UTP's water cube back in global race

The Star

25-05-2025

WINNING an award for their water purification innovation three years ago turned out to be just the beginning for a group of students.
Determined to take their project further, the winners of the 'RAPID Award' at the 2022 ChemE Cube Competition in Arizona, United States, entered it in another competition last year.
Their enterprising spirit was recently rewarded when they were named the National Winner for Malaysia at the 2024 Energy Globe Award.
The team's 'ShuiNew' water purification innovation.
Calling themselves the Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) ChemE Cube Team, the group of six comprises Poh Ching Hong (team lead), Kenneth Chong Yih Haur, Foo Jia Wen, Yap Wei Cheng, Liew Lih Xua and Low Chen Khang – all 24-year-old undergraduates pursuing engineering degrees at UTP in various disciplines, namely chemical, electrical and electronics, and mechanical engineering.
According to Chong, the Energy Globe National Awards were presented at the country level across more than 180 participating nations.
'The best projects from each country will be nominated for the Energy Globe World Award soon,' he told StarEdu.
Having received the national award on Feb 4, Chong expressed his team's hope of being nominated for the international stage in Austria.
'If we win at the international level, it can assist us in seeking funding opportunities for small-scale production,' he said.
Describing his team's 'ShuiNew' innovation as compact and cost-effective, Chong said the water purification device is designed to tackle clean water challenges in developing regions.
'This one-cubic-foot setup utilises chlorination, coconut shell-based activated carbon adsorption, and ceramic membrane separation to remove up to 99.99% of chlorine, bacteria and viruses – providing a sustainable and accessible solution for communities lacking safe drinking water,' he said.
He added that the system aims to purify at least 25 litres of surface water per day and meet the required drinking water standards at low cost.
'We came up with this idea considering that in Malaysia, access to clean water is still inconsistent and limited, especially in rural areas.
'As ShuiNew is portable, it uses lower energy input, resulting in significantly lower manufacturing costs compared to existing solutions. Consequently, it is more affordable,' he explained.
Chong shared that their latest recognition at the Energy Globe Award further validates its potential global impact.
'It gives us the motivation to work harder to contribute to the community in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation),' he said.
He shared that the team is actively looking for partners who can help to refine the product, and further develop and commercialise the system.
'The advantage of the system is that it is modular, allowing for more flexibility and scalability, instead of requiring a scale-up from a small prototype, which is often more challenging from an engineering perspective,' he said.
To students looking to develop impactful innovations, Chong had this to say: 'Don't be afraid to take on challenges, especially as engineers are often required to solve problems innovatively.
'Having supportive teammates can help delegate tasks and solve problems together.'
He also said having supportive advisers is just as crucial, adding that his team was under the guidance of the then-UTP lecturer Dr Chuah Chong Yang.
'We'd also like to acknowledge the UTP Centre for Student Development for providing financial support for the construction of the cube, as well as the UTP Robotics Society (Petrobots) for the workspace and tools,' he said.
Urging students to participate in science, technology and innovation competitions, he said it is necessary to stay informed about recent advancements.
'We hope that our achievement will motivate younger students to participate in such competitions,' he said.
Held annually since 2000, the Energy Globe Award is presented by the nonprofit Energy Globe Organization based in Austria. Its aim is to highlight outstanding sustainable and impactful solutions addressing global environmental challenges.
Charis, 22, a student in Kuala Lumpur, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star's Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
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