BioScience & Food Science Research Centre
Center Leader
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sheri-Ann Tan Shu Wei
Bioscience Research Group (Biosc@TAR)
Research Group Members
AP Dr. Tan Hui Yin, AP Dr. Ong Yien Yien, Ms. Selvi A/P Chellappan, Asst. Prof. Dr. Lim Lee Chang, AP Dr. Tang Pei Ling, AP Dr. Koo Hui Chin, AP Dr. Loh Khye Er, AP Dr. Ng Siou Pei, Ms. Chia Meow Lin, AP Dr. Thed Swee Tee, Asst. Prof. Dr. Chong Cheong Yew, Asst. Prof. Dr. Tiang Choon Lin, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hew Hoi Chin, Asst. Prof. Dr. Low Ying Chiang, Asst. Prof. Dr. Won Hui Loo, Asst. Prof. Dr. Tan Phui Yee, Asst. Prof. Dr. Kek Siok Peng, Asst. Prof. Dr. Zunura’in Binti Zahali, Asst. Prof. Dr Alvin Dickson Anak Paul Joko, AP Dr. Tan Siow Ping.
This list is non-exhaustive, FOAS and TAR UMT researchers are welcome to join the (Biosc@TAR) should their area of interest align to the Centre’s objectives, vision and rationale.
Location: FOAS Bioscience and Chemistry laboratories at West and East campuses
Objectives:
The Bioscience Research Group (Biosc@TAR) brings together researchers working in different fields of Bioscience such as Biotechnology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology and the Environmental Science with the following aims:
Beyond Education -To promote undergraduate research and postgraduate training through industrial and demand-driven approach
Research and Development - To undertake strategic research in key areas aligned to our team's expertise in the area of Bioscience
Collaboration - To serve as a science hub for industrial partners and to contribute to Malaysia’s scientific industry
Pre-commercialization - To create and encourage an entrepreneurial culture in commercializing research outputs
Vision
An industrial-focused group for research, collaboration, consultancy, training and knowledge exchange in Bioscience between researchers, academicians and stakeholders.
Rationale and Research Plan
a) Research and Development - to explore funding opportunities and to seek potential research and development opportunities from the industrial and external organizations.
b) Collaboration - to strengthen collaboration in multi-disciplinary projects in terms of leveraging on the team expertise and facility availability.
c) Consultancy - to work with small medium-sized enterprises and industrial players in Bioscience research.
d) Training and Knowledge Exchange - to organize conferences, seminars and road shows for upskilling and reskilling of researchers to adapt in the ever dynamic scientific environment.
Innovative Food Science and Nutrition Research Group (Food@TAR)
Research Group Members
AP Dr. Ong Yien Yien, Asst. Prof. Dr. Lim Lee Chang, AP Dr. Tang Pei Ling, AP Dr. Koo Hui Chin, AP Dr. Ng Siou Pei, AP Dr. Thed Swee Tee, Asst. Prof. Dr. Chong Cheong Yew, Asst. Prof. Dr. Won Hui Loo, Asst. Prof. Dr. Tan Phui Yee, Asst. Prof. Dr. Kek Siok Peng, Asst. Prof. Dr. Zunura’in Binti Zahali.
This list is non-exhaustive, FOAS and TAR UMT researchers are welcome to join the Innovative Food Science and Nutrition Research Group should their area of interest align to the Group’s objectives, vision and rationale.
Location: FOAS Food Science laboratories at West and East campuses
Objectives:
The Innovative Food Science and Nutrition Research Group (Food@TAR) brings together food scientists working in the fields of Food Science and its sub-disciplines addressing issues related to food sustainability, functional food, fats and oils, nutrition, environmental protection, etc. with the following aims:
Beyond Education -To promote undergraduate research and postgraduate training through industrial and demand-driven approach
Research and Development - To undertake strategic research in key areas aligned to our team's expertise in the area of Food Science and Nutrition
Collaboration - To serve as a science hub for industrial partners and to contribute to Malaysia’s scientific industry
Pre-commercialization - To create and encourage an entrepreneurial culture in commercializing research outputs
Vision
An industrial-focused group for research, collaboration, consultancy, training and knowledge exchange in Food Science and Nutrition between researchers, academicians and stakeholders.
