JOHOR BAHRU, 1 October 2026 – The Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), congratulates Dr. Susilawati Toemen from the Department of Chemistry for successfully securing the ASCEND Research Prominence Grant, with research funding of RM150,000.
The three-year project, running from 18 September 2026 to 17 September 2029, focuses on developing an advanced catalyst for more efficient and sustainable biodiesel production.
Officially titled “Elucidating the Dual Catalytic Action of Potassium Oxide Chitosan-Derived Magnetic Carbon Catalyst for High Free Fatty Acid Biodiesel Conversion with Artificial Neural Network Modelling,” the research explores a chitosan-derived magnetic carbon catalyst containing potassium oxide to improve the conversion of high free fatty acid feedstocks into biodiesel.
In simpler terms, the project aims to develop a more effective catalyst for converting challenging feedstocks into biodiesel, while using artificial intelligence-based modelling to better understand and optimise the conversion process.
The integration of advanced catalyst development with artificial neural network modelling offers a promising approach towards improving process efficiency and supporting the development of cleaner and more sustainable alternative fuels.
The project contributes to research in green chemistry, renewable energy and sustainable materials, while supporting UTM’s aspiration under UTM ASCEND 2030 to advance impactful research addressing environmental and sustainability challenges.
The Faculty of Science congratulates Dr. Susilawati Toemen on this achievement and wishes her research team every success in delivering impactful outcomes from the project.
Congratulations on this outstanding research achievement!
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