TECH OFFERS

The accelerated growth of electronic waste (e-waste) is s driven by the expanding demand for electrical and electronic equipment, fuelled by industrial revolution and digital transformation.  Current industrial practices for extracting gold from e-waste and mining ores heavily rely on highly toxic cyanide-based lixiviant or highly corrosive aqua regia. These hazardous substances pose fatal hazards to involved personnel and contribute significantly to environmental pollution. Additionally, these methods suffer from inefficiencies, such as low extraction yields and poor selectivity, which lead to the co-leaching of other toxic heavy metals, including copper, nickel, and tin. To address these challenges, the technology provider has developed and patented an innovative lixiviant that is facile, cost-effective, highly selective, safer, and efficient. This proprietary lixiviant offers exceptional gold extraction efficiency (up to 96%) and high output (≥3,000 ppm) while using less toxic alternatives to cyanide. With a low concentration of cyanide substitutes (<1,900 ppm), it operates optimally at 60°C in an alkaline environment. By generating less toxic waste and creating a healthier workplace, this technology enables companies to enhance their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts and meet Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals by integrating social and environmental considerations into their operations. The technology has undergone extensive pilot-scale evaluations with multiple companies. Since April 2023, it has been adopted by nine industry partners, demonstrating its effectiveness and practicality. The technology provider is actively seeking industry partners to test-bed the lixiviant and is open to license the technology to interested partners. High gold extraction rate (up to 96%) with a saturation concentration of ≥3,000 ppm gold High gold selectivity (up to 97%) Low concentration of cyanide alternatives (<1,900 ppm) stabilized in alkaline environment of pH 13-14 Non-fuming and extracts optimally at 60°C Allows high purity gold to be recovered via chemical reduction upon saturation Electronic wastes, such as gold-coated printed circuit boards, connectors, CPUs, etc. Jewellery containing gold Precious metal recovery Gold-coated solid According to the United Nation (UN), each person will produce an average of 7.6 kg of e-waste in 2021, generating 57.4 million tonnes of e-waste worldwide (WEEE Forum, 2021), in which considerable amount of gold can be potentially recovered. In recent years, many countries have mandated environmental responsibilities to electronic manufacturers to establish producer recycling programs and ban e-waste disposal into landfills. With the growing amount of electronic waste around the world following digitization, there is a pressing need for effective technologies to extract and recover gold from gold-coated electronic waste safely and efficiently. This demand is driven by increasing global regulations that mandates the recycling of electronic waste, a significant source of secondary gold, to reduce the environmental impact of traditional gold mining. Safer and less hazardous lixiviant for gold extraction, thus improving workplace safety and health Lixiviant can be directly employed in existing operating line Extract ≥3,000 ppm gold with up to 96% extraction rate Cost effectiveness (≤ 2.23 USD/L) Less hazardous waste produced for easier downstream waste treatment Gold, e-waste, leaching, precious metal extraction, hydrometallurgy, recycling Chemicals, Organic, Waste Management & Recycling, Industrial Waste Management

In recent years, particularly after the pandemic, the demand for effective antibacterial and antiviral solutions has surged. These solutions are increasingly utilized in diverse settings, including residential spaces, educational institutions, public areas, and transportation systems. Thus, it is anticipated that the demand for antimicrobial and antiviral products will continue to grow. Despite their utility, traditional antimicrobial and antiviral technologies have notable limitations. Copper, for example, offers a strong immediate antimicrobial effect but suffers from reduced durability due to oxidation and is effective only within a limited range. Silver ions are more durable and applicable to a wider range of surfaces but lack the immediate efficacy of copper. Photocatalysts, while more durable than both copper and silver, are heavily dependent on the availability of a suitable light source. These challenges underscore the need for a technology that is fast-acting, durable, and versatile across various environments. To address these challenges, the technology owner has developed a hybrid photocatalytic film with enhanced antibacterial and antiviral properties. This solution combines the photocatalytic activity of copper suboxide and titanium dioxide with visible light responsiveness to effectively denature membrane proteins on virus surfaces, thereby reducing their infectivity.  