KEY PERSONEL IN UTMBacTech GROUP

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Metal – based industries generate high volumes of heavy-metal containing wastewater that requires high cost for treatment and disposal. Without proper treatment, the discharge of these wastewaters to the environment posed high risk to human health. High maintenance cost using conventional treatment techniques makes it imperative to have alternative treatment technology such as using the biological approach.

The Bacterial Technology Research Group (UTMBacTech), UTM is currently engaged in various types of research works notably in the fields of bioremediation (focusing on phenol, COD, chromium and other toxic heavy metals), biomaterials (production of chitosan and natural colorant from bacteria) and biotransformation (production of chitosan from fisheries waste, use of wood shavings and pineapple wastewater in bioremediation). Besides constantly publishing in international publications (journals, books), the BacTecher Group also has filed a number of patent applications to the Malaysian Patent Office for some of the products developed. These products include the ChromeBac^TM system, the Siakap Best and one method to detect the concentrations of formalin in aquaculture produce.