Rationale and Research Plan
a) Research and Development - to explore funding opportunities and to seek potential research and development opportunities from the industrial and external organizations.
b) Collaboration - to strengthen collaboration in multi-disciplinary projects in terms of leveraging on the team’s expertise and facility availability.
c) Consultancy - to work with the small medium-sized enterprises and industrial players in Food Science and Nutrition.
d) Training and Knowledge Exchange - to organize conferences, seminars and road shows for upskilling and reskilling of researchers to adapt in the ever dynamic scientific environment.
Agriculture Research Group (AGRI@ TAR)
Research Group Members
AP Dr. Tan Hui Yin, Ms. Selvi A/P Chellappan, AP Dr. Loh Khye Er, AP Dr. Ng Siou Pei, Ms. Chia Meow Lin, Asst. Prof. Dr. Tiang Choon Lin, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hew Hoi Chin, Asst. Prof. Dr. Low Ying Chiang.
This list is non-exhaustive, FOAS and TAR UMT researchers are welcome to join the Innovative Food Science and Nutrition Research Group should their area of interest align to the Group’s objectives, vision and rationale.
Location: FOAS Bioscience and Chemistry laboratories at West and East campuses
Objectives:
The Agriculture Research Group (AGRI@TAR) aims to spearhead Malaysia’s Agriculture 4.0 innovation and adaptation through collaboration with stakeholders in overcoming industrial problems with the following aims:
Beyond Education -To promote undergraduate research and postgraduate training through industrial and demand-driven approach
Research and Development - To undertake strategic research in key areas aligned to our team's expertise in the area of Agriculture Research
Collaboration - To serve as a science hub for industrial partners and to contribute to Malaysia’s scientific industry
Pre-commercialization - To create and encourage an entrepreneurial culture in commercializing research outputs
Vision:
An industrial-focused group for research, collaboration, consultancy, training and knowledge exchange in Agriculture between researchers, academicians and stakeholders.
The AGRI@TARC core expertise are in these areas:
● Precision farming
● Crop scouting
● Supply chain integration
● Industrial 4.0 integration in downstream processing
Rationale and Research Plan:
a) Research and Development - to explore funding opportunities and to seek for potential research and development opportunities from the industrial and external organizations.
b) Collaboration - to strengthen collaboration in multi-disciplinary projects in terms of leveraging with the team expertise and facility availability.
c) Consultancy - to work with small medium-sized enterprises and industrial players in Agriculture research.
d) Training and Knowledge Exchange - to organize conferences, seminars and road shows for upskilling and reskilling of researchers to adapt in the ever dynamic scientific environment.
Publications
2023 (Previously known as Center of Bioscience and Chemistry)
TITLE: A Review on the Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Properties of Xanthones from Cratoxylum cochinchinense
SOURCE: Journal of Tropical Life Science
AUTHOR: SU YING LEE (Main Author)
RESEARCH CENTRE: Center of Bioscience and Chemistry
SDG: 15
CITATION: Lee, S. Y., MojulatMBC, Jebarani, G., Surugau, N., Sheri Ann Tan, S. W. (2023) A Review on the Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Properties of Xanthones from Cratoxylum. Journal of Tropical Life Science 13(1): 219–230. https://doi: 10.11594/jtls.13.01.20.
ABSTRACT:
Cratoxylum cochinchinenseis a perennial plant found in Southeast Asia, having di-verse terminologies in various Southeast Asian countries. It has been traditionally used as medicine, tea and food spice until today. Its phytochemical analysis reveals a rich array of bioactive compounds in different parts of the plant, specifically xan-thones, which are scientifically determined to be the most abundant secondary me-tabolites in C. cochinchinense. Xanthones do possess numerous beneficial properties and are actively researched to unlock its vast potential. It could be synthesized both biologically and synthetically, where the latter method is gaining much interest among researchers to improve its biological properties. Due to limited compiled re-sources on the biological benefits of xanthones from C. cochinchinense, this paper aims to review their cytotoxic properties specifically towards cancer cells, as well as their antimalarial and antibacterial effects in order to further support the medicinal use of this plant.
TITLE: Fourier Transform Infrared Studies of Gel Polymer Electrolyte Based on Poly (Acrylamide-Co-Acrylic Acid) - Ethylene Carbonate Incorporated with Water-Soluble Sodium Sulfide
SOURCE: Optical Materials
AUTHOR: YC LEE (Main Author)
RESEARCH CENTRE: Center of Bioscience and Chemistry
SDG: 7
CITATION: Lee, Y. C., Liew, C. W., Buraidah, M. H., Woo, H. J. (2023) Fourier Transform Infrared Studies of Gel Polymer Electrolyte Based on Poly (Acrylamide-Co-Acrylic Acid) - Ethylene Carbonate Incorporated with Water-Soluble Sodium Sulfide. Optical Materials 140(113791): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2023.113791.
ABSTRACT:
The incorporation of plasticizer to a solid polymer electrolyte have shown high conductivity, good thermal and chemical stabilities, long life and reduced costs. The improved conductivity is mainly contributed by higher ion diffusion coefficient and better ion mobility. However, little is known about the possible molecular interactions between plasticizer, polymer host and salt, particularly in explaining the mechanism pertaining to ion transport in the gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs). A flexible GPE based on poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PAAm-PAA), ethylene carbonate (EC) and water-soluble sodium sulfide (Na2S) was developed. PAAm-PAA and Na2S are incorporated as the polymer backbone and the source of charge carriers, respectively, and EC acts as the plasticizer of the system. When 0.4 wt% of EC was added to PAAm-PAA-Na2S GPE, the ionic conductivity of polymer electrolytes increased from 5.11 × 10−2 S cm−1 to 6.92 × 10−2 S cm−1. The possible molecular interactions between PAAm-PAA, Na2S and EC and their correlation with ionic conductivity were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Infrared spectroscopy showed that the intensities of the amide (Cdouble bondO, C–N), carboxylate (COO−) and sulfate (SO42−) bands increased with the addition of EC, and the position of the asymmetric bending (v4) of SO42− band down shifted from 677 cm−1 to 667 cm−1. These findings, the changes in shape, intensity, and position of the PAAm-PAA-Na2S-EC GPE, suggest a dipole-dipole interaction between (i) PAAm-PAA and distilled water, (ii) PAAm-PAA and EC and (iii) EC and distilled water. On the other hand, ion-dipoles interactions may occur between (i) Na+ cation and distilled water, (ii) Na+ cation and PAAm-PAA and (iii) Na+ cation and EC. It can be concluded that EC interacts with both PAAm-PAA and Na2S, and EC-Na+ complexes also appear in PAAm-PAA-Na2S-EC GPE. The increase in the conductivity of GPE is attributed to the high ion diffusion coefficient and mobility, which is attributed to the presence of EC.
TITLE: Saffron Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Polyvinyl Alcohol Based Gel Polymer Electrolytes
SOURCE: Optical and Quantum Electronics
AUTHOR: MARZIYEH ALINEJAD (Main Author)
RESEARCH CENTRE: Center of Bioscience and Chemistry
SDG: 7
CITATION: Alinejad, M., Buraidah, M. H., Teo, L. P., Arof, A. K. (2023) Saffron Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Polyvinyl Alcohol Based Gel Polymer Electrolytes. Optical and Quantum Electronics 55: 804. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-023-05078-z.