Additionally, the technology incorporates a film-based manufacturing process, providing a more efficient alternative to traditional paint-based approaches. The technology owner is actively seeking R&D collaborations and licensing opportunities with industry partners interested in implementing this film in various applications. The technical features and specifications are listed as follows: Dual Antiviral Effects: Antibacterial effect by copper suboxide and photocatalytic effect by visible light of copper suboxide-supported carrier (titanium dioxide) Reduces Infectivity: Denatures membrane proteins on virus surfaces, significantly lowering their infectivity Visible Light Activation: Functions effectively under visible light (including ultraviolet rays), ensuring antiviral performance even indoors Superior Performance: Provides immediate antiviral effects and exceptional durability, outperforming traditional technologies Transparent Design: A thin film preserves the original appearance of the underlying material Shorter Construction Time: It eliminates the need for on-site formulation, curing, odor control, drying, and coating management of paints Versatile Application: Compatible with a wide range of substrates, enabling broad use across various settings This film is designed for a wide range of products and applications, particularly those requiring high hygiene requirements. Key applications include: Home Appliances: Lighting fixtures, ventilation fans, furniture, and other household equipment Public Spaces: Frequently touched surfaces such as elevator buttons, door handles, etc. Medical and Healthcare Facilities: Hospital trays, walkers, toilet handles, etc. Effective in Light and Darkness: Suppresses bacteria and viruses even in the absence of light Continuous Hygiene Maintenance: Keeps surfaces consistently hygienic, reducing the need for frequent cleaning with alcohol and other disinfectants Aesthetic Preservation: Retains the original appearance and design of the surface or space where it is applied antibacterial, antiviral, Film, photocatalyst, cuprous oxide, visible light Materials, Composites, Chemicals, Coatings & Paints, Environment, Clean Air & Water, Sanitisation, Green Building, Indoor Environment Quality

Industries involved in dehydration processes often face significant challenges, including high energy consumption, excessive water usage, and limited capacity to recover waste heat efficiently. These inefficiencies lead to increased operational costs, wasted resources, and a substantial environmental footprint, including higher carbon emissions and water wastage.  This technology offers an innovative solution to these challenges by utilizing specially engineered membranes to condense water vapor from hot and humid air or gas streams. This process not only produces high-quality liquid water for reuse but also dehumidifies and cools the gas stream, which can be recirculated to absorb low-grade heat for further material dehydration. By integrating membrane condensers into industrial operations, companies can improve energy and water efficiency, recover valuable resources, reduce cooling water needs, and minimize emissions and environmental impact. With applications spanning HVAC, food drying, ingredient concentration, desalination, and wastewater treatment, this versatile technology enables industries to lower costs while achieving more sustainable and eco-friendly operations.  The tech owner seeks industrial partners for test-bedding and potential adoption of their proprietary technology, particularly in sectors like F&B, laundry, commercial buildings, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, energy, wastewater treatment, or any industries using water-cooling or air-drying processes.  The membrane condenser technology features a core component of hollow fiber gas separation membranes, housed within a large module. These membranes, made from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), are semi-permeable and hydrophobic, offering long-lasting hydrophobicity, sustainable high flux, high mechanical strength, and the ability to operate across a wide temperature range. The system functions by integrating the membrane module with auxiliary equipment such as evaporators or dryers, heat exchangers, blowers or heat pumps, pipelines, and instrumentation control systems. This modular and versatile design allows for seamless integration into various industrial processes, particularly in sectors such as petrochemical, chemical, pharmaceutical, energy, food and beverage, and wastewater treatment. Waste Heat Recovery: Substitute or complement cooling systems in industries like petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food processing, semiconductors, power stations, and HVAC, enabling efficient heat recovery with heat exchangers. Drying and Dehydration: Enhance energy efficiency in drying processes, improve food quality by preserving flavor, nutrients, and hygiene with lower temperatures and a closed-loop system, and reduce oxidative damage. Water Recovery: Reclaim clean water for reuse in industrial processes, increasing sustainability. Sludge Drying: Prevent air pollution and odors with an enclosed system that eliminates air emission discharge. Wastewater Treatment: Enable cost-effective Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) or Minimum Liquid Discharge (MLD) by utilizing waste heat for high energy and water efficiency. Higher energy efficiency: