Seaweed Industry in Malaysia: Eco-Friendly and High Value-Added Products

GC002-15SBS: Seaweed Industry in Malaysia: Eco-Friendly and High Value-Added Products

Abstract:

Global seaweed trade and industry is worth USD 6.4 billion with production of 23.4 million MT seaweeds. Although after 35 years of seaweed farming and the introduction of an NKEA based on Seaweeds, Malaysia seaweed industry is still in its infancy stage. Therefore, new technology on cultivation grown in onshore and offshore is essential to push the seaweed industry. The reasons of having red seaweeds are as follows: (1) renewable and sustainable feed-stocks, (2) no conflict with food crops on arable land, (3) require minimum chemical and energy during pulp processing and, (4) reduce CO2 through photosynthesis. This will create another economic opportunity in developing a sustainable technology for cultivating seaweed offshore and onshore. In order to create a higher market value of this seaweed, it is important to convert this seaweed pulp to high value-added products. The unique feature of high surface area with high absorptivity of red seaweed is desirable in making electrochemical pulp battery to replace lead-acid car battery. The by-product of the agar extract during pulp making process can be turned into high purity agarose for gel electrophoresis. The socio-economic impact from the red seaweed cultivation to development of high value-added products will be evaluated.

Objectives:

1. To develop a new offshore and onshore cultivation technology for red seaweed
2. To transform the read seaweed fibre and red seaweed agar to an eco-friendly pulp battery and electrophoresis grade agarose.
3. To focus on the stage of activities pertaining to seaweed cultivation and related seaweed activities- new added seaweed products.
4. To study the impact of the seaweed based products especially on local socio-economy and malaysia in general.

Methodology:

Community Engagement:

Activity Research:

Products:

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR):

1. Phang Siew Moi, Aishah Salleh, Lim Phaik Eem, Juan Joon Ching, Yeong Hui Yin, Lai Chin Wei, You Hack. A BATTERY SEPARATOR. PI 2015 704790. Patent Filed on 29 December 2015)

Awards:

1. Exposition on Islamic Innovation (i-INOVA 2016). Eco-Friendly Red Seaweed Pulp-based Battery (Silver Medal). 9th November 2016. University Science Islam Malaysia (USIM)
2. UMP TVET Exposition 2017. Eco-Friendly Red Seaweed Pulp-based Battery (Silver Medal). 19-20th September 2017. Universiti Malaysia Pahang
3. PECIPTA 2017. Pulp from Gelidium Red Seaweed: Marine-plant to an Eco-friendly Separator for Aluminium Battery (Bronze Medal).7-9th October 2017. MOHE. Terengganu.

Publication:

ISI-Indexed Journals

Scopus Journals

Refereed Journal

Chapters in Book

Programme Leader:

Assoc. Prof Dr Juan Joon Ching

Co-researcher:

1. Prof Sharifah Bee Hamid
2. Dr Vengadesh A/L Periasamy
3. Dr Lai Chin Wei
4. AP Dr Lim Phaik Eem
5. Dr Yeong Hui Yin
6. AP Dr Eng Sulaiman Oladokun Olanrewaju
7. Dr Mohd Fadzil Mohd Akhir
8. Mr Richad Wong
9. Mr You Hack-Churl
10. Fisheries Department Malaysia
11. Porfessor Dato’ Mohamad Raduan Mohd Arif
12. Dr Mazlan bin Majid
13. Mr Mawi bin Abdullah
14. Ms Fadzlin Mahali

List of Sub-Programme: