A team of
researchers from the the Faculty of Business Management has paved the way for
the marketing of the succulent, mouth-watering Harumanis mango, a common enough
fruit for Malaysians but unanimously
considered exotic by connoisseurs of food worldwide.
Although the
world market for tropical fruits is growing, Malaysia’s share in the overall
international fruit trade is relatively insignificant. It has been widely
established that Japan has the world’s second largest food service sector; its food market is three times greater than
all other Asian food markets combined.
Thus, Japan is a prime target for the export of fresh Malaysian fruits,
presenting innumerable opportunities for
enterprising exporters.
Building on
this, the research team comprising of Faridah Hj Hassan, Rosidah Musa, Jamaliah
Yusof and Jamaluddin Yahya, conducted a pioneering study to explore the export
potential for Malaysian fresh tropical fruits in the Japanese market.
Specifically, the research aims to gain richer insights into the legal
regulations and administrative procedures of exporting fresh fruits into Japan;
to examine implicitly the distribution system for imported fresh fruits; to
assess the attitudes and taste preferences of Japanese consumers as well as
their their awareness land acceptance of Malaysian fruits in order to ascertain
the potential export of Malaysian fruits to Japan.
Research
methodologies adopted comprised of personal interviews, customer surveys, field
visits, analysis of official documents and visiting relevant websites to gather
current and pertinent information.
The key research
finding reveals that the Harumanis mango is the potential tropical fruit to be
marketed in Japan. The team’s assessment of business opportunities,
identification of market niches and trade channels resulted in four action
plans which have been proposed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based
Industry for execution. If everything runs well, Malaysia should be able to
deliver the first shipment of Harumanis by 2010.
Growing
worldwide interest in exotic, tropical fruits like the mango has been
stimulated by the expanding demand for foods which add variety to the diet.
Thus the research is significant for
mango growers searching for new opportunities and those willing to enter
unchartered waters. Apart from creating trade openings, it also suggests that
it is crucial for entrepreneurs to possess superior business acumen and improve
their managerial skills. The research
emphasises the view that there is no mass market for new crops, but
market segments need to be developed. Business firms must have the right
products, in the right market segment, at the right time.
Further info: The team, led by Faridah Hj
Hassan, Director of the Institute of
Business Excellence, can be contacted
via Prof Dr Faridah Hj Hassan@salam.uitm.edu.my
#2 New
Tool for the Batik Artisan
A simple yet
reliable device for ensuring a precise and smooth wax flow from the Canting,
the pen-like tool of the batik artisan used for outlining motifs, has been
created by three Art and Design lecturers at the Kelantan state campus of
University Teknologi MARA.
The batik
artisan’s craft lies in producing a piece of outstanding design, whose wax
lines are produced by a steady wax flow from the Canting. In applying wax to
the cloth by using the traditional or conventional Canting, molten wax which
has been previously heated in a traditional melting pot, is poured into the
spout and this wax has then to be maintained at an appropriate temperature. A
wax that is too cool will clog the spout of the Canting. A wax that is too hot
will flow too quickly that it is rendered uncontrollable. Often, the batik
artisan is also forced to blow into the spout of the Canting before applying
wax to the cloth in order to clear the Canting of any obstructions. This
practice inadvertently affects production time
whilst giving rise to the
inhalation of the hazardous smoke or fumes from the melting wax.
Danuri Sakijan,
Hanif Hj Khairi and Mohamed Harun have now created the new Microtorch Canting,
a device by which the wax is continuously heated inside the Canting, thus
affording very high control over its flow. Danuri and his team affixed a
refined butane gas canister into the new device so that the state of molten wax
is achieved without the aid of the traditionally used melting pot, stove and
gas cylinder.
Project leader,
Danuri Sakijan, explains the importance of this work, “The technique of Batik
is a demanding one, and the Microtorch Canting enables the batik artist to
produce smooth wax lines required for intricate Batik design. It also means
that production time and costs are reduced significantly, since it is portable
and can be continuously heated with minimal energy consumption. Inhalation of
hazardous fumes from the melting wax when using the conventional melting pot is
also reduced to absolutely zero.
This device will
have major commercial implications. As the Microtorch Canting is portable and
easy to use, it could be:
·
marketed in the local and
international craft sector.
·
used as an effective tool for batik
demonstration purposes especially among batik entrepreneurs.
·
used as an educational tool in
learning institutions such as schools and universities.
Further information: The invention has
scoped three awards, namely the Gold Medal at the British Invention Show 2008,
the Gold Medal at the 19 th International Invention, Innovation &
Technology Exhibition ITEX 2008, Malaysia, and the Gold Medal in IID 2008-
Universiti Teknologi MARA. Danuri Sakijan and his team are based at the UiTM
Kelantan state campus. He can be contacted via danuri936@kelantan.uitm.edu.my /
danuri_danuri@yahoo.com.
#3 Tapping
Nature’s Bounty
Bonanza from the
natural world and in particular, the coconut tree, has captured the imagination
of Professor Dr Suhaimi Muhammed who has successfully developed an environmentally friendly biocomposite
material by utilizing coconut husks.
The coconut
tree, called the tree of life, contributes a substantial slice to the nation’s
economy. Apart from offering jobs to the coastal population nationwide, its
rich biodiversity and potential for food and new natural products are hard to
match.
Recognizing the
unmet industrial and commercial need for environmentally friendly biocomposite
products, Professor Dr Suhaimi together with Amran Shafie and Noorshashillawati
Azura Mohammad from the Faculty of Applied Sciences began thinking about using
coconut husks in developing biocomposite tiles. Biocomposites, also known as
natural fibre composites, are composed of biodegradeable plant-based or
animal-based natural fibres such as flax, jute, silk or wool.
The research
utilizes long fibre bundles of coconut coir obtained from coconut husks. The
low density and high cellulose content of such fibres lead to their excellent
specific properties, which enable them to compete with traditional ceramic
fibres. The biocomposite tiles are made by combining the readily available
coconut husks with fiberglass which are further bonded with acrylic resin (gel
coat). When tested for dimensional stability, this biocomposite material
exhibited very low water absorption rates (less than three percent) and
thickness swelling (less than one percent).
This work
suggests that use of plant-based fibres as reinforcement in a natural fibre
composite system may be potential for effectively improving the properties and
performances of polymer matrix resins. Natural fibres can serve as
reinforcement by improving the strength and stiffness and also by reducing the
weight of the resulting biocomposite materials. Thus they are suitable for use
as vehicle plates, floors, walls, various domestic artefacts. and specific
industrial applications. A key outcome of the research and development
conducted by the team is the portable biocomposite press which was developed
for the benefit of small scale coconut entrepreneurs. Using the portable press,
these entrepreneurs will be able to come up with their own bicomposite
materials, thus leading to the coconut industry’s adaptability and growth. The
utilization of coconut coir is also a bonus to villagers who own coconut
plantations as it adds to their source of income. Other advantages of using
coconut coir include: low cost, availability, toughness, low density and
biodegradability.
The speed at
which Professor Suhaimi’s innovation has moved from university science to a
commercial proposition has been swift. What started as a research project just
three years ago is now a business
proposition with plans to revolutionise various industrial and domestic
applications.
Further information : The invention has
bagged numerous local and international awards, culminating in the bronze medal
at the 37th International Exhibition of Inventions, Geneva, Switzerland 2009. Professor
Dr Suhaimi Muhammed and his team are attached to UiTM Pahang and can be
contacted via dsuhaimi@PAHANG.uitm.edu.my
#4 Snacks for Healthy Eaters
UiTM food researchers Noriham Abdullah, Marina
Zulkifli, Mohd Hilmi Hassan, Wan Nur Zahidah Wan Zainon and Nur Ilmiah Alimin
have developed a new process for the formulation of fruit peel based snacks to
bridge the gap between fast, on-the-go snacking and meeting consumer health
concerns.As there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that health
conscious consumers are turning to more adventurous and healthy alternatives to
chocolate, biscuits and cakes, the researchers produced fruit leather that
utilizes agricultural by-products as its main ingredients.
