Engineering students win Silver and Bronze medals at IBCEx’25

Irfan Hassan, a Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) student, and Lim Jun Jie, a Master of Engineering Science student at UTAR, both showcased outstanding and innovative concepts at IBCEx’25, earning themselves a Silver Award and a Bronze Award respectively in the postgraduate category of the Innovative Project Competition.

Irfan received a cash prize of RM1,500 (Silver) while Lim received a cash prize of RM1,000 (Bronze).

Themed Biotechnology and the Circular Economy: Waste to Wealth, IBCEx’25 was organised by the Bioprocess Engineering Student Society (BIOSS) of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) on 17 May 2025 at UTM Skudai Campus. Focusing on topics such as biowaste, biotechnology, and water and wastewater treatment, this year’s IBCEx aimed to gather young innovators from across the world to showcase their green and innovative solutions.

From oil palm waste to microplastic eliminator

Advised by the Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) academics Prof Dr Sumathi Sethupathi and Dr Nurhanim binti Abdul Aziz, Irfan’s award-winning research project was titled EcoPAC: Oil Palm Biowaste Adsorbent for Microplastic-Free Drinking Water.

Tackling the challenges of removing microplastic particles in drinking water using traditional treatment methods, Irfan proposed a low-cost yet sustainable solution to remove them by utilising oil palm biowaste. This type of biowaste is commercially generated in Malaysia, amounting to approximately 127 million tonnes annually.

Through analysing EcoPAC, a sustainable and low-cost adsorbent derived from oil palm shells, the biowaste has demonstrated an effective and efficient means of removing microplastics from drinking water. Therefore, it not only promotes health and well-being among communities, but also contributes to the circular economy by repurposing agricultural waste, reducing landfill reliance, and promoting sustainable production practices.

Irfan’s research aligned with various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13: Climate Action.

Reinventing and placing innovation at the forefront as a medium for meaningful change, Irfan remarked, “My participation in this competition was driven not just by expertise and understanding, but by a clear, motivating purpose. I didn’t enter simply to display my abilities; I entered to show how innovation can tackle pressing global challenges. This project was about proving that meaningful change is possible when we focus on solutions that matter.”

He added, “This competition presented an opportunity to push boundaries, to think bigger, and to create something with real impact. It wasn’t about the prize; it was about leveraging the platform to inspire others, collaborate with passionate individuals, and present a tangible solution to pressing environmental challenges. This is only the beginning. When passion, purpose, and hard work come together, there’s no limit to what can be accomplished.”

He also expressed his gratitude to his advisors, Prof Sumathi and Dr Nurhanim, for their unwavering support throughout the research.

Cracking phosphorus problem with eggshell waste

Advised by FEGT Prof Sumathi and Prof Dr Yamuna Munusamy, Lim’s award-winning research project was titled EggSorb: A Bio-Based Eggshell Sorbent for Phosphorus Recovery and Sustainable Soil Conditioning.

In his research, Lim proposed an innovative use of eggshells, a biowaste deemed functionless by many, to recover phosphorus from aquaculture wastewater (AWW). Phosphorus, while a non-renewable essential macronutrient in aquaculture, contributes to water pollution and eutrophication when overused. With that, Lim repurposed eggshells as a low-cost and eco-friendly adsorbent for recovering phosphorus from AWW.

Through analyses, the repurposed eggshells, Eggsorb, not only captured 98% of the phosphorus in AWW, but also showed a positive impact as a soil conditioner on the growth of okra plants when reused. Thus, this unique application not only maximises resource use but also minimises secondary waste generation, offering a holistic and low-impact solution.

Lim’s research was in line with SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water, and SDG 15: Life on Land.

Echoing the sentiment by Irfan, Lim also stepped into the competition as a strong believer in innovation and hard work. He said, “I participated in this competition not to prove I was better, but to show what’s possible when you truly care about solving real-world problems. I poured my passion, my late nights, and my belief in innovation into every step of the journey. That energy and drive are what I believe made the difference.”

“I saw an opportunity to challenge myself, to grow beyond the lab, and to contribute something meaningful. It wasn’t just about the prize; it was about the opportunity to put ideas into action, inspire change, and connect with like-minded individuals who are just as eager to make a difference,” he added.

Moreover, Lim also thanked his mentors and teammates for the achievement. “Their support reminds me that when passion meets purpose, extraordinary things can happen,” he remarked.

International Biotechnology Competition and Exhibition (IBCEx)

IBCEx is an annual event organised by UTM BIOSS. IBCEx provides an international platform for young innovators, from high school to university level, to compete and showcase their creative and innovative ideas in various biotechnology topics. Two competitions are held annually, namely the Innovative Project Competition and the Poster Competition.

Besides the competitions and exhibitions, the event also invites biotechnology and green technology experts from various industries to share their knowledge in a series of talk sessions.