SS 14 SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES FOR AGRO-WASTE MANAGEMENT
Course Description
This intensive short course is designed to introduce the latest sustainable technologies used for agrowaste management especially towards the concept of zero waste and promotion of low carbon city
scenario. This course consists of FOUR intensive modules covering:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
Production of Biogas from oil palm mill
Conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals
Production of compost from agro-waste using microbial technology
Integrated Electricity Generation from agro-waste
This course consists of 24 hours of intensive lecturers and guided discussions. Students are able to join 7
field trips covering visits to biogas (palm oil mill), composting and water treatment plants; Iskadar
Malaysia, two farms and a university in Singapore. A Home Stay program is also provided to allow local
immersion experiences for the participants. Participants will be able to visit a palm oil mill located where
they will gain an insight into the whole palm oil processing flow and learn the technologies available of
converting palm oil wastes into various value-added products including biogas, composts and electricity,
separately or in integrated manner. Workshops are also created for them to acquire hands-on experience
in preparing composts and conducting computer simulation work relevant to energy management. Based
on the inputs from the lectures, workshops and the experiential learning through the field trips, participant
will have to accomplish individual and group assignments/project assigned to them as part of the
assessment process.
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Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
1) describe and elaborate the sustainable technologies available for processing agro-waste
into value-added product including biogas, fuels, chemicals and composts
2) describe and elaborate the sustainable technologies available to manage integrated
electricity generation for sustainable energy supply
3) able to produce composts from agro-waste
4) able to conduct basic simulation on integrated electricity generation
5) able to design the basic plant for biogas production
Course Outline
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9 Lectures on Sustainable Technologies for Agro-waste management including turning
agro-waste to biogas, agro-waste to composts, agro-waste to electricity for export to grid
4 Hands-on Workshop
3 Individual Assignments & 1 Group-Projects; Group Discussion & Independent
Preparation
7 Field Trips in Johor (Johor Bahru, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Iskandar Malaysia) and
Singapore. These include field trips to biogas, composting and water treatment plants;
and a 3-days-2-nights Home Stay Program in Batu Pahat,.
Assessment will be based on the individual assignments, group projects and
presentation that are assigned to them within the duration of the program.
Course Instructors
Prof. Dr. NorAishah Saidina Amin (Prof NASA)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Firdausi Razali
Assoc. Prof Dr. Lee Chew Tin
Dr. Haslenda Hashim
Assessment
Individual Assignment s
Group Project Report
Group Presentation
30% (3x 10%)
40% (1 x 40%)
30% (1 x 30%)
Assessment will be based on individual and group participation as well as oral presentation
related to the projects that are assigned within the duration of the program.
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Lecturers’ Profile
Lecturer 1: Prof. Dr. NorAishah Saidina Amin (Prof NASA)
Professor Dr. NorAishah Saidina Amin (Prof NASA) is the head of Chemical Reaction
Engineering Group (CREG) at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi
Malaysia. Her field of expertise is in catalytic reaction engineering and modeling of chemical
reaction systems. She is involved with research development and consultancy (RD&C) of
methane, palm oil, glycerol, and lignocellulossic biomass conversions to important chemicals
such as hydrogen, syngas, C2+ and liquid fuels. Her involvement with these projects includes
supervision at the postgraduate level. CREG lab is equipped with catalyst synthesis apparatus,
reactors for catalyst testing and also on/off-line analytical equipments for both gas and liquid
phases. For modeling, software packages for design of experiments, Matlab, Polymath and
Artificial Neural Network are utilized. Prof NASA has won numerous national and international
accolades for her research. She has also written many articles in international refereed journals
and has also been appointed as reviewer for journals as well, external and internal examiners
for postgraduate theses.
Lecturer 2: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Firdausi Razali
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Firdausi Razali completed his first degree (Microbiology) at Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia and his Master (Biochemical Engineering) at the University of London.
He completed his PhD in Biochemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada.
His has extensive experience in bioreactor analysis and design. He works closely with a UKbased consultant to facilitate local palm oil plantations in carbon credit projects to reduce
biomethane release that include co-composting of empty fruit bunch (EFB) with palm oil mill
effluent (POME), and entrapment of biogas from anaerobic tank. He also engaged in a
comparative study of biomethane usage in palm oil mills in Southern Thailand and Malaysia.
As the principal of a residential college in UTM, he actively engages in community services and
that relevant to promoting green technology locally and abroad. He has led international trips to
countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Taiwan, Hong
Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines. His research also focuses on application of
effective microorganisms (EM) for environment and agriculture, bioreactor operation and design,
renewable energy form agro-sources, good manufacturing practices and safety analysis for
industry. He has delivered around 40 short courses on EM application, awareness of
biotechnology, and bioreactor operation to publics and privates sectors. He is now serving as
an associate professor at the Dept. of Bioprocess Engineering, Faculty of Chemical
Engineering, UTM. He has more than 10 yrs of teaching experience in postgraduate and
undergraduate programs and supervised 13 postgraduate students (2 Ph.Ds, 11 Masters).
Lecturer 3: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lee Chew Tin
Dr. Lee is the associate professor from the Department of Bioprocess Engineering, Faculty of
Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). She has 10-years of experience in
teaching core Chemical Engineering subjects. Currently, her research interests focus on the
areas of converting agro-waste in to compost using microbial technology and metabolite
profiling of soil and composts. She is one of the team members in the international project
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sponsored by JICA Japan to develop Iskandar Malaysia into a low carbon city, she focuses on
solid waste management from agro-wastes. She has published high impact journals in relevant
to microbial enzyme technology and protein engineering. She obtained her PhD from University
of Cambridge, United Kingdom in Biochemical Engineering. She is a registered engineer with
the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) and Associate Member of IChemE. Currently, she also
serves as one of the Regional Managers in UTM’s Office of International Affairs.
Lecturer 4: Dr. Haslenda Hashim
Dr. Haslenda Hashim is the R&D Manager for Process Systems Engineering Centre
(PROSPECT), UTM. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering
from UTM and PhD from University of Waterloo, Canada. She specialises in process
planning/scheduling, modelling, simulation and optimization. Her research activities are focused
on the national CO2 mitigation strategy, Feed-in Tariff for the renewable electricity generation,
zero-waste processes, waste to energy and water minimization. Dr. Haslenda has been
providing training and technical consultancy services to the industry and the government
agencies such as the Malaysia Energy Centre (MEC), Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Ministry
of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE), Department of Environment (DOE), the national
rice agency (BERNAS), national palm oil plantation agency (FELDA), and many more
companies. Her work in Renewable Energy (RE)-Integrated Electricity Generation and Water
Minimisation has been successfully filed for patents. Dr. Haslenda is the technical expert for
green technology fund scheme (GTFS) and the recipient of 2009 Renewable Energy Research
Program award from the National Science Council of Taiwan. She is a registered engineer with
the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), Associate Member IChemE and a member of
Malaysian Energy Professionals Association (MEPA).
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Course Weekly Schedule
DAY
Day 1 Sun
Day 2
Mon
Day 3
Tue
TIME
1000
1230
1400
1500
2100
0700
0830
1230
1400
1600
1800
2100
0800
0900
1030
1100
1230
1400
Day 4
Wed
1700
1730
0800
0900
1030
1100
1230
1400
Day 5
Thurs
1700
1730
0800
0830
1230
1500
Day 6
Fri
1700
1730
0730
1030
1230
1400
1700
ACTIVITIES
WEEK 1
ARRIVAL at UTM International City Campus, Kuala Lumpur. &
CHECK-IN to Hostel in UTM.
Lunch
UTM CITY CAMPUS TOUR
SOCIAL VISIT to KL TWIN TOWER (F&E)
UTM Bus Back to Hostel
Breakfast & Check-out
DEPART TO UTM SKUDAI CAMPUS, Johor.
Welcoming Lunch
COURSE INDUCTION AT FACULTY
UTM SKUDAI CAMPUS TOUR
Dinner in Jusco Hyper Market
Return to Hostel
Breakfast
LECTURE 1: Overview on Agro-waste Management
Technology, by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Firdausi Razali
Tea Break
LECTURE 2: Production of Biogas from Palm Oil Mill and other
Biomass, by AP Dr. Firdausi Razali
Lunch
GROUP PROJECT ON BIOGAS PRODUCTION. Discussion
guided by AP Dr. Firdausi Razali & Assistant
Break
Return to Hostel
Breakfast
LECTURE 3: Biomass Conversion Technologies to Fuels &
Chemicals, by Prof. Dr. NorAishah Saidina Amin
Tea
LECTURE 4: Biomass Conversion Technologies to Fuels &
Chemicals (con’t), by Prof. Dr. NorAishah Saidina Amin
Lunch
Assignment 1: BIOMASS CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES
TO FUELS & CHEMICALS. Discussion guided by Prof. Dr.
