A GROUP of lecturers from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) struck gold at the 31st International Innovation and Technology Exhibition 2020.
The lecturers from the university’s Lee Kong Chian Engineering and Science Faculty at the Sungai Long campus, won the gold medal under the Building and Construction category for their Ecological Floating Treatment Wetland (EFTW) project.
Project leader Yew Ming Kun said it could be used to restore existing pond water and regenerate microhabitats for wildlife.
“The EFTW is a man-made ecosystem that mimics natural wetlands.
“When combined with green technology, it offers great potential for the treatment of urban stormwater drains and sediment ponds, ” he said.
Other members in the group were Dr Lee Foo Wei, Yew Ming Chian, Bernard Saw Lip Huat, Lim Siong Kang and Beh Jing Han.
Yew said from the project, they found that phytoremediation floating wetlands could be used as a green biotechnology solution.
(Phytoremediation is a process that cleans up soil, air and water with hazardous contaminants using plants.)
“The green biotechnology solution will naturally mitigate and gradually remove existing contaminants and organic pollutants like heavy metals, pesticides or nitrate that accumulate in a pond, ” he said.
The exhibition was organised by the Malaysian Invention and Design Society from Nov 20 to 21 last year.
It was aimed at providing a platform for innovative inventions, technologies and products.