ABSTRACT:
Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) based on polyvinyl alcohol consist of iodide/triiodide ions have been prepared and tested for safron dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The efect of 4-tert-butylpyridine (TBP) on the GPE and DSSC has been investigated. The room tem perature ionic conductivity of GPEs (with and without TBP) lies in the range of~ 10–3 S/ cm and increases with increasing temperature up to~ 10–2 S/cm at 373 K. Current density– voltage (J–V) characteristics of DSSCs shows that the DSSC fabricated with TBP exhib its the highest short circuit current density of (2.80±0.30) mA/cm2 and power conversion efciency of 0.62%. The lowest series resistance was found in the same cell’s electrical impedance spectroscopy, indicating that electrolyte charge transport dominates in DSSCs. Furthermore, intensity-modulated photocurrent and intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopies were used to evaluate the electron transfer time constant (tr) and electron recombination time (trec) of the constructed DSSCs. The most efcient DSSC (with TBP) has the shortest tr of 0.17 s and the fastest trec of 0.50 s.
TITLE: Commercially Available Textiles as a Scaffolding Platform for Large-Scale Cell Culture
SOURCE: International Journal of Biomaterials
AUTHOR: TARUN AGARWAL (Main Author)
RESEARCH CENTRE: Center of Bioscience and Chemistry
SDG: 7
CITATION: Agarwal, T., Sheri-Ann Tan,, Vuppaladadium, S. S. R., Sajja, T., Maiti, T. K. (2023) Commercially Available Textiles as a Scaffolding Platform for Large-Scale Cell Culture. International Journal of Biomaterials 2023: 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/2227509.
ABSTRACT:
The present study outlines the evaluation of textile materials that are currently in the market for cell culture applications. By using normal LaserJet printing techniques, we created the substrates, which were then characterized physicochemically and biologically. In particular, (i) we found that the weave pattern and (ii) the chemical nature of the textiles significantly influenced the behaviour of the cells. Textiles with closely knitted fibers and cell adhesion motifs, exhibited better cell adhesion and proliferation over a period of 7 days. All the substrates supported good viability of cells (>80%). We believe that these aspects make commercially available textiles as a potential candidate for large-scale culture of adherent cells.
TITLE: Electrochemical, Structural and Thermal Studies of Poly (Ethyl Methacrylate) (PEMA) Based Ion Conductor for Electrochemical Double Layer Capacitor Applicationing Platform for Large-Scale Cell Culture
SOURCE: Polymer Bulletin
AUTHOR: YEK SIEW CHING (Main Author)
RESEARCH CENTRE: Center of Bioscience and Chemistry
SDG: 7
CITATION: Yek, S. C., Jun, H. K., Liew, C. W. (2023) Electrochemical, Structural and Thermal Studies of Poly (Ethyl Methacrylate) (PEMA) Based Ion Conductor for Electrochemical Double Layer Capacitor Application. Polymer Bulletin 80: 9353–9382. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-023-04752-2.
ABSTRACT:
Solid polymer electrolyte based on poly (ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI) was prepared for electrochemical double-layer capacitor (EDLC) application. Incorporation of 50 wt% LiTFSI elevated the ionic conductivity by five orders of magnitude from (4.64 ± 0.01) × 10–11 to (1.22 ± 0.01) × 10–6 S cm−1. The doping of LiTFSI also improved the thermal stability of the polymer electrolyte from 331 to 384 ºC. Moreover, structural information from FTIR suggested that Li+ can interact with oxygen of carbonyl and ester groups of PEMA. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) showed that there is an improvement on the electrochemical stability window from 2.2 to 3.2 V upon addition of 40 and 50 wt% of LiTFSI. Transference number analysis affirmed that ion is the major contributor to the ionic conductivity of the PEMA-LiTFSI polymer electrolyte system. The fabricated PEMA-LiTFSI-based EDLC cell exhibited specific capacitance of 358.1 m F g−1. The energy density and power density of the PEMA-LiTFSI-based EDLC cell were 22.2 mWh kg−1 and 14.0 W kg−1, respectively.
