Final Year Project Titles for Chemical Engineering (May 2013)

No

Final Year Project Title

Supervisor

No. of
students

Description / Objective / Scope

Cost optimisation for the heat exchanger network system

Cik Azlyana Ismail

calculation of cost of heat exchanger network in a plant

processing

Cost optimisation for the water recovery network system

Cik Azlyana Ismail

calculation of cost of water recovery network in a plant

processing

Investigation on the copper (II) and copper (III) oxide on the degradation of electron
beam irradation of polyethylene

Ms Bee Soo Tueen

Conduct study to find out the extent of transition metal

effect on the degradation of polymers at basic, chlorinated
water and acidic condition

Equipment Required

Suitable for
Courses

Remarks (if any )

CL

candidate should have interest in

equipment sizing and costing

CL

candidate should have interest in

equipment sizing and costing

Extruders, electron
beam irradiation

CL

Need to travel to Malaysia

Nuclear Agency to conduct test

Freeze dryer

CL

CL

Research Area

Chemical

Quality evaluation of freeze dried lemon and kiwi fruit slices under different freeze
drying conditions.

Dr. Chin Siew Kian

To evaluate the antioxidant phytochemicals retention of

freeze dried lemon and kiwi fruit slices under different
freeze drying conditions.

Removal of zinc on palm shell activated carbon in column adsorption experiments.

Dr Gulnaziya

laboratory experiments

Effect of temperature on adsorption of lead onto palm shell activated carbon.

Dr Gulnaziya

laboratory experiments

Commercial application of adsorption process to remove heavy metals from

industrial wastewater using low cost adsorbents.

Dr Gulnaziya

review of scientific journals and preparation of

comprehensive literature review on the topic.

flow through cell,

carbon, chemicals,
ICP
glassware, stirrer with
temp.control, ICP,
thermometer
internet resources,
library resources,

Commersialisation of adsorption technology to remove pollutants from industrial

wastewater.

Dr Gulnaziya

review of scientific journals and preparation of

comprehensive literature review on the topic including
specific examples and their analaysis.

internet resources,
library resources,

CL

CL

Optimisation of biofuel production from marine macroalgae

Dr Hii Siew Ling

To optimise the production of biofuel by using statistical

approach

Availabe in UTAR
FES

Collaboration project with Taylors'

University; Student with good
Bioprocess/Gree
command of English is preferred n Technology

Dr Hii Siew Ling

To optimise the extraction of sugar by using statistical

approach

Availabe in UTAR
FES

CL

10 Optimisation of sugar extraction from agricultural wastes

Student with good command of

English is preferred

11 Biopolymer extraction from renewable resources

Dr Hii Siew Ling

To develop efficient technique in extracting biopolymer

from renewable resources

Dr Lai Soon Onn

Material selection and stability are currently faced in the

DCMD research. A few hollow fiber membranes with
different polymer materials have been spun by UTM
researchers. Students need to run DCMD experiments to
test these membranes for their performance to treat heavy
metals at different experimental durations.

Fabrication and characterization of flat sheet membrane used for deacidification of

13
crude palm oil

Dr Lai Soon Onn

Student needs to cast flat sheet membranes with high

solvent resistance to separate solvent and free fatty acid in
the deacidification of crude palm oil. The cast membranes
need to be characterized using SEM and FTIR.

14 Purification of bioethanol using pervaporation

Dr Lai Soon Onn

Students need to produce own bioethanol using

agricultural wastes. Students then cast thin film composite
membranes to purify bioethanol using pervaporation
technique. Various parameters affecting the pervaporation
flux will be discussed.

15 Investigation the phase separation of polyethylene and polystyrene

Dr Lee Tin Sin

Conduct study to find out the extent of incompatibility that

deterioration the property of the polymer

12 Performance study of direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD)

16

Effect of ultrasonic treatment towards the physical, chemical and reactivity studies of
Dr Leong Loong Kong
vanadium phosphate catalysts

Description: Students are required to synthesise the

vanadium based oxide catalysts using reflux technique and
treated with ultrasound. The synthesised catalysts will be
analysed with various analytical instruments as to obtain
the physical, chemical and reactivity studies of the
catalysts. Objectives: 1. To synthesise vanadium based
oxide catalysts using reflux technique with ultrasonic
treatment. 2. To study the physical, chemical and reactivity
studies of the ultrasonic treated catalysts.

Page 1 of 3

separation
technology

CL

CL

Drying, food
safety and
quality.

separation
technology
must enjoy reading
environmental
technology
must enjoy reading
environmental
technology

Availabe in UTAR
FES
CL

SEM, MD system

CL

SEM and FTIR

CL

SEM, FTIR, PV
system

CL

Extruder

CL

1. Ultrasonic machine
2. Furnace 3. XRD
4. Surface Area
Analyser 5. SEMEDX 6. ICP-OES 7.
TPDRO 8. Centrifuge
9. Oven

CL

Bioprocess/Gree
n Technology

Collaboration project with Taylors'

University; Student with good
Bioprocess/Gree
command of English is preferred n Technology

May need to travel to Kampar

Chemical

Heterogeneous
Catalysis

To review the usage of different lights to treat diseases,

i.e. skin problems, cancers and release stress.

17 Review of phototherapy and photochemotherapy to treat various conditions/diseases Dr Loh Han Chern

1,) To increase the catalytic activity for high

production.
1.) To study the reaction kinetics for PFAD
esterification process
1,) To increase the catalytic activity for high
production.

18 Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch

Dr Sim Jia Huey

Esterification of Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) using Heterogeneous

19
Catalysts

Dr Sim Jia Huey

20 Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Coconut Husk

Dr Sim Jia Huey

21 Palm Oil Based Biodiesel Purification Using Polymeric Membranes

Dr Sim Jia Huey

1,) To determine type of polymeric membrane with

good performance in biodiesel purification

Dr Tang Siah Ying

To study the effects of ultrasonication in the extraction

process, temperature and extraction time on the yield of
Chitin

Dr Tee Tiam Ting

Conduct study to find out the extent of transition metal

effect on the degradation of polymers at basic, chlorinated
water and acidic condition

Multi-frequency Sonication-assisted Extraction of Chitin from shells of Fresh Water

22 Prawns

23

Investigation on the manganese (II) and manganese (III) oxide on the degradation of
polyethylene

24 Non-linear viscoelastic properties of PVOH/Starch blends

25 Use of Chemical Process Simulators in Chemical Engineering Education

26 CFD Simulation in a Spiral Wound Membrane

27 Experimental Study of Fluid Flow in a Spiral Wound Membrane

Dr Tee Tiam Ting

Conduct rheological study on polymer blend

To study how to integrate chemical process simulators

(e.g. HYSYS) in the education of chemical engineering.

Ms Teoh Hui Chieh

Not applicable. This is

a review work / dry
lab work.

CL, BI
Light application
& medical
treatments

CL

CL

CL

CL
Ultrasonic
homogenizer,
Ultrasonic bath,
spectrophotometer,
SEM
Extruders

CL

Rheometer

CL

Aspen Software

CL

Must have strong interest in

education

ANSYS / FLUENT

CL

Willing to learn new software

Sonochemistry

CL
Chemical

Chemical

Ms Teoh Hui Chieh

To investigate the effects of spacer shape and geometry

in a spiral wound membrane using computational fluid
dynamics (CFD) approach

Ms Teoh Hui Chieh

The experiment setup basically consists of a spiral wound

membrane, feed and permeate tank, pump and piping,
operating parameter controllers and sensors, and
sampling points. The membrane can be easily removed
and replaced with other type to investigate the effect of
spacer geometry on fluid flow.

Education

Membrane
Separation

2
--

CL
Membrane
Separation

Dr Tioh Ngee Heng

Dr Low Kaw Sai
Ng Soon Ching

Dr

The physical characteristics of the block/panel can be

modified according to the material used as the membrane.
The thermal conductivities of the various panels/blocks are
studies and compared in ranking them as insulating
materials.

