Ir Dr Yoon Li Wan

Ir Dr Yoon Li Wan

  • Senior Lecturer
  • Programme Leader for Bachelor of Chemical Engineering with Honours
Department of Engineering
Google Scholar ORCID Scopus ResearchGate
SDGs Focus
Clean Water and Sanitation
Responsible Consumption and Production

Biography

Ir Dr Yoon Li Wan is an experienced engineering educator with a strong commitment to education. She is a Chartered member of Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE, UK) and a Professional Engineer of the Board of Engineers Malaysia. Her research focuses on bioprocess engineering, particularly in the field of resource recovery from industrial waste/wastewater.  Dr. Yoon has received numerous awards for her contributions to research and teaching. She is also actively involved in the Palm Oil Special Interest Group in IChemE, serving as the Deputy Chief Editor in the committee. 

Academic & Professional Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Chemical Engineering, University of Malaya, Malaysia (2015)
  • Bachelor Degree in Chemical Engineering (BEng in Chemical Engineering), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia (2009)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning (PGCHeTL), Taylor’s University, Malaysia (2020)

Research Interests

  • Resource Recovery from Waste / Wastewater – Bioplastics and Bio-flocculants
  • Conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fuel source
  • Fermentation Technology

Teaching Areas

  • Biochemical Processes
  • Chemical Reaction Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering Principles

Courses Taught

  • Biochemical Processes
  • Chemical Reaction Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering Group Project I
  • Chemical Engineering Group Project II
  • Material and Energy Balance
  • Thermodynamic and Heat Transfer

Notable Publications

  1. Ng, W.L., Chua, A.S.M, Low, J.H., Yoon, L.W. (2024). Mixed culture resource recovery from industrial waste glycerin pitch: Microbial analysis and production of bio-flocculants extracellular polymeric substances. Chemical Engineering Journal, 149074. 
  2. Ng, W.L., Chua, A.S.M, Low, J.H., Yoon, L.W. (2023). Potential of using mixed culture resource recovery as a sustainable waste management strategy for industrial glycerin pitch. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 178. 
  3. Nguyen-Huynh, S.T., Chua, A.S.M., Chow, Y.H., Wong, W.Y., Yoon, L.W. (2023). Enrichment Strategies for Mixed Cultures in Valorisation of Crude Glycerol into Polyhydroxyalkanoate Bioplastics. Biochemical Processes, 200, 109086.
  4. Nalatambi, S., Oh, K.S., Yoon, L.W., Tee, L.H. (2023). Evaluation of antibacterial property and greywater treatment performance using composite chitosan/graphene oxide membrane. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 295, 127160.
  5. Teoh, S.W., Yoon, L.W., Wong W.Y., Low, J.H. (2022). Application of black liquor derived carbonaceous compound as fuel in direct carbon fuel cell. International Journal of Integrated Engineering. 14(2), 146–156.
  6. Yoon, L.W., Rafi, I.S., Ngoh, G.C. (2022). Feasibility of eliminating washing step in bioethanol production using deep eutectic solvent pretreated lignocellulosic substrate. Chemical Engineering Research and Design. 179(2022), 257 – 264.
  7. Chittella, H., Yoon, L.W., Ramarad, S., Lai, Z.-W. (2021). Rubber waste management: A review on methods, mechanism, and prospects. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 194, 109761.
  8. Nguyenhuynh, T., Yoon, L.W., Chow, Y.H., Chua, A.S.M. (2021). An insight into enrichment strategies for mixed culture in polyhydroxyalkanoate production: feedstocks, operating conditions and inherent challenges. Chemical Engineering Journal, 420.
  9. Jafri, N., Wong, W.Y., Yoon, L.W., Cheah, K.H. (2020). Pretreated mesocarp fibre biochars as carbon fuel for direct carbon fuel cells. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 46(31), 16762-16775.
  10. Yoon, L.W., Ngoh, G.C., Chua, A.S.M., Abdul Patah, M.F., Teoh, W.H. (2019). Process intensification of cellulase and bioethanol production from sugarcane bagasse via an integrated saccharification and fermentation process. Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification, 142, 107528
     

Achievements & Accolades

Projects

  1. Insights into mechanism of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) synthesis from crude glycerol: dynamics of microbial community, characterization of PHA and kinetic study
  2. Microbiome Database for Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants in Southeast Asia through ASEAN-Japan Research Consortium
  3. Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) Synthesis from Glycerol Pitch: Microbial Community, Characterization of PHA and Kinetic Studies
  4. Biodegradation of Rubber Waste: Optimization on Process Condition and Lifecycle analysis
  5. Application of Oil Palm Waste as a Fuel Source in a Direct Carbon Fuel Cell
  6. Performance Optimisation of Direct Carbon Fuel Cell Utilising Biochars as Carbon Fuels

Awards
 

  1. Top 10 finalist in ASEAN Bio circular economy (BCG) Competition, Competition, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA, Thailand), Top 10 finalist from ASEAN countries, 2023
  2. Bronze Award, International University Carnival on E-Learning (IUCEL 2023) Competition, Multidisciplinary Learning Experience: Fostering Collaborative Learning Among Engineering and Biosciences Students Through Greenwall Filtration System, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), E-learning competition award, 2023
  3. International Innovation Award, Bronze Award, in Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE), 2022. Project: Biopolymer Production from Garden Waste.
  4. POPSIG Student Research Project Bursary, Sponsored by Malaysian Palm Oil Council, 2022. Project: Valorisation of Glycerine Pitch into Bioplastic and Extracellular Polymeric Substance.
  5. Sustainable Development Goals International Innovation Awards (Gold Award), in Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE), 2021. Project: Conversion of Garden Waste into Biofuel.
  6. Sustainable Development Goals International Innovation Awards (Outstanding Innovation Award), in Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE), 2021. Project: Conversion of Garden Waste into Biofuel.
  7. Sustainable Development Goals International Innovation Awards (Silver Award), in Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE), 2021. Project: Greenwall Filtration System for Lakewater Treatment.
     

Professional Associations

  1. Individual Case Procedure (ICP) Panel Evaluator for IChemE – Evaluate  Technical Biography and Technical Report Questionnaire review for Chartered Engineer application (2021 till date).   
  2. Deputy Chief Editor for Palm Oil Special Interest Group (POPSIG), IChemE (2024)
  3. Keynote speaker, “Positioning ourselves in STEM in a rapidly changing 21st century”, Women Inclusive Network (WIN) Conference by National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India, 17/3/2023 (International). 
  4. Keynote speaker, “Enrichment strategies for Polyhydroxyalkonate (PHA) production using Crude Glycerol and Activated Sludge”, International Conference on Building Energy Conservation, Thermal Safety and Environmental Pollution Control (ICBTE 2022) by Anhui Jianzhu University, China, 11/12/2022 (International). 
  5. Guest lecturer, “Economic Potential on Plant Design”, Chemical Engineering Department of Xiamen University Malaysia, 11/5/2022 (National).