TITLE: Synthesis of Poly(Vinyl Acetate)-Based Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Application in Electric Double Layer Capacitors
SOURCE: Ionics
AUTHOR: AUSTIN YUHANG YAP (Main Author)
RESEARCH CENTRE: Center of Bioscience and Chemistry
SDG: 7
CITATION: Yap, A. Y., Phang, S. W., Liew, C. W. (2023) Synthesis of Poly(Vinyl Acetate)-Based Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Application in Electric Double Layer Capacitors. Ionics 29: 3317–3334. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-023-05104-w.
ABSTRACT:
In this work, poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc)-based gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) from precursor solutions containing different volume ratios of vinyl acetate monomer and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMIMTFSI) at a fixed concentration of 0.1 M lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) were synthesized via ex-situ polymerization. The GPE with 35% (v/v) of BMIMTFSI exhibits the highest ionic conductivity of (1.90 ± 0.32) × 10–4 S cm−1 at ambient temperature, with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of -28.01 °C. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) study confirms the complexation and interaction between the BMIMTFSI, LiTFSI, and PVAc. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows a reduction in degree of crystallinity of the polymer matrix upon addition of LiTFSI and BMIMTFSI. Addition of ionic liquid enhances the potential window of the GPEs as shown in linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) study. The specific capacitance of EDLC increases significantly upon addition of BMIMTFSI, along with relatively stable energy and power densities as proven in Galvanostatic Charge–Discharge (GCD) study.
TITLE: Electrical and Optical Properties of Poly(Acrylamide-Co-Acrylic Acid) Based Polymer Electrolytes Containing Water-Soluble Potassium Iodide Salt
SOURCE: Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals
AUTHOR: YC LEE (Main Author)
RESEARCH CENTRE: Center of Bioscience and Chemistry
SDG: 7
CITATION: Lee, Y. C., Buraidah, M. H., Woo, H. J., Teo, L. P. (2023) Electrical and Optical Properties of Poly(Acrylamide-Co-Acrylic Acid) Based Polymer Electrolytes Containing Water-Soluble Potassium Iodide Salt. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals 760(1): 51-59. https://doi.org/10.1080/15421406.2023.2166135.
ABSTRACT:
Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PAAm-PAA) based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) containing potassium iodide (KI) have been prepared. The complexation between PAAm-PAA and KI has been identified through the position changes at the asymmetric NH2 stretching and CH2 stretching; and the intensities changes at the amide (C = O, C-N) and carboxylate (COO-) bands using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. PAAm-PAA film exhibits a room temperature (RT) ionic conductivity of (8.8 ± 0.8) × 10−11 S·cm−1 which increases to maximum at (4.0 ± 0.5) × 10−7 S·cm−1 with 45 wt.% KI addition. The conductivity-temperature dependence studies of all samples followed the Arrhenius rule.
TITLE: Blackberries Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Based Gel Polymer Electrolytes
SOURCE: Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals
AUTHOR: MARZIYEH ALINEJAD (Main Author)
RESEARCH CENTRE: Center of Bioscience and Chemistry
SDG: 7
CITATION: Alinejad, M., Buraidah, M. H., Teo, L. P., Arof, A. K. (2023) Blackberries Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Based Gel Polymer Electrolytes. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals 761(1): 22-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/15421406.2023.2173844.
ABSTRACT:
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been constructed using fluoride tin oxide (FTO) glass deposited with TiO2 and anthocyanin dye extracted from blackberries as the photoanode, platinum coated cathode, and gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) comprising poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) dissolved in two different solvents, viz., dimethyl formamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). GPE employing DMF solvent exhibits the highest ambient conductivity of 14.05 mS cm−1. Charge transport properties of DSSCs were studied via intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS), intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The highest efficiency of 0.54% is recorded for DSSC with GPE containing DMF and TBP.
