Dr. Noormazlinah smart SSB research produces additional nutrients for plants

PAYA BESAR, 1 December 2022 - Lecturer from the Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology (FTKKP), Dr. Noormazlinah Ahmad managed to formulate a product that combines oleochemical solid waste and prebiotics that can provide good and nutritional supplementation to crops.

Who would have thought that the study initially carried out with the industry to solve the problem of increasingly worrying oleochemical solid waste and environmental pollution problems turned out with a product that can be used by the community not only in Malaysia but even abroad.

It is especially beneficial for countries with problems such as water shortages and soil malnutrition that are limited to only a few types of crops.

According to Dr. Noormazlinah, after analysing and studying the solid waste, she found that the waste contained nutrients that could be used for plants.

“Therefore, the idea of making the product useful as a material to add nutrients to the crop resulted from the solid waste.

“This smart SSB can also be used as a plant container, whether placed in the ground or with other plant pots since it can provide additional nutrition to the plant.

“In addition, this smart SSB also has water absorption resistance and has biodegradable properties that make this product environmentally friendly and usable in arid areas,” she said.

Dr. Noormazlinah hoped that this business could yield products or research that can benefit and can be used for planting in areas where there is a lack of water or malnutrition in the surrounding soil.

“This effort can increase agricultural output and can be used as a solution to face food or crop crises in the future.

“This product can be improved in terms of the plant containers processing method and the current content and formulation.

“In addition, this research output receives collaboration from the industry, namely FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd. under the MTUN grant with UMP,” she said.

Smart SSB is available in several sizes, namely S, M and L and the estimated cost of the stated sizes is RM5, RM10 and RM15, respecticely.

This product was also recognised when it recently won a gold medal at the International Conference and Exposition on Inventions by Institutions of Higher Learning (PECIPTA) 2022 held at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK).

UMP won seven gold, four silver and one bronze medals in PECIPTA 2022.

By: Mimi Rabita Abdul Wahit, Corporate Communications Division, Chancellery DepartmentTranslation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology