BIOGRAPHY

Yin Leng, Kua is currently an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University Malaysia. Back in the year of 2012, she worked as an engineer in the industry of inorganic coating and electroplating on rare-earth magnets with Shin-Etsu after she completed her undergraduate master degree from the University of Nottingham Malaysia. Dr. Kua is currently teaching Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering II, Oils and Fats Technology and Bakery Engineering. She also contributes to the supervision of final year capstone design and research projects for the program of Chemical Engineering as well as New Energy Science and Engineering.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Natural deep eutectic solvents, food waste valorisation, palm-based phytonutrients, green extraction process, food fortification technology, oils and fats technology

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

• PhD (Chemical Engineering), Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia (2017)

• MEng (Chemical Engineering), Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia (2011)

WORKING EXPERIENCE

• Engineering Consultant, BioLoop Sdn. Bhd. (2023)

• Lecturer, School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University Malaysia (2018-2019)

• Research Assistant, Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia (2014-2017)

• Project/Production/Process Engineer, Department of Engineering 3, Shin-Etsu (M) Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia (2012-2013)

RESEARCH GRANTS (as Principal Investigator)

1. Novel formulation using durian seed and black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), XMUM Research Fund 2023 Cycle 12 (XMUMRF/2023-C12/IENG/0058), RM 60,000 – on-going

2. Tuning fortified eutectogel using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES): Oil palm leaf extract in durian seed gum, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) (FRGS/1/2021/TK0/XMU/02/2), RM 140,500 – KPI achieved

3. Fractionation of oil and protein from black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), BioLoop Sdn. Bhd. (EENG0041), RM 7,000 – KPI achieved

4. Formulation of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent to Extract Phytonutrients from Food Wastes, XMUM Research Fund 2019 Cycle 3 (XMUMRF/2019-C3/IENG/0010), RM 60,000 – KPI achieved

PUBLICATIONS (non-paid, sole corresponding author)

1. Qi Qi Koh, Zhi Ling Chew, Yingzhan Zhao, Yin Leng Kua*  , Suyin Gan, Khang Wei Tan, Terri Zhuan Ean Lee, Harrison Lik Nang Lau (2024). Fiormulation and characterization of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) for simultaneous phenolics and carotenes extraction from fresh oil palm leaf, Food and Bioproducts Processing, 147, 459-473. (SCI Q1)

2. Zhi Ling Chew, Qi Qi Koh, Eng Eng Chu, Yin Leng Kua*  , Suyin Gan, Khang Wei Tan, Terri Zhuan Ean Lee (2024). Tunable durian seed gum-derived eutectogel as a novel coating material: Rheological, thermal, textural and barrier properties for enhanced food preservation, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 267(1), 131201. (SCI Q1)

3. Zhi Ling Chew, Yin Leng Kua*  , Suyin Gan, Khang Wei Tan, Terri Zhuan Ean Lee (2024). Simultaneous fractionation of low-gluten flour and gum from durian seed: Process-properties relationship, Waste and Biomass Valorization, 15, 2299 -2311. (SCI Q3)

4. Qi Qi Koh, Yin Leng Kua*  , Suyin Gan, Khang Wei Tan, Terri Zhuan Ean Lee, Wai Kit Cheng, Harrison Lik Nang Lau (2023). Sugar-based natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES): Physicochemical properties, antimicrobial activity, toxicity, biodegradability and potential use as green extraction media for phytonutrients, Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, 35, 101218. (SCI Q1)

5. Xiao Fang, Yunjia Li, Yin Leng Kua*  , Zhi Ling Chew, Suyin Gan, Khang Wei Tan, Terri Zhuan Ean Lee, Wai Kit Cheng, Harrison Lik Nang Lau (2022). Insights on the potential of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES ) to fine-tune durian seed gum for use as edible food coating. Food Hydrocolloids, 132, 1-16. (SCI Q1)

6. Yin Leng Kua*  , Suyin Gan (2019). Natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) as a greener alternative for the extraction of hydrophilic (polar) and lipophilic (non-polar) phytonutrients, Key Engineering Materials, 797, 20-28.  ( Scopus)

7. Yin Leng Kua*  , Suyin Gan, Andrew Morris, Hoon Kiat Ng (2018). Non-evaporative method to remove high boiling point solvent (ethyl lactate) from palm oil extract at atmospheric conditions, International Food Research Journal, 25, Suppl. 1 , 97-103.  (SCI Q4)

8. Yin Leng Kua  , Suyin Gan*, Andrew Morris, Hoon Kiat Ng (2018) Optimization of simultaneous carotenes and vitamin E (tocols) extraction from crude palm olein using response surface methodology, Chemical Engineering Communications, 205(5), 596-609.  (SCI Q3)

9. Yin Leng Kua  , Suyin Gan*, Andrew Morris, Hoon Kiat Ng (2018) Simultaneous recovery of carotenes and tocols from crude palm olein using ethyl lactate and ethanol, Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 989, 012005.  (Scopus)

10. Yin Leng Kua  , Suyin Gan*, Andrew Morris, Hoon Kiat Ng (2017) Liquid-liquid equilibrium data for the ternary systems of palm oil + ethyl lactate + phytonutrients (carotene and tocol) at 303.15 K, International Journal of Chemical Engineering and Applications ,  8(3)  , pp 215-220.

11. Yin Leng Kua  , Suyin Gan*, Andrew Morris, Hoon Kiat Ng (2016) A validated, rapid, simple and economical high-performance liquid-chromatography method to quantify palm tocopherol and tocotrienols, Journal of Food Composition and Analysis,  53  , 22- 29.  (SCI Q2)

12. Yin Leng Kua  , Suyin Gan*, Andrew Morris, Hoon Kiat Ng (2016) Ethyl lactate as a potential green solvent to extract hydrophilic (polar) and lipophilic (non-polar) phytonutrients simultaneously from fruit and vegetable by-products, Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, 4, 21-31.  (SCI Q1)

POSTGRADUATE SUPERVISION (as Main Supervisor)

1. Qi Qi Koh    (MEG2112001), Formulation and characterization of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) for simultaneous phenolics and carotenes extraction from fresh oil palm leaf, School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University Malaysia (2024) - completed with SCI Q2 research paper as the first author

2. Zhi Ling Chew    (MEG2205001), Formulation of eutectogel using natural deep eutectic solvent and durian seed gum for use as food coating, School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University Malaysia (2024) - completed with SCI Q1 research paper as the first author

AWARDS  & ACHIEVMENTS (official news on XMUM website)