2024
TITLE: Sustainable disposal of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) degraded by fungi isolated from Malaysia landfill.
SOURCE: Current Topics in Toxicology
AUTHOR: ONG GHIM HOCK (Main Author)
RESEARCH CENTRE: BioScience & Food Science Research Centre
SDG: 11
CITATION: Ong, G. H., Liew, L. M., Joelene K’ng, Z. Y., Wong, K. K., Wong, R. R., Loh, K. E., Noor Arniwati, M. D. (2024) Sustainable disposal of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) degraded by fungi isolated from Malaysia landfill. Current Topics in Toxicology 19(2023): 43–49. https://10.31300/cttx.19.2023.43-49.
ABSTRACT:
The accumulation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has become a major environmental in Malaysia.Disposal of PET in the local landfill has resulted in additional problems, as plastic leachate is known to cause cancer and neurological impairment in humans.Mycoremediation using fungi with vast hyphal network and broader metabolic competence is seen as an eco-friendlier approach to tackle this issue.The objective of this research is to evaluate fungi remediation of PET via the detection of manganese peroxidase and laccase activity.Biodegradation of PET is shown via the enzymatic activity of laccase and manganese peroxidase measured at the wavelength of 450 nm and 610 nm, respectively.Of the 14 species of fungi isolated from the Jeram landfill, only 7 fungal species were able to biodegrade PET to obtain the carbon that supports fungal growth.Only one species, P. janthinellum was able to express relatively high MnP and laccase activity consistently, demonstrating the ability to biodegrade PET.This shows that P. janthinellum has the highest potential to be further developed as an agent to biodegrade PET in an integrated plastic waste management to restore soil pollution.
TITLE: Degradation of Polypropylene Using Fungal Enzyme as A Sustainable Approach to Management Plastic Waste
SOURCE: Malaysian Applied Biology
AUTHOR: ONG GHIM HOCK (Main Author)
RESEARCH CENTRE: BioScience & Food Science Research Centre
SDG: 11
CITATION: Ong ,G. H., Wong, K. K., Rowan Diaaeldin, A. H. A., Joelene K’ng, Z. Y., Wong, R. R., Loh, K. E., Tawatchai, T. (2024) Degradation of Polypropylene Using Fungal Enzyme as A Sustainable Approach to Management Plastic Waste. Malaysian Applied Biology 53(2): 93–100. https://doi.org/10.55230/mabjournal.v53i2.2819.
ABSTRACT:
Polypropylene (PP) is a major environmental problem in Malaysia because it has been ranked the 28th highest plastic polluter in the world (at 56kg per capita per year) in 2021. Landfilling is one of the most common ways of dealing with plastic because leachate may cause increased probability of cancer and neurological impairment in humans. The use of fungi in mycoremediation makes the process eco-friendly. In addition, fungi have a vast hyphal network and broader metabolic competence. The objective of this study was to investigate fungi remediation of PP via the detection of manganese peroxidase and laccase activity in Bushnell Haas Broth (BHB). PP degradation activity was measured via the activity of laccase and manganese peroxidase at a wavelength of 450nm and 610nm, respectively. Of the 17 species of fungi isolated from the Jeram landfill, 12 species of fungi showed growth in BHB with PP as the sole carbon source. Penicillium sp. 1, Aspergillus sp., Penicillium levitum, Talaromyces louisianensis, Aspergillus tamarii, Cunninghamella bertholletiae, Penicillium sp. 2 and Aspergillus niger demonstrated high and longer laccase activity, and these fungi could be considered as potential fungi. P. levitum, P. janthinellum, Penicillium sp, and T. louisianensis have high and longer MnP activity. In summary, P. levitum and T. louisianensis have a high and long duration of MnP and laccase activity in degrading PP, which can be developed and integrated into plastic waste management.
