Assoc. Prof. Dr. Low Siew Chun
School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Email: chcpleo@usm.my
Phone No: (+6)04-599 6425
Research Interests
Separation Technology, Membrane Synthesis, Wastewater Treatment, Biosensor.
My Research: Contribution & Expertise
My research focuses on air purification and water recovery using separation technologies that can be accomplished with minimal cost and energy. This approach transforms air pollution control and wastewater treatment from a liability to a desirable activity for industries. Currently, my research team focuses on extracting and recycling valuable materials from aquaculture effluent rather than purifying water. Aquaculture is expected to emerge as one of the major agricultural contributors to the national economy. However, the problem associated to this aquaculture industry is the huge volume of wastes. In this regard, I am focusing on exploiting membrane technology to extract nutrients from wastewater.
We develop smart materials that alleviate membrane fouling problems, paving the way for more industrial uses of membrane separation technology. My team aims to achieve zero-waste discharge by recycling the purified water used in aquaculture activities and at the same time concentrating the wastewater feed as liquid fertiliser. The produced nutrient-rich liquid organic fertiliser its effectiveness as nutrients for soil microbes and improving the soil structure. The research outputs are not only beneficial for the environment, but also have a favorable influence on the country's social-economic well-being.
My View: Qualities of a Good Researcher
This is a question I often ask myself, and one which has been pondered over. I firmly believe that the study we conduct must be the kind of research that interests us and piques our curiosity. We might have the necessary intelligence. However, without curiosity and interest, we are not driven to go further to discover more commitment also plays a major role. Research is a challenging job. The working hours can be long and deadlines can be tight. In terms of job execution, researchers must systematically plan their work. It may sound simple, but it took me a long time to understand how to prepare for the overall scope of research activities so that I could revalidate my work within the allotted period. The last is the transmission of information. We may be talking to different audiences. To ensure that people can understand our results and what the results mean to them, excellent written and verbal communication is necessary.