• Supervisor : Nadia Razali
• Keywords  : cockle shells, recycling, waste

Background :

Calcium carbonate is one of the most used raw materials in various industries, such as construction materials, food supplement, pharmaceutics, animal feed, plastic production, and others. Calcium carbonate can derive from marine wastes, like crustaceans and bivalve’s shells. The worldwide demand for new sources of food has increased exponentially, and following that tendency, the marine aquaculture activity has been increasingly resorting to farming techniques. The majority of the shells were unduly discarded, presenting a public health problem. This project offers a feasible solution based on the reuse and recycling of seashells to be a potential revalorized raw materials in another application that requires calcium carbonate.

• Supervisor : Robert Bachmann
• Keywords  : biochar, slow-release fertilizer, Durian, oil palm, nursery trial

Background :

Research on biochar conventionally involved the study of various application rates to low-fertility soil and monitor the response of plants. However, the use of plain biochar is now regarded as economically non-viable. The value of biochar may be enhanced by adding it as bulking agent and leachate and odour sorbent to compost. Other attempts involved the addition of biochar to anaerobic digesters which resulted in an increase in methane production. However, less is know how this biochar subsequently performs when added to soil. This research project aims to address this gap. If you are interested to find out more do not hesitate to contact us (Bachmann@unikl.edu.my).

• Supervisor : Dr Sabrina Karim
• Keywords  : Hydroxyapatite, anti-bacteria activity, Horse shoe crab shell, Mudcreeper Shell, Food waste

Background :

The synthesis of nanosized particles of Ag-doped hydroxyapatite with antibacterial properties is of great interest for the development of new biomedical applications. The aim of this study is the evaluation of Ag-hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (Ag:HAp-NPs) for their antibacterial and antifungal activity. Resistance to antimicrobial agents by pathogenic bacteria has emerged in the recent years and became a major health problem.