NorAishah Saidina Amin (Prof NASA) & assistant
Break
Return to Hotel
Breakfast
FIELD TRIP 1: BIOGAS PRODUCTION PLANT, MASAI,
JOHOR, Guided tour by Lecturer/Assistant
Lunch
BRIEFING ON UTM LIBRARY’S FACILITIES AT PSZ
LIBRARY
Break
Return to Hotel
Breakfast, DEPARTURE FOR SINGAPORE
FIELD TRIP 2: INDUSTRIAL VISIT, SINGAPORE (Lecturer &
Assistant)
Lunch
FIELD TRIP 3: VISIT TO NUS/NTU, SINGAPORE
Dinner, F&E Time
Return to Hostel UTM
5
Meals
Lunch
F&E (Free &
Easy)
Breakfast
Lunch
F&E
Breakfast
Tea
Lunch
Tea
F&E
Breakfast
Tea
Lunch
Tea
F&E
Breakfast
Lunch
Tea
Breakfast
F&E
F&E
Day 7
Sat
2100
0800
0900
Day 8 Sun
Day 9
Mon
0800
0900
1030
1100
1230
1400
Day 10
Tue
1700
1730
0800
0900
1200
1400
Day 11
Wed
1700
0800
0900
1230
1400
Day 12
Thurs
1800
2030
0800
0900
Day 13
Fri
1730
0730
0800
1230
1500
Day 14
Sat
Day 15
Sun
Breakfast
RECREATION & SPORT DAY IN UTM (OPTIONAL)
Activities maybe available upon requests by extra arrangement
& cost (E.g. Equestrian/Canoeing/Cycling/Horse-riding)
Free & Easy
WEEK 2
Breakfast
LECTURE 5: Application of Microbial Technology on Agrowastes Management, by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lee Chew Tin
Break (F&E)
LECTURE 6: Application of Microbial Technology on
Composting, by AP. Dr. Lee Chew Tin
Lunch (F&E)
ASSIGNMENT 2: COMPOSTING FROM AGROWASTE.
Discussion guided by AP Dr. Lee Chew Tin & Assistant
Tea
Return to Hostel
Breakfast
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP 1: Composting of Agro-waste using
Effective Microorganism, by Lecturer/Assistant
Lunch (F&E)
PREPARATION FOR GROUP PROJECT/ASSIGNMENTS (IN
LIBRARY)
Return to Hostel
Breakfast
FIELD TRIP 4: BIOFERTILIZER COMPANY, JOHOR BAHRU
(Guided tour by Lecturer/Assistant)
Lunch
FIELD TRIP 5: ISKANDAR MALAYSIA DEVELOPMENT
AGENCY (IRDA) & ISKANDAR MALAYSIA – the Southern
Economic Corridor (Guided tour by Lecturer/Assistant)
Dinner at Danga Bay
Return to Hostel UTM
Breakfast
PREPARATION FOR GROUP PROJECT/ASSIGNMENT (IN
LIBRARY)
Return to Hostel UTM
Breakfast
FIELD TRIP 6: INTEGRATED FARM & COMPOSTING PLANT,
BATU PAHAT, JOHOR (Guided tour by Lecturer/Assistant)
Lunch in Batu Pahat
3 Days- 2- Nights HOME STAY PROGRAM in Batu Pahat
3 Days- 2- Nights HOME STAY PROGRAM in Batu Pahat
1330
1530
1800
1930
3 Days- 2- Nights HOME STAY PROGRAM in Batu Pahat
Depart for UTM
FIELD TRIP 7: ZENXIN ORGANIC FARM, Kluang
Dinner at Restaurant in Zenxin Organic Farm, Kluang
Return to hostel UTM
6
F&E
F&E
Breakfast
Tea
Lunch
Tea
F&E
Breakfast
Lunch
F&E
Breakfast
F&E
F&E
F&E
Breakfast
F&E
Package
included
Package
included
Package
included
F&E
Day 16
Mon
0800
0900
1030
1100
1230
1400
Day 17
Tue
1700
1730
0800
0900
1030
1100
1230
1400
1730
Day 18
Wed
Day 19
Thurs
Day 20
Fri
Day 21
Sat
0800
0900
1200
1500
1600
1630
1700
1900
2230
WEEK 3
Breakfast
LECTURE 7: Integrated Electricity Generation from Agro-waste
for Sustainable Energy Supply, by Dr. Haslenda Hashim
Tea Break
LECTURE 8: by Dr. Haslenda Hashim
Lunch
ASSIGNMENT 3 : INTEGRATED ELECTRICITY
GENERATION. Discussion guided by Dr. Haslenda Hashim
and Assistant
Break
Return to Hostel
Breakfast
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP 2: Hands-on exercises using GAMS,
by Lecturer/ Assistant
Tea
WORKSHOP 2 (CON’T)
Lunch
PREPARATION FOR GROUP PROJECT/ASSIGNMENTS
Return to Hostel UTM
PREPARATION FOR GROUP
PROJECT/ASSIGNMENTS/PRESENTATION
PREPARATION FOR GROUP
PROJECT/ASSIGNMENTS/PRESENTATION
Breakfast
GROUP PRESENTATION & EVALUATION
Lunch
PROGRAM FEEDBACK & SHARING
CLOSING CEREMONY & CERTIFICATE PRESENTATION
Tea
Return to Hostel
FAREWELL DINNER & CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Return to Hostel
Check-out
DEPARTURE
7
Breakfast
Tea
Lunch
Tea
F&E
Breakfast
Tea
Lunch
F&E
F&E
F&E
Breakfast
Lunch
Tea
Dinner