Malaysia-Japan Advanced Research Centre (MJARC)

 iKohza Name: Malaysia-Japan Advanced Research Centre
 Leader's Name and Title: Dr. Abd Halim bin Md Ali
 Deputy Leader (if any):
 Main Contact Email: mjarc@utm.my
 Location/Office: Malaysia – Japan Advanced Research Centre (MJARC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kampus Pagoh, Hub Pendidikan Tinggi Pagoh, 84600 Pagoh, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia.
 Website or Social Media (if available): https://mjarc.utm.my/

 Main Research Themes/Keywords :

Vision

To Provide Sustainable and Innovative Solutions for Solid Waste Management and Conversion to High Quality Products

Mission

To become a world class advanced research centre, excelling in science, technology and socio-economy

 Description of Research Focus Areas :

1. Waste-to-Wealth and Waste-to-Energy technologies

Focuses on innovative solutions to convert waste into valuable resources such as soil conditioner, organic fertilizer, animal feed, biogas and biodegradable packaging. These technologies support the circular economy by reducing landfill use and creating economic value from waste. The focus is on scalable, sustainable methods that benefit both the environment and local communities.

2. Effluent treatment

Focuses on improving the treatment of wastewater from industrial, agricultural, and domestic sources. MJARC explores advanced methods to remove harmful substances like chemicals, heavy metals, and pathogens which include both high-tech and low-cost systems suitable for urban and rural areas.

3. Energy systems and recovery

Focuses on advancing clean and efficient energy solutions. Research includes energy recovery from waste and biomass, renewable energy integration, and smart energy systems. The objective is to support the transition to low-carbon, sustainable energy sources for diverse settings.

4. Pre-and post-disaster waste management

MJARC supports resilient waste management strategies for disaster situations. This includes planning for efficient waste handling before disasters and rapid response systems afterward. The focus is on managing debris, hazardous waste, and health risks, while strengthening community preparedness and recovery efforts.

 Laboratories Used :

There are two (2) main laboratories in MJARC:

1. Sub-Critical Water Waste Management System (SCW-WMS)

SCW-WMS located at UTM Kampus Pagoh features two units of Multipurpose Recycling Machines (MRM), each with a processing capacity of 2m³. Utilizing sub-critical water technology, the system enables the rapid and efficient treatment of various agro-industrial and organic wastes under moderate temperature and pressure conditions. This technology allows for the sterilization and breakdown of complex waste materials, making it possible to convert them into a range of value-added products such as hydrochar, solid and liquid fertilizer, animal feed additives and other bio-based materials. The process is significantly faster than conventional methods and supports both environmental sustainability and resource recovery.

2. Solid Waste Laboratory

The Solid Waste Laboratory, located at the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), UTM Kuala Lumpur, serves as a specialized facility for research and development in sustainable waste management. The laboratory is equipped with a range of high-performance analytical and treatment equipment, supporting studies related to waste-to-wealth, waste-to-energy, and the treatment of solid waste, water, and air.

 Key Equipment/Technology Available (with brief descriptions):

 List of Ongoing/Recent Projects or Grants :

1. Kajian dan penyediaan rangka tindakan Green and Smart Terminal Blueprint untuk Terminal Larkin Sentral : Bidang Tumpuan Pemuliharaan Air dan Pengurusan Sisa (Focus Area 1)

This project focuses on developing a blueprint to transform Terminal Larkin Sentral into a green and smart terminal. The study emphasizes water conservation and solid waste management, proposing sustainable strategies to improve the terminal’s environmental performance.

2. Kerangka Pelan Hala Tuju Kuala Lumpur ke arah Sifar Sisa 2050

This initiative aims to develop a strategic roadmap to guide Kuala Lumpur’s transition towards a zero-waste city by 2050. The framework outlines action plans and implementation strategies to minimize waste generation, increase recycling rates, and promote a sustainable urban living environment.

3. Promoting eco-friendly practices: lemon peel as an effective adsorbent for oil waste removal from water bodies

This project explores the potential of lemon peel as a low-cost, biodegradable adsorbent for removing oil waste from water bodies. It supports the development of sustainable water treatment alternatives using agricultural by-products, contributing to cleaner aquatic ecosystems.

4. Optimization of esterification process for reduction of acidity and high-quality of pyrolysis oil based spent coffee ground

This research focuses on optimizing the esterification process to reduce acidity and improve the quality of pyrolysis oil derived from spent coffee grounds. The objective is to produce a cleaner, more stable bio-oil suitable for renewable energy applications.

5. Development of Banana Waste-Based Air Filter for PM2.5 Capture in Indoor Environments

This project aims to fabricate an eco-friendly air filtration system using banana waste as the core material. The filter is targeted at capturing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in indoor spaces, offering a sustainable solution for improving air quality while utilizing agricultural waste.

 Selected Publications :

1. Hamzah, M. H., Aminudin, N. H., Hamzah, A. F. A., Ashari, R., Ali, A. H. M., Gavahian, M., & Al-Sharify, Z. T. (2025). Towards higher yield and quality of essential oils extracted from lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) leaves via ohmic heated extraction. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization, 1-18.
2. Hamzah, M. H., Zulkefli, N., Hamzah, A. F. A., Shamsudin, R., Man, H. C., Ali, A. H. M., & Wondi, M. H. (2024). Optimization of process parameters using response surface methodology for essential oil extraction from Canarium odontophyllum kernels by subcritical water treatment. Food Analytical Methods, 17(6), 910-929.
3. Rosly, M. B., Tamunaidu, P., Huzir, N. M., Amin, A. N. R., Goto, M., & Ali, A. H. M. (2024). Potential of Biogas Production from Anaerobic Co-digestion of Hydrothermal Pre-treated OPEFB and Digested Sludge Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences, 117(1), 155-163.
4. Pramila Tamunaidu: Patent (PI2024007562) Method for Producing Nutrient-Enhanced Banana Peel for Animal Feed and Composition Thereof.
5. Pramila Tamunaidu (2025). Pelan Halatuju Kuala Lumpur ke Arah Sifar Sisa 2040
6. Huzir, N. M., Tamunaidu, P., Rosly, M. B., Hussin, M. H., & Amin, A. N. R. (2024). Enhancing nutritional value of banana peels as animal feed pellet using subcritical water technology. In E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 516, p. 04001). EDP Sciences.
7. Isa, N., Huzir, N. M., Rosly, M. B., Amin, A. N. R., Hussin, M. H., & Tamunaidu, P. (2024). Hydrothermal pre-treatment of hospital food waste for efficient bio-methane generation. In E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 516, p. 01007). EDP Sciences.
8. Abdullah, W. A. S. W., Liew, P. Y., Ismail, I., Ho, W. S., & Woon, K. S. (2025). Liquid organic hydrogen carriers energy storage in urban-industrial symbiosis through process integration. Energy, 320, 135289.
9. Fadhil, M. F. S. A., Liew, P. Y., Zaharuddin, H. H., Mah, A. X. Y., Ho, W. S., & Woon, K. S. (2024). Hydrogen Supply Chain Optimisation with Green Electricity Generation for Energy Trading Between Industrial Parks. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 114, 541-546.
10. Mohammad Rozali, N. E., Mohd Halmy, M. A., & Liew, P. Y. (2024). Design of Integrated Energy–Water Systems Using Automated Targeting Modeling Considering the Energy–Water–Carbon Nexus. Water, 16(22), 3256.
11. Balasundram, V., Manaf, N. A., Tamunaidu, P., Ibrahim, N., Isha, R., & Pham, L. K. H. (2025). The Effect of Temperature on Co-Pyrolysis of Empty Fruit Bunch and Used Palm Cooking Oil for Hydrocarbon Fuel Production. Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering), 87(4).
12. Chia, J. J., Ali, R. R., Balasundram, V., Yusefi, M., Teow, S. Y., Tarmizi, Z. I. A., & Shameli, K. (2024). Dual ionotropic crosslinked biopolymer magnetic nanocomposites as 5‐Fluorouracil nanocarrier for potential colorectal cancer treatment. Polymer Engineering & Science, 64(7), 3303-3318.
13. Narayana, L. R. S., Mokhtar, M. A. M., Ali, R. R., Balasundram, V., Huzir, N. M., Tamunaidu, P., & Younesi, H. (2024). Subcritical Water Extraction of Banana Peel Derived ZnO for Photodegradation of Paracetamol. Semarak International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2(1), 1-8.
14. Dewika, M., Markandan, K., Nagaratnam, S., Irfan, N. A., Abdah, M. A. A. M., Ruwaida, J. N., & Khalid, M. (2025). Assessing the concentration, distribution and characteristics of suspended microplastics in the Malaysian indoor environment. Science of the Total Environment, 959, 178049.
15. Dewika, M., Markandan, K., Ruwaida, J. N., Sara, Y. Y., Deb, A., Irfan, N. A., & Khalid, M. (2024). Integrating the quintuple helix approach into atmospheric microplastics management policies for planetary health preservation. Science of the Total Environment, 176063.
16. Husin, H., Ishak, N., Ruwaida, J. N., Naidu, D., Rashid, A. M., Yusuf, S. Y., & Manaf, N. A. (2024). Optimization of Ammonia Removal from Landfill Leachate by Aeration Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). International Journal of Integrated Engineering, 16(4), 179-187.

 Award:

1. Silver Awards in National Agricultural And Food Engineering Convention (NAFEC2025)
2. First Prize Winner in Malaysia-Japan Industrial & Innovation Expo (MJIIX) 2024
3. Gold Award & Best of The Best Award in International Research & Innovation Technology (i-RITEC) 2023
4. First Prize Winner & Gold Award in 5th Sustainability Challenge 2023
5. New Academia Learning Innovation (NALI) Award 2023
6. Highly Commended Sustainability Project, IChemE Malaysia Award 2022
7. Highly Commended Young Researcher Award, IChemE Malaysia Award 2017, 2019

 Current National and International Collaborations:

• International Collaborator:

  • ASEAN University Network/Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network (AUN/SEED-Net)
  • International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan
  • Japanese University Consortium (JUC)
  • Japan-ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Platform (JASTIP)
  • Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
  • Kyoto University
  • Kyushu University
  • Kanazawa University
  • National Cheng Kung University
  • National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention
  • NPO Landfill System and Technology Research Association (LSA)
  • Shibaura Institute of Technology
  • The International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM)
  • University of Tsukuba
  • Universitas Gadjah Mada
  • Yamaguchi University

   

  National Collaborations:

  • Ans Biotech
  • Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur
  • Institut Jantung Negara
  • Lembaga Kemajuan Pertanian Kemubu (KADA)
  • Lembaga Kemajuan Tanah Persekutuan (FELDA)
  • Lembaga Penyatuan dan Pemulihan Tanah Persekutuan (FELCRA)
  • Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT)
  • Sime Darby Property
  • Waste Management Association of Malaysia (WMAM)
  • Worldwide Environment

 Joint Programs/Student Exchanges/Industrial Engagements:

 Community Engagement (if any):

 Academic Staff (Name, Position, Area of Expertise):

	Ts. Dr. Abd Halim bin Md Ali (Manager of MJARC) Area of Expertise: Environmental Engineering Plasma Catalysis Non-thermal Plasma Agricultural Waste Management Safety and Health
	Ts. Dr. Pramila a/p Tamunaidu (Research Fellow) Area of Expertise: Biomass Biofuel Bioplastics Wastewater Treatment Solid Waste Management
	Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Liew Peng Yen (Research Fellow) Area of Expertise: · Process System Engineering · Process Integration · Life Cycle Assessment · Resource and Energy Conservation · Industrial Utility System Optimisation · Sustainability
	Ir. Ts. Dr. Vekes a/l Balasundram (Research Fellow) Area of Expertise: Heterogeneous Catalysis Reaction Engineering Biomass Conversion Plastic Waste Conversion Biofuels, Pyrolysis Kinetics Process Modelling
	Ts. Dr. Nor Ruwaida binti Jamian (Research Fellow) Area of Expertise: Air Pollution Control Environmental Engineering

 Postdocs/Researchers:  Postgraduate Students:

SUBCRITICAL WATER TECHNOLOGY

WASTE AS FEEDSTOCK

SCW PRODUCT

PROOF OF CONCEPT

MJARC HIGHLIGHTS

THE 12^TH ASIA PACIFIC LANDFILL SYMPOSIUM (APLAS 2024)

MJARC ACHIEVEMENT

 Link to Video:
 Refer to the sample video shared:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uCct65sTQaNmssiLeKSd5RqQP_5EUMfs/view?usp=drive
sdk