Effectively recovers waste heat and reduces energy consumption, optimizing resource usage in industrial processes. Lower water consumption: Reclaims water from humid gas streams, minimizing reliance on fresh water and reducing overall water usage. Modularity for retrofitting: Its modular design allows seamless integration with existing systems, simplifying upgrades and enhancing process efficiency. Lower maintenance downtime: With fewer mechanical components, the system requires less frequent maintenance, ensuring uninterrupted operations. Reduced environmental impact: Decreases vapor and heat emissions, contributing to sustainability and lowering the carbon footprint. Lower operating costs: Achieves significant cost savings by combining energy efficiency and water reclamation to reduce operational expenses. Energy, Waste-to-Energy, Sustainability, Low Carbon Economy

The cement industry faces significant challenges, including durability issues, high CO₂ emissions (up to 8% of global emissions), and costly maintenance, particularly in harsh environments like marine and industrial settings. Infrastructure in such conditions suffers a 20-40% reduction in service life, contributing to over $100 billion in annual global repair costs. Addressing these issues, a nanotechnology platform has been developed to create next-generation green cements. These cements utilize nano-engineering and low-energy geo-engineering, converting waste and low-value materials into sustainable, high-performance solutions.  Products:  Type A: Geopolymeric Mortar for Repair and Protection  Crack repair, surface protection and insulation panels. High compressive strength, 2x lifespan of traditional cement, fire resistant and impermeable to water/chemicals. Type B: Eco-cement Marine ecosystems, precast blocks and reef regeneration. High compressive strength, marine compatible and captures CO2. Both cements are VOC free, recyclable, and suitable for extreme environments. Next-gen developments include lightweight, CO2-capturing, and sensor integrated materials, advancing sustainable construction.  The technology owner is seeking collaboration opportunities with cement manufacturers for co-pilot testing, R&D co-development, or technology licensing partnerships, aiming to revolutionize the cement industry through innovative, sustainable solutions.   The nanotechnology platform uses low-energy geo-engineering processes, primarily at room temperature, incorporating minerals, inorganic chemicals, and nanomaterials as needed as nano-engineered activators and additives. It transforms waste, by-products, and low-value materials into next-generation green cements, combining high performance, durability, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability across diverse conditions, from marine to industrial environments, including those impacted by climate change. The nanotechnology platform provides local and regional solutions for a sustainable and resilient built environment. This offers and enables our partners and customers with innovative green cements and green cement-based products, including adhesives, cements, mortars, fine concrete, blocks, bricks, and panels. These products are sustainable, durable, high-performance, cost-effective, and capable of combining advanced properties and diverse performance characteristics. Concrete Repair: High-performance mortars for repairing cracks and spalling in concrete, extending structural life. Surface Protection: Advanced coatings and solutions for protecting and rejuvenating concrete structures. Thermal Insulation: Panels with low thermal conductivity and high waterproofing for energy-efficient buildings. Marine Applications: Cement-free concrete for coastal protection, reef regeneration, and marine infrastructure. Sustainable Construction: Eco-friendly blocks, bricks, and panels for durable, low-carbon building project. Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM): $250M in building materials, specialty chemicals, concrete repair, waterproofing, adhesives, and grouts. High-Performance Green Cement: SOM of $50M, emphasizing cost-effective and high-performance solutions. Additional Revenue Stream: From waste generators for recycling or upcycling.  The technology delivers unparalleled sustainability and performance, offering ultra-low CO₂ footprints (60–90% reduction compared to traditional cement) and significantly high recyclability. It transforms waste and industrial by-products into high-performance materials, addressing waste management challenges and supporting a circular economy. The materials are multifunctional, providing structural performance, thermal insulation, CO₂ capture, chemical and water resistance, and Euroclass A1 fire resistance. They cater to a wide range of applications, including adhesives, coatings, and prefabricated panels, suitable for both new construction and repair projects in extreme environments such as marine and industrial settings. Combining cost-effectiveness with superior durability, this technology offers a practical solution for sustainability-focused projects, aligning with global trends and regulatory goals like net-zero emissions. It redefines construction materials by integrating sustainability, multifunctionality, and competitive cost, setting a new industry benchmark. Construction and building materials, green cement, low-carbon and eco friendly solutions Waste Management & Recycling, Industrial Waste Management, Sustainability, Low Carbon Economy

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have developed new expectations for indoor air quality. It is no longer just about ventilation and purification, but also about providing clean and safe air for a healthier environment. Traditional UVC technology (254 nm) has been widely used in HVAC systems and air purifiers to disinfect airborne pathogens. To ensure its effectiveness, sufficient contact time is required, hence it is often used in unoccupied spaces due to safety concerns.  This solution utilises human-safe 222 nm far-UVC technology which has been shown to be able to effectively inactivate airborne pathogens while maintaining safety since it does not penetrate the outer layer of human skin or eyes. This allows for continuous disinfection of air in occupied spaces. By integrating 222 nm far-UVC technology into HVAC system, including air purification, air monitoring and IoT management platforms, the company offers a complete solution for clean and safe air. With integrated capabilities in both R&D and manufacturing, the company can provide tailor-made solutions for different industry applications. They are seeking collaborations with real estate developers, chain restaurant operators and pathogenic air sampling technology experts to further develop and commercialise this solution. Human-safe 222 nm Far-UVC: An effective and direct disinfection technology, 24x7, no downtime   Green Technology: No chemicals, no mercury, and ozone free Air Quality Monitoring: Multiple sensors IAQ control system New Fresh Air System: Does not rely on fresh air ventilation   Smart IoT System: Enable optimisation of air purification effectiveness and energy efficiency  Reduce Carbon Emission:  Green technology, energy saving This solution could be deployed across various industries, including, but not limited to: Commercial/Residential Complexes Hospitals Hotels and Hospitality Educational Institutions F&B and Catering Operators Indoor Recreational Facilities In addition to indoor occupied spaces, the solution is also applicable in sectors such as the food industry, cold chain, and logistics centres, where secondary pollutants are the major sources of contamination. With the ability to achieve higher number of equivalent air changes, the utilisation of far-UVC for air disinfection offers a more cost effective and energy saving solution for indoor air quality control as compared to traditional air purification methods and reliance on ventilation.  222nm, far-uvc, iaq, covid, flu Green Building, Heating, Ventilation & Air-conditioning, Indoor Environment Quality, Sustainability, Sustainable Living

The leather industry, long dependent on livestock farming, is facing growing criticism for its significant environmental impact. Leather production contributes to deforestation, high water consumption, and the release of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—from livestock farming. Additionally, the tanning and dyeing processes generate hazardous waste and chemicals, leading to air and water pollution. While synthetic leather offers an animal-free alternative, it relies heavily on petroleum-based plastics like polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which contribute to microplastic pollution and rely on finite fossil fuel resources. Meanwhile, large quantities of agricultural waste, such as cocoa shells, mangosteen peels, and durian fibers, often end up in landfills, where they release methane as they decompose, further exacerbating environmental concerns. This technology transforms agricultural waste into a sustainable, plant-based leather alternative that addresses both environmental sustainability and the rising demand for animal-free products. By utilizing discarded cocoa shells, along with mangosteen peels and durian fibers, it offers several benefits. The natural fibers from durian provide antibacterial properties, making it ideal for products like shoes, bags, and jackets prone to bacterial buildup. Additionally, the production process emits fewer greenhouse gases, consumes less water, and repurposes agricultural waste, aligning with circular economy principles. This eco-friendly material is biodegradable and designed for recycling, offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional and synthetic leathers. The technology owner is looking for collaborations with textile/furniture companies that focuses on sustainability.  