By Asmahanim Amir
Pictures by Ikhwan Hashim

BESTARI JAYA, 7 October 2019 – A zero waste concept palm oil will soon be available in Malaysia to keep the industry sustainable thus will make it eco-friendly.  A research partnership between Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) has developed the pilot project and led by Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Sobri who is also a Co-Chair of UKM-YSD Sustainable Development Chair: Zero Waste Technology.

Mohd Sobri said the potential as a new source of energy. He also added the pilot project does not only serve its research mission but also can increase the country’s oil palm future productivity and sustainability.

“We are proud to share our research finding as one of the best models in palm oil processing waste management with a zero waste method. All the zero waste will be recycled to make a product that can benefit others. For example, palm kernel can now be used in the agricultural sector as organic fertilizers and other products as well,” he said.

“I hope this research can guide existing oil mills to make changes in neutral green technology and zero waste,” he said

Meanwhile, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr. Abdul Wahab Mohammad, who is also a co-researcher said the research is focused on renewable energy production, carbon dioxide gas capture, organic fertilizer production and recycling of wastewater, and solid waste generated in palm oil processing.

“The success of UKM and YSD researchers should be honoured as not all parties can provide the most effective solution to solving the palm oil industry’s waste problems and affecting the environment.

“All waste was transformed into renewable sources for future use. For example, the waste from oil palm was turned into organic fertilizer that could be used for agricultural activities,” he said.

Other UKM researchers involved in the research were Prof. Dr. Jamaliah Md Jahim, Prof. Madya Dr. Mohd Shahbudin Mastar, Prof. Madya Dr. Sahilah Abdul Mutalib and Ir. Dr. Shuhaida Harun.

The research is also in collaboration with various local research institutes and universities such as the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), University Malaysia Pahang (UMP), the University of Nottingham Malaysia. Other international institutions are also joing the collaboration such as Wageningen University, Netherlands; Feng Chia University, Taiwan; LIPI and Universitas Sumatera Utara, Indonesia.