The team from the Faculty of Applied Sciences used
typically tropical ingredients which are cheap and available in abundance, such
as mango and guava peels, to produce leathery, bite size snacks called
Fruity-Peelo.
Their basic premise is that fruit peels should be
treated as a specialized residue due to high levels of polyphenols, carotenoids
and other bioactive compounds which offer various health benefits. Utilization
of these by products for product recovery is a promising measure from both an
environmental and economic point of view.
Lead
researcher, Dr. Noriham Abdullah, says
that not only is Fruity-Peelo a tasty convenience snack, it also carries
particular health compounds such as antioxidants, dietary fibers and Vitamin C.
The product also boasts a long shelf life at room temperature.
#5 Targeting Oil Spills
A penguin drenched in oil. Stricken by devastating oil
spills which are notoriously difficult to clean up, such birds are much
imperiled because thick, toxic oil blinds their eyes and entirely coats their
plumage, promptly immobilizing them after contacting the oil.
Such images prompted environmental scientist,
Professor Ku Halim Ku Hamid, to work on the seminal idea that Avian feathers
have the propensity to soak up oil. Armed with the knowledge that using
bioremediation, bacteria can be used to clean up waste, including consuming oil
spills, the scientist and his team invented an award winning, ecological
Bacteria Embedded Oil-Spill Absorber made of Avian feathers that could be an
ideal tool for targeting oil spills.
The oil-spill absorber is made from Avian feathers,
such as chicken, duck, goose, turkey or ostrich feathers which are ground to
form a cellulosic mass. This mass of Avian feathers is then bound by a
biodegradable binder and further impregnated with bacteria selected from the
group consisting of hydrocarbon-consuming bacteria.
It is manufactured in the form of a mat sheet and can
be directly applied to the removal of spilt oils on water, road, and floor
surfaces as well as walls and other polluted areas. Since the material used is
dense, the absorber can be retained floating on the surface water and is easily
removed after it is saturated with spilt oil.
The absorber works in a simple way. Shaped into a mat
sheet, it has a high surface area as well as a high cellulose content that not
only demonstrates high absorption qualities but also promotes the growth of bacteria.
As a result, the bacteria decompose the absorber as well as the trapped oil
after it has been used to absorb the oil spill.
The following characteristics set Professor Ku Halim’s
invention apart from other hydrocarbon sponges that are currently in use to
perform similar tasks:
• The activities of the hydrocarbon-consuming bacteria enable the absorber to self-degrade, making it an environmentally-friendly alternative to other chemically-based products.
• By using Avian feathers, the product takes nothing from the environment but because it biodegrades, it gives something back to the environment.
• It is organic, non-toxic, non-leaching and sustainably produced.
• On top of that, Avian feathers are easily available and cheap, so that mass production of the absorber would pose no problems.
• The activities of the hydrocarbon-consuming bacteria enable the absorber to self-degrade, making it an environmentally-friendly alternative to other chemically-based products.
• By using Avian feathers, the product takes nothing from the environment but because it biodegrades, it gives something back to the environment.
• It is organic, non-toxic, non-leaching and sustainably produced.
• On top of that, Avian feathers are easily available and cheap, so that mass production of the absorber would pose no problems.
This research,
therefore, will not only benefit the scientific and industrial communities but
also holds the potential to solve many environmental problems and leave our
children an environment cleaner than the one we inherited from our parents.
Further information: The invention which has been successfully patented has won funding of RM2.1 million from the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC).It is to be commercialized by Bumi -Gemilang Biotechnology Sdn. Bhd. and will be available in the market soon.
Professor Ku Halim Ku Hamid, winner of the 2008 AKPM Joint-Research Award
Further information: The invention which has been successfully patented has won funding of RM2.1 million from the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC).It is to be commercialized by Bumi -Gemilang Biotechnology Sdn. Bhd. and will be available in the market soon.
Professor Ku Halim Ku Hamid, winner of the 2008 AKPM Joint-Research Award
#6 From Oil Palm to Particleboards
Furniture
manufacturers have now at their disposal, the oil palm particleboard which
can be used as an alternative to rubber wood for the production
of furniture, thanks to a team of researchers from the university’s
Faculty of Applied Sciences. The research led by Associate Professor Dr.
Jamaludin Kasim, together with Nur Rohana Ahmad, Shaikh Abdul Karim Yamani
and Anis Mokhtar, focused on oil palm tree trunks to create strong
and durable particleboards which could be used with confidence to produce
dining tables and chairs, kitchen cabinets, racks, cupboards,
partitions and other household furniture.
Since the
Malaysian particleboard industry has been using rubber wood as the main raw
material in the production of particleboards, it is experiencing a
shortage of raw materials as rubber wood is also sought by various sectors of
the wood industry. Oil palm trunks which are available in abundance, therefore,
hold the potential of being the alternative raw material that can be utilized
for the particleboard industry. It is projected that there are more than
20 million m3 of oil palm trunks available annually.
The aims of the new research project are:
1. To produce particle strands from oil plam trunks
2. To manufacture particleboards from the particle strands
3. To determine the properties of the particleboards produced
To achieve this, oil palm trunks are cut lengthwise and into smaller blocks so that they may be fed into the width of the disc flaker. Particle strands are produced upon impact of the oil palm blocks onto the disc flaker knives. The particles are then dried in an oven and then passed through a dust extractor to further process the particles into smaller sizes. They are then screened into various sizes and blended with adhesive, cast into a mould and finally pressed under heat into particleboards.
Advantages:
1. Oil palm trunks are bountiful, available throughout the year and cheap
2. Particle strands produced are longer and produce particleboards with better strength properties
3. Oil palm particleboards are good substitutes for wood particleboards
4. Oil palm particleboards are cheaper than wood particleboards and environmentally safe.
1. To produce particle strands from oil plam trunks
2. To manufacture particleboards from the particle strands
3. To determine the properties of the particleboards produced
To achieve this, oil palm trunks are cut lengthwise and into smaller blocks so that they may be fed into the width of the disc flaker. Particle strands are produced upon impact of the oil palm blocks onto the disc flaker knives. The particles are then dried in an oven and then passed through a dust extractor to further process the particles into smaller sizes. They are then screened into various sizes and blended with adhesive, cast into a mould and finally pressed under heat into particleboards.
Advantages:
1. Oil palm trunks are bountiful, available throughout the year and cheap
2. Particle strands produced are longer and produce particleboards with better strength properties
3. Oil palm particleboards are good substitutes for wood particleboards
4. Oil palm particleboards are cheaper than wood particleboards and environmentally safe.
Socioeconomic Impact:
1. Will provide a new source of raw material for the furniture industry
2. Will save millions of ringgit by reducing imports of particleboards
3. Will pave the way to set-up new particleboard factories all over Malaysia and provide new employment to the rural people
further information: The research has won several local and international awards including the bronze medal, at the 11th Moscow International Salon for Industrial Property (Archimedes) 2008 and the Eco-Friendly Product Award from the International Ecology Fund. The teams of researchers are based in UiTM Pahang.
1. Will provide a new source of raw material for the furniture industry
2. Will save millions of ringgit by reducing imports of particleboards
3. Will pave the way to set-up new particleboard factories all over Malaysia and provide new employment to the rural people
further information: The research has won several local and international awards including the bronze medal, at the 11th Moscow International Salon for Industrial Property (Archimedes) 2008 and the Eco-Friendly Product Award from the International Ecology Fund. The teams of researchers are based in UiTM Pahang.
#7 March of the Humanoid
While science
fiction movie robots such as the Transformers and C3PO from Star Wars have so
captured our imagination, a team of scientists have achieved a sign cant
milestone by developing a humanoid robot which can help in search and rescue
missions in hazardous environments, disaster sites and other unstructured
environments.
Hanafiah Yussof,
Ph.D., from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, together with
researchers from the Graduate School of Information Science, Nagoya University
have proposed a navigation strategy as a humanoid design system based on
contact interaction instead of vision to support humanoid motions. This enables
the humanoid robot to function wherever vision sensors are
compromised such as in dark or smoke-filled environments.
Using this
navigation system, the humanoid robot searches for and detects objects using
both arms which are equipped with six-ax force sensors. Based on the search
results, it then creates suitable trajectory using its legs to perform biped
motions.
To optimize the
trajectory generation of the humanoid, the researchers measured link parameters
of the robot body and proposed a simplified method of kinematics calculation.
They analyzed biped trajectory locomotion and subsequently defined suitable
trajectory motions, the results of which were then compiled in motion algorithm
in the robot control system.
Based on their
research they further developed biped trajectory motions of the humanoid robot
enabling it to avoid high and low obstacles. The team has also been successful
in configuring a crawling motion so that the humanoid robot is able to edge
under a low ceiling or a tunnel; a motion that poses vast challenges
since the humanoid needs to use both arms and legs to move forward, sideward
and backward.
Apart from
confined spaces, this new technology aims to realize a number of further
applications where robots can handle complex tasks and adapt to
complicated changes in the environment from underground, dark and smoke-filled
rooms to extremely dusty conditions. By developing the humanoid robot, the
researchers have not only reached a significant milestone in the development of
intelligent machines, but are also making a real contribution to understanding
human locomotion and sophisticated navigation technology.
Further information; Dr. Hanafiah Yussof is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FKM) UiTM. He is currently pursuing postdoctoral research at Nagoya University Japan under the Overseas Fellowship Program supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). His current work is a collaborative project related to humanoid robotics and intelligent sensors between FKM and the Graduate School of Information Science, Nagoya University. He has been directly involved in the project to develop one of the earliest humanoid robot systems called “Bonten-Maru II” lead by Prof. Yasuo Nasu of Yamagata University Japan. He also leads a group of Japanese scientists, local researchers and students who are developing the first humanoid robot system in Malaysia.
A part of this project was supported by Fiscal 2006 Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research in Exploratory Research from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and postdoctoral fellowship research grant from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
Further information; Dr. Hanafiah Yussof is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FKM) UiTM. He is currently pursuing postdoctoral research at Nagoya University Japan under the Overseas Fellowship Program supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). His current work is a collaborative project related to humanoid robotics and intelligent sensors between FKM and the Graduate School of Information Science, Nagoya University. He has been directly involved in the project to develop one of the earliest humanoid robot systems called “Bonten-Maru II” lead by Prof. Yasuo Nasu of Yamagata University Japan. He also leads a group of Japanese scientists, local researchers and students who are developing the first humanoid robot system in Malaysia.
A part of this project was supported by Fiscal 2006 Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research in Exploratory Research from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and postdoctoral fellowship research grant from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
#8 The Earth Unglued: Forecasting
Landslides
A team led by
Professor Dr. Roslan Zainal Abidin, Director of the university’s International Research Centre on Disaster Prevention
(IRCDIP) has created a rainfall soil chart (RS Chart) for forecasting
landslides, based on rainfall distribution and intensity as well as soil
erodibility. When these two factors are put together, geomorphologists are able
to come up with a more accurate calculation of the threat of erosion induced
landslide in any one area.
In particular,
the RS Chart shows that one can predetermine an annual erosivity calendar which
depicts triggering landslide conditions. This is achieved through measurement
of such parameters as rainfall density, duration, intensity, energy and
erosivity based on past landslide occurrences. The research shows that it is
possible to pinpoint with increased accuracy whether the level of landslide
risk in any one area is low, moderate, high or critical. Such findings are
invaluable as landslides and mud and debris flows triggered by severe
rainstorms occur frequently with widespread destructiveness throughout
Malaysia. They constitute a major geological hazard because of the widespread damage
that they cause to human lives and infrastructure. The Highland Tower collapse
in 1993 which was triggered by 10 days of continuous rain, the Bukit Lanjan
Rockslide in 2007, and the Pos Dipang mudslide in 1996 which was set off by
inclement rain and floods are some examples of these destructive and deadly
occurrences.
The earth
becomes unglued for a variety of reasons which include global climate changes
that exacerbate severe weather, increasing development in vulnerable terrain
and deforestation. The RS Chart is thus, important in determining whether such
catastrophes are due to natural phenomenon or man-made causes.
The teams of
researchers won a gold medal award at the British Invention Show 2008 in
October and were awarded the Best Innovation title for their creation from the
Taiwan Invention Products Promotion Association (TIPPA) in ITEX 2008.
The invention by
Professor Dr. Roslan, together with Badiah Sujak, and Wan Fatmasuriati has
provided a foundation for developing the landslide calculator that will lead to
faster and accurate forecasting of landslides. The calculator which is expected
to be ready by July 2009 will be equipped with the RS Chart software.
Further information: Professor Dr. Roslan Zainal Abidin has received a number of medals for excellence in invention and innovation of research products at both National/International arenas. Apart from his academic and research portfolio, he is also a member /panelist of several national/international agencies and consortiums.
Further information: Professor Dr. Roslan Zainal Abidin has received a number of medals for excellence in invention and innovation of research products at both National/International arenas. Apart from his academic and research portfolio, he is also a member /panelist of several national/international agencies and consortiums.
#9 Solving Sewage Problems
Exciting
research into sewage systems by researchers from the Faculty of Chemical
Engineering will take us a step closer to better sewage waste water treatment
and ensure greater environmental protection.
The environment
often reeks of raw sewage due to inadequate sewage systems that swell with
toxic fluids, leak or overflow into rivers, basements, bathrooms, garages and
other water exits. Sewage water contains a number of harmful contaminants,
bacteria, and viruses that are dangerous to humans, animals and plants. It
spreads illness and disease, causes damage to private property and is typically
accompanied with various sorts of environmental degradation.
Professor Ku
Halim Ku Hamid and Mohibah Musa have found a novel way of
tackling the problem by inventing a 2-stage process in their biotechnology
integrated sewage waste water treatment system. The novelty of the
innovation lies in the construction of a bacteria house which is made of porous
materials and impregnated with microbes. Anaerobic digestion effected by
microbes in the sewage system increases the quality of the treated water. The
microbes are impregnated into the bacteria house at intervals to ensure that
there are adequate quantities to process the organic waste. In waste
water treatment, anaerobic digestion indicates the breakdown of waste materials
in the absence of oxygen. Current aerobic techniques used are effective but
costly as they utilize mechanical contraptions and electricity.
The bacteria
house is placed at opposite ends; firstly it is floated in the sewage tank to
process floating organic waste. Secondly, the bacteria house is installed at
the bed of the tank to process sunken organic waste.
The
biotechnology integrated waste water treatment system incorporates a second
stage process utilizing plant-based mud, gravel and various porous materials
which are used to create a man-made wetland. These rapidly engender root
expansion. The porous materials are saturated with microbes to process the
organics trapped in the gravel. The object of this second stage process is to
optimize contact between the water and the root plants when it flows through
the tiny rocks.
The award
winning biotechnology integrated sewage waste water treatment system is
designed to treat waste water and sewage from large commercial developments to
private entities, resulting in recyclable, purified water that surpasses
environmental quality standards. The recyclable water can be used by municipal
councils to water trees and plants in towns and cities. Further, the system can
be employed to tackle the problem of open waste dumping into streams and
rivers.
This innovation is another step forward in the fight against environmental pollution.
Further information: The invention which was patented in 2007, won the gold and special award from Romania at the 37th International Exhibition Inventions, New Techniques and Products, held in Geneva.
This innovation is another step forward in the fight against environmental pollution.
Further information: The invention which was patented in 2007, won the gold and special award from Romania at the 37th International Exhibition Inventions, New Techniques and Products, held in Geneva.