Plant-Based Vegan Leather Synthesis Innovation Raw Materials: Cocoa shells, mangosteen peels, durian fibers, and other fruit peels are used as primary materials. Agricultural waste is ground into fine particles for the production process. Formulation: Materials are mixed with research-specific binding agents to create a plant-based leather precursor. Formulations and ratios are designed to ensure proper texture, elasticity, and durability. Production Process: The mixture is spun and poured into custom-designed moulds. A specialized resin coating is applied to achieve the desired thickness (approximately 0.8 mm). The material is then placed in a drying oven to remove moisture. Post-Processing: The vegan leather is cleaned and inspected for quality, including surface texture, flexibility, and durability. Testing: The material undergoes rigorous testing for surface testing, flexibility, durability and functionality. The production process for plant-based leather emits fewer greenhouse gases and consumes less water and natural resources. Here are the potential applications, but not limited to: Fashion: Handbags, belts, outerwear and clothing Upholstery and Interior Design: Furniture coverings and automotive interiors Footwear: Sustainable anti-bacterial footwear Sports equipment: Vegan leather alternatives for sports gear – gloves or protective wear   Eco-friendly and Sustainable: Made from agricultural by-products (e.g., cocoa husks, mangosteen peels), reducing waste and lowering the carbon footprint compared to animal leather and plastic alternatives. Cruelty-free and Ethical: Derived from plants, offering a humane alternative to animal leather, appealing to the growing demand for cruelty-free products. Reduced Resource Usage: Requires less water, energy, and chemicals than traditional leather production, minimizing harmful pollutants like heavy metals. Biodegradable: More likely to break down naturally over time, reducing long-term waste compared to synthetic leather made from PVC or other plastics. Versatile and High-Quality: Can mimic the look and feel of traditional leather, customizable in texture, colour, and finish, suitable for fashion, accessories, and automotive interiors. Market Differentiation: Meets the growing demand for sustainable, vegan products, helping brands differentiate with eco-conscious, ethical offerings. sustainable materials, vegan leather, plant-bsaed leather, cocoa shell leather, durian fibre leather, eco-friendly fashion, biodegradeable materials, leather alternatives, low environmental impact Sustainability, Circular Economy, Sustainable Living

The rise in plastic pollution globally is driving a critical need for sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic in packaging. Traditional plastic-based packaging materials contribute significantly to environmental degradation, as they are non-biodegradable and create long-lasting waste. This technology offers a sustainable and eco-friendly solution through a fully biodegradable coating for paper packaging. The coating enhances the barrier properties of paper, enabling it to resist water, grease, and oxygen, making it an ideal replacement for single-use plastic in applications such as packaging and food containers. Not only does the coating maintain recyclability and biodegradability, but it is also compatible with existing manufacturing equipment and can be applied either before or after printing, minimising disruption to current production processes. The technology owner is interested to work on joint R&D opportunities with packaging companies and businesses focused on sustainable solutions for consumer goods. This technology is a proprietary coating formulation that can be applied to paper and fully biodegradable. Some features of the coating include: Enhances paper barrier properties against moisture, grease, and oxygen Food-grade (FDA approved) Fully recyclable and biodegrades in 180 days Scalable and compatible with existing manufacturing processes such as silk screen, rotogravure and flexography Can be applied before or after printing Thermally cured at 120 °C for 30 seconds Improves mechanical properties of pure paper This technology is suitable for a wide range of industries, including food and beverage packaging (such as cups, containers, and wrappers), cosmetics (biodegradable packaging for beauty products), and general consumer goods packaging. It serves as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic-based barriers, providing an eco-friendly solution that meets the increasing consumer demand for environmentally conscious products. Environmentally sustainable as it provides the same protective qualities as synthetic plastic, with the added benefits of full biodegradability and recyclability Cost-effective coating solution Scalable solutions as it is compatible with existing production processes for application sustainable packaging, biodegradable coating, coating, greaseproof, oilproof, waterproof, circular economy, food packaging, paper packaging, eco-friendly, recycling, recylability, plastic alternative Chemicals, Coatings & Paints, Inorganic, Foods, Packaging & Storage, Sustainability, Circular Economy

Microplastics contamination in the natural water bodies, which are resulted from disintegration from plastic waste, has raised public concern due to high level of fragmentation and disturbance in ecosystem. Every year, 11 million metric tons of plastics enter our ocean on top of the estimated 200 million metric tons that currently circulate our marine environments. This technology is a 'smart fish' that will be deployed in water bodies to allow for autonomous sampling using remote sensing and GPS technology, real-time detection of contaminants and a contaminant treatment unit to mitigate microplastic contamination. The prototype is currently employed in project to provide real-time sampling, detection and characterization of microplastics and aircraft tire wear particles in coastal areas of Lantau Island near Hong Kong International Airport. This prototype includes the following components: Sampling unit Filtration unit which uses a stainless steel membrane Two staining chambers for microplastics and aircraft tire wear particles Image capturing system for quantification of microplastics User-friendly mobile app to visualize the real-time data Treatment unit to breakdown microplastics and aircraft tire wear particles through an oxidation process Waste tank to store residual waste which will be removed when the smart fish returns to base The operation of the prototype will be controlled by computer programmes. Solar panels will be installed on top of the prototype for sustainable energy production and consumption. The potential applications include environmental monitoring, where the technology can be used to quickly and accurately detect microplastics in oceans, rivers, lakes, and drinking water sources. This helps track pollution levels and identify contaminated areas. For marine life protection, detecting microplastics in water helps in understanding the scale of pollution affecting marine ecosystems. Conservationists can use this technology to monitor the impact of plastic on marine organisms and habitats. In industries that manufacture or use plastics, the technology can be utilized to monitor production processes, ensuring minimal microplastic leakage into the environment. Traditional microplastic detection methods often require complex laboratory equipment such as infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopes, or filtration techniques, which are time-consuming and require samples to be sent to labs. This technology, which uses a proprietary staining method for microplastic detection enables real-time on-site detection, eliminating the need for specialized labs and reducing turnaround time for results. Smart Fish, Aircraft Tire Wear Particles, Real-Time Microplastic Detection Environment, Clean Air & Water, Sensor, Network, Monitoring & Quality Control Systems

Harmful algal bloom (HAB) releases toxins that can contaminate drinking water, causing illness for animals and humans. The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) estimated that the annual economic impact of HABs in the US is $10-100 million. Physical and chemical methods can be employed to deal with these, but they have several limitations. This technology is a 3D structure environmental friendly silica-based hydrogel, which has long-term effect on algal bloom control as well as pathogen control. It is capable of long-acting sustained release and precision dosing. This allows it to effectively replace the existing heavy metal algaecides on the market and solve the problem of indiscriminate dosing of algaecides, antibiotics and other additives in aquaculture. This in turn reduces the amount of drug residues and heavy metal accumulation of the aquatic end-products. Beyond aquaculture, this technology is also applicable for ensuring the health of ornamental aquariums, such as infection of pathogens as well as preventing algal bloom in natural water bodies. This technology consists of a novel composite material with algicidal effects and a real-time monitoring system. Novel Composite Material Sustained release effect which releases active ingredients into water for more than one month (customizable) Comparable algicidal rate with best-performing commercially available algaecides Silica-based porous material No harmful residues, broken down into sand at the end of its life cycle Does not contain heavy metals or antibiotics Real time monitoring system Real-time data on residual chlorine, temperature and pH Modifiable based on application scenario The technology has been employed for water quality maintenance in salt water reservoirs, large scale shrimp and fish ponds, and also for domestic applications in aquarium water quality. In general, it can be used in urban and rural water bodies, fish tanks, swimming pool or seafood restaurants. The estimated market size for solutions dealing with HABs is 68.56 US Billion. This breakthrough technology suitable for the aquaculture industry, aquarium industry and natural water protection area is poised to disrupt this industry. Current methods of algal bloom treatment: Most commercially available algicides only last 1-3 days Natural water bodies employ engineering methods that are costly and require a long time to take effect Home-based aquariums have to perform water changes, which takes time and may harm the fish The aquaculture industry uses algaecides that contain heavy metals and antibiotics, which leave toxic residues in the fish This technology: Provides long acting sustained release and precise dosing to save time, manpower and cost Contains environmentally friendly materials not harmful to marine life and marine ecosystem Can be used as a preventive measure rather than curative Incorporates digitized management to reduce manpower requirements Algal Bloom Control, Algicide, Long-term effect, Environmentally friendly Environment, Clean Air & Water, Biological & Chemical Treatment, Sensor, Network, Monitoring & Quality Control Systems