Dr. Khairul Anuar produces CLINKROOF, sustainable green roof system based on palm oil waste

PEKAN, 27 December 2022 - Flash floods and rising temperatures in big cities due to urban heat islands reported by the mass media are happening more and more often lately.

This situation has sparked an idea for the lecturer of the Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology (FTKA) UMP, Dr. Khairul Anuar Shahid to produce CLINKROOF that could reduce the potential for flash floods and lower the temperature in the building using solid waste from palm oil mills through green roof construction.

This project also received collaboration from FTKA lecturers, Dr. Noor Suraya Romali, Ts. Dr. Mohd Faizal Md. Jaafar, Ts. Roziah Zailan, Ts. Norhaiza Ghazali and Hasmanie Abd. Halim.

According to Dr. Khairul, the idea to create this product began when he visited a palm oil mill near UMP.

“The mill produces waste products from palm oil processing, namely oil palm clinkers, empty fruit bunches and palm oil mill effluents.

“It is produced based on several layer systems such as vegetative, substrate, filter, and drainage layers.

“All the layers except the vegetative layer use the waste from palm oil mills,” he said.

He further added that the vegetative layer is a layer for plants.

“All these layers will be built on the roof surface of the building and will be planted with creeping plants.

“The green roof can provide a cool effect inside and around the building.

“In addition, it can reduce the potential for flash floods in large urban areas that lack the soil surface to absorb water into the soil,” he said.

This research started in 2013 under the UMP internal grant and continued in 2021 because there is great potential to produce CLINKROOF in areas where flash floods are frequent such as Kuala Lumpur.

He added that the plan for this product is to continue with more in-depth research with partners from the industry to improve its function.

“This product has also been greatly improved in terms of functionality and construction.

“It is hoped that this product can be commercialised because it has a high potential to reduce the occurrence of flash floods, especially in urban areas densely populated with development and also has the potential to reduce temperatures within the area and its surrounding.

“The product cost is also much lower than those of conventional products because they are made from palm oil waste and indirectly contribute to environmental sustainability,” he said.

This research won a gold medal in the Creation, Innovation, Technology and Research Exposition (CITREx) 2021.

The research also won a gold medal at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) 2022 which took place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on 26 and 27 May 2022.

By: Nur Hartini Mohd Hatta, Corporate Communications Division, Chancellery Department

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology