The Research and Postgraduate Centre congratulates Chew Zhi Ling, Koh Qi Qi, Chu Eng Eng, Asst. Prof. Dr. Kua Yin Leng (corresponding author), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tan Khang Wei, and Dr. Terri Lee Zhuan Ean from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering for their recent publication in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, a SCI Q1 journal with the latest impact factor of 8.2.

Chew Zhi Ling (first author) and Koh Qi Qi (second author) are both pursuing their Master’s degree in New Energy Science and Engineering at XMUM. Chu Eng Eng is an undergraduate at Chemical Engineering programme.

This research is conducted in collaboration with Prof. Gan Suyin from the University of Nottingham Malaysia through a Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) project [Grant Number FRGS/1/2021/TK0/XMU/02/2]. This work is also financially supported by Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund [XMUMRF/2019-C3/IENG/0010 and XMUMRF/2023-C12/IENG/0058], and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Education for Nature Program [EF16984].

With the title “Tunable durian seed gum-derived eutectogel as a novel coating material: Rheological, thermal, textural and barrier properties for enhanced food preservation”, the researchers explored the potential of a novel and sustainable gel material formulated with durian seed gum and natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) in food coating application.

As a highlight, this research offers a natural-based and eco-friendly solution which revealed higher values of appreciation for food preservation. The use of chemical-based food coatings was eliminated and the generation of hazardous wastes was minimized throughout the process, which is in line with the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry. Since the alternative coating gel is sustainable at a cheaper price, the commercial value of coated fresh foods will increase as the shelf life is lengthened at lower investment.

The published full research article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131201 

Free access until 30 May 2024

https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1ivGHWFfgwzPV

	Chew Zhi Ling: “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Kua Yin Leng for her guidance during the project execution. I am also thankful for the continuous support from all the collaborators and funding agencies. I hope this research article provides valuable insights to readers on the potential future of this well-characterized and tunable durian seed-derived eutectogel in various sectors.”
	Koh Qi Qi: “Above all, I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to my esteemed mentor, Dr. Kua, whose unwavering support, remarkable patience, generous time investment, and insightful guidance have been pivotal in steering me towards the successful culmination of this research endeavor. Furthermore, I extend my profound indebtedness to my cherished family and friends, whose unswerving encouragement has been a wellspring of motivation throughout this scholarly journey.”
	Chu Eng Eng: “Hereby I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my honourable supervisor, Dr. Kua Yin Leng for providing a valuable opportunity to be involved in this research paper and contributed as a co-author. Besides, special thanks to my fellow co-authors for their boundless patience and endless support for my final year research project.”
	Dr. Kua Yin Leng is an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at Xiamen University Malaysia. She previously worked as an Engineer in inorganic coating and electroplating plants at Shin-Etsu Chemical company after earning her MEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nottingham Malaysia in 2011. Her research spans natural deep eutectic solvents, food waste valorization, phytonutrients extraction, food fortification and oils and fats technology.