Pow-Seng (Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China), Associate Professor Tony Hadibarata (Curtin Malaysia) and Prof. Azlina Harun Kamaruddin (University Sains Malaysia)

The team’s research involves the invention of promising biocatalysts that offer unique advantages in various industrial applications. These biocatalysts are composed of nanoscale materials arranged in a flower-like structure, which allows for increased surface area and accessibility to reactants, resulting in higher catalytic activity and efficiency.

The versatility and efficiency of nanoflower biocatalysts make them an attractive option for a wide range of applications and their use is expected to increase in the coming years as more companies look to adopt sustainable and green technologies.

Curtin Malaysia’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Professor Simon Leunig remarked that these recent awards speak volumes of the quality research and teaching conducted at Curtin Malaysia. As Curtin University’s earliest and largest global campus and hub in ASEAN, Curtin Malaysia is committed to being a leader in education and research in the region, he said.

For information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my, or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or Tik-Tok.

MTE 2023 International Innovation Award winners Dr Tan Yie Hua and Dr Tan Inn Shi

CITREX 2023 Gold Medal winners Dr John Lau Sie Yon and Shamini Anboo