Building of the testing

model and
measurement of
temperature variations
using thermal couples

CL/CI

Technology and
Candidate must be prepared for
Engineering
lifting heavy loads as well as have
(Material and
dirty hands
Polymer)

29 Review critically the use of bamboo as engineering materials

Dr Tioh Ngee Heng

Dr Low Kaw Sai
Ng Soon Ching

Dr

An in-depth literature survey of the application of bamboo

as engineering materials for construction. (No laboratory
works involved)

Computer and
reference materials

CL/CI

Candidate must have a good

command of English and able to
comprehend and evaluate
contents of journal articles and
summarise them

Technology and
Engineering
(Material and
Polymer)

30 Study on the poperties of bamboo in meeting engineering requirements

Dr Tioh Ngee Heng

Dr Low Kaw Sai
Ng Soon Ching

Dr

Bamboo has been used as engineering materials and

physical tests must be carried out in assesssing its
potential for enhancing its popularity in the construction
industry

Mechanical tests
equipment mainly

CL/CI

Candidate must have the skill to

correlate results of tests with that
of engineering specifications for
materials

Technology and
Engineering
(Material and
Polymer)

Extensive experimental works

involving comparison of methods
used in the defluoridation process
as well their quantitation.

Natural Sciences
nad National
Heritage
(Environment)

28

Comparative Studies on Various Membrane-encased lightweight concrete

block/panel

31 Investigation of Defluoridation Process in Wastewater Treatment

Dr Tioh Ngee Heng

The adsorption method using activated alumina in fluoride

removal from drinking water is found to be advantageous
than other defluoridation method. This is due to the strong
affinity between aluminum and fluoride which enables the
alumina to trap the fluoride as an adsorbent. Thus,
activated alumina is expected to work well in industrial
wastewater treatment. As industrial effluent contains
higher fluoride concentration, the efficiency of the
activated alumina on fluoride removal will be different.
Further investigation is requires in determine the adsorbent
adsorption efficiency. The adsorbent performance is
determined via continuous column study of adsorption test
using conventional method and advance method.

Page 2 of 3

Fluoride ion selective

electrode and
titrimetric method

CL

32 The Investigation on Production and Application of Garbage Enzymes

Dr Wong KH

1. to produce garbage enzymes, 2. to compare the

effectiveness of these DIY enzyme solutions with
commercial products

33 The Study of Various Method on Drying of Fruit and vegetable

Dr Wong KH

to determine the most effective method on drying of fruit

and vegetable among the methods studied

34 The Investigation of Effective Packaging Method for Hot Food

Dr Wong KH

to develope an effective packaging method for hot food

Dr Wong KH

to investigate the best-performing for enzymatic

interesterification process in oil

35 Enzymatic Interesterification of Oil

spectrophotometer,
refractometer, ICP

CL

Fermentation and
Environment

oven, tray dryer,

freeze dryer,
spectrophotometer,
refractometer, ICP

CL

Food Processing

Oven, deep fryer,

spectrophotometer,
refractometer

CL

Food Processing

Incubator shaker,
HPLC

CL

Food Processing

CL

Candidate is able to work

independently, possess good
laboratory technique and enjoy
working round the clock in the lab Food Processing
because the study require time in
sample preparations.

CL

Candidate is able to work

independently, possess good
laboratory technique and enjoy
working round the clock in the lab Food Processing
because the study require time in
sample preparations.

Computer only

CL

Computer modeling only

TBA

CL

TBA

CL

TBA

CL

spectrophotometer,
FTIR, SEM
36

Investigation of the extraction methods on Yield and Quality of Citrus Pectin or

dragon fruit pectin

Dr Woo Kwan Kit

Comparison of enzymatic extraction and acid extraction on

the yield and quality of pectin

spectrophotometer,
SEM
37

Effect of freeze drying on stability of red dragon fruit pigment (with or without coating
Dr Woo Kwan Kit
agent)

study the water absorption behaviour of the freeae drying

red dragon fruit pigment

38 Modelling catalytic combustion of automotive exhaust gas in monolithic reactor

Dr Yap YH

Refer to title

39 Weather monitoring and data analysis

Dr Yap YH

Will be playing with Raspberry Pi to monitor various

variables and perform data analysis

40 Investigating the efficiency of window film and natural cooling for climate control

Dr Yap YH

Refer to title

41 Investigating synthetic hydrophobic surface products

Dr Yap YH

For example the rain repellant for the windscreen

Page 3 of 3

Catalysis,
Emission control,
Mathematical
Modelling,
Instrumentation
and Data
Analysis

Experiment and Computer

Simulation

Newton's Law of
Cooling and Heat
Transfer,
Mathematical
Modeling
Surface
chemistry