2011/05/24
By Syed Umar Ariff
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Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Zaini Ujang flagging off the convoy at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Skudai yesterday.

JOHOR BARU: Have cooking oil will travel.

At least, that is what 65 students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Indonesia's Universitas Tanjungpura are trying to prove on a 6,500km journey from Singapore to Laos which began on Sunday.

Yesterday, a convoy of two buses and two pick-up trucks -- fuelled with biodiesel mainly produced from used cooking oil -- was flagged off from UTM after departing from Changi Airport, Singapore.

This is UTM's third bio-diesel expedition since 2009. Previously, palm oil-based biodiesel was used for the vehicles. The university's selling point; the engines of these vehicles are not modified in any way to run on the fuel.

UTM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Zaini Ujang said the students would gauge the efficiency of the fuel during the 15-day trip across Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand and Laos.

"The students will also help promote environmental awareness and study the effects of carbon emission using biodiesel," Zaini said at a press conference.

The students will also learn about the process and cost of manufacturing biodiesel from used cooking oil at a plant in Hatyai, Thailand.

"One of our objectives is to learn about biodiesel plants. The cost to set up one is around RM100 million. Tonight (last night), the convoy is expected to take a break in Berseri, Perlis before entering Thailand."

The convoy's adviser, UTM chemical engineering faculty's Associate Prof Dr Firdausi Razali said apart from researching the feasibility of cooking oil as a biofuel, the programme was also aimed at educating the public on recycling cooking oil.

"Not many people know that cooking oil can be recycled into something useful like biofuel. Most food-stall operators usually throw away the oil or sell them to be recycled into cooking oil again," said Firdausi.

And, of course, cooking oil, as a biofuel, is expected to be cheaper than palm oil -- another factor that they would look into, he added.

A group of UTM researchers visited Qatar University to propose a number of high impact research

proposals to the academics of Qatar University for joint submission to the Qatar National Research

Foundation.

The UTM delegation, led by Vice Chancellor/President Zaini Ujang comprised 8 UTM researchers

including Prof Dr Ismail Said, Prof Dr Azman, Prof Dr Zulkifli Yusop, Prof Dr Esah, Prof Dr Norsheila, Prof

Dr Naomi , Prof Dr Awaluddin and Prof Dr Zainuddin.

The team paid a courtesy call to the President of Qatar University, Sheikha Abdalla al Misnad earlier

in the visit on the 8 May. This was followed by a research workshop chaired by Dr Hassan Al-Derham,

Qatar University Vice President for Research, in which each UTM delegate presented research proposals

to the Qatar counterparts.

The UTM Water Research Alliance(RA) under Prof Zulkifli presented two proposals on the Development

of Qatar’s synergistic framework on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, and another

on Development of mixed metal oxide electrodes for the treatment of new emerging pollutant in clinical

waste. Discussions with the industries and fellow academicians on water and wastewater research in

Qatar were also held.

The Water RA also agreed to partner with researchers from Qatar University to submit proposals on

the following areas namely Green House Gas Inventory and strategy to improve Qatar's position in global

carbon foot-print (to be submitted to the Department of environment, Qatar) and Water and waste

water minimization or zero discharge for selected industries (to be submitted to QNRF)

The workshop was well attended by the academic staff of Qatar University drawn by the proposed titles

and areas for possible research collaborations between both universities.

It is worth noting that several proposals had already been discussed prior to the trip between potential

partners from both parties. Detailed discussions and further deliberations were held following the

presentations.

Also present were other senior Qatar University graduates including the Head of Materials and

Technology Unit, Dr Mariam Al-Maadeed who participated actively in the seminar. There was a further

visit and round of discussions the following day in which the UTM group met with potential partners.

Another workshop was also organised by the Engineering Department in which UTM researchers

listened to a briefing by a representative of the Qatar National Research Foundation. Prof Ahmad Zaki

Abu Bakar, a UTM lecturer currently attached to the School of Engineering in Qatar University for a year

helped with the logistics and organisation of the visit.

The visit to Qatar marks a significant milestone in the UTM-Qatar University relationship in terms

of academic and research collaboration. The visit was a success as the objectives set out were met

which further improves bilateral engagements between both universities and further enhancing UTM's

international standing as an innovation-led and entrepreneurial research university.