TITLE: Screening of Native Fungi for Biodegradation of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Plastic in Mangroves Ecosystem
SOURCE: Malaysian Applied Biology
AUTHOR: ONG GHIM HOCK (Main Author)
RESEARCH CENTRE: BioScience & Food Science Research Centre
SDG: 13
CITATION: Ong ,G. H., Liew, L. M., Wong, K. K., Wong, R. R., Jayanthi, B., Loh, K. E., Tawatchai, T. (2024) Screening of Native Fungi for Biodegradation of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Plastic in Mangroves Ecosystem. Malaysian Applied Biology 53(6): 97-103. https://doi.org/10.55230/mabjournal.v53i6.12.
ABSTRACT:
Accumulation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic in the environment has become a global issue. A substantial amount of HDPE wastes ends up in the mangroves posing a significant menace to the ecology. Mitigation techniques using mycoremediation to treat the HDPE are gaining ground due to its sustainable approach. This study aims to screen and identify fungi isolated from a mangrove located in Kampung Kuala Lukut, Malaysia, that can degrade HDPE. From this study, eight fungi species were shown able to grow on HDPE as a sole carbon source in a Bushnell-Hass Broth culture. The identity of these isolates was confirmed using morphological observation and molecular identification using ITS1 and ITS4 primers. The ability of these eight fungi species to degrade plastic was assessed based on the percentage of weight loss of HDPE and the increment of fungal biomass. Results from this study show Aspergillus niger has the highest biomass increment, but Leptobacillium sp. shows the highest percentage of weight loss of HDPE. Thus, Leptobacillium sp. has the best potential to be developed as an efficient agent to degrade HDPE in an integrated plastic waste management system.
TITLE: Exploring the Potential of Nyonya Kuih Residues as the Substrate for Yeast Cell Protein Production
SOURCE: Sains Malaysiana
AUTHOR: TANG PEI LING (Main Author)
RESEARCH CENTRE: BioScience & Food Science Research Centre
SDG: 12
CITATION: Tang, P. L., Wong, W. H. (2024) Exploring the Potential of Nyonya Kuih Residues as the Substrate for Yeast Cell Protein Production. Sains Malaysiana 53(10): 3383–3394. http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5310-12.
ABSTRACT:
Nyonya kuih, a popular Malaysian traditional cuisine that have short shelf life due to their high moisture and fat contents. The unsold kuihs usually ended up as food residue. Thus, kuih talam (KT) and kuih lapis (KL), two varieties of Nyonya kuih were chosen as the investigative substrates to explore the recycling potential of this food residue. Initially, the effect of fat content on the enzymatic hydrolysability of the residues to release fermentable sugar was investigated. The efficiency of lipase-pretreatment (LP), polyvinylpyrrolidone-post-treatment (PVP) and their combination in lipid removal was determined. Then, the potential of the resulting glucose-rich hydrolysates for Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cell biomass production was assessed, with molasses as the positive control. Results indicated that combined LP and PVP (LP-PVP) significantly (p<0.05) reduced crude fat content, while increasing the total sugar content of KT and KL hydrolysates by approximately 3.4 and 26.3 times, respectively. Yeast cell biomass produced from KT and KL hydrolysates were increased by 23% and 39%, respectively after LP-PVP treatment. Despite the yeast cells’ yield (by dry cell weight) from molasses fermentation being 19% and 11% higher than those from KT and KL hydrolysates, respectively, KT and KL hydrolysates were proven superior due to the significantly higher (p<0.05) crude protein content in yeast cell produced from both hydrolysates. Further study is needed to enhance yeast cell yield from the fermentation of KT and KL hydrolysates, thereby improving the overall protein yield from the fermentation process. This study provides new insight into a novel food residue recycle strategy, promoting sustainable food production aligned with SDG 12.
