隨著本港環保意識日漸提高，公眾對食物浪費情況愈來愈關注，因而產生對廚餘回收、循環再用的需求。大量廚餘若未能適當處理，則對環境造成污染。廚餘與污泥透過「共厭氧消化」可產生沼氣，惟需密切監察消化過程中的生物活性，確保產生生物氣的同時，「厭氧消化」亦能順利進行。香港都會大學（都大）科技學院設計「微流控監測裝置」，能實時監測「厭氧消化」的活性，了解廚餘對污泥「厭氧消化」的影響，從而提高垃圾分解效率，並產生可再生能源，實踐轉廢為能。
根據環保署的資料，香港現時大部分廚餘會連同其他都市固體廢物一起被棄置於堆填區。而在2020年，香港每日約有10,809公噸都市固體廢物被棄置於堆填區，廚餘佔當中約三成。政府早前推行「廚餘、污泥共厭氧消化」試驗計劃，把廚餘與處理污水時產生的污泥一併進行「厭氧消化」，即於缺氧情況下以微生物消化及分解垃圾，這技術已成功應用於海外不同國家，能有效處理廚餘和污泥，在減少垃圾量的同時，亦會產生生物氣，可用作製造電能和熱能，再轉化為電力使用。
都大科技學院助理教授陳鍵林博士於2021年獲環境及自然保育基金資助，推展有關廚餘處理的研究。過程中，他發現如大量加入廚餘於「厭氧消化」系統中，將可能改變系統的酸鹼值，導致系統內的微生物群落失調，難以對垃圾進行有效消化分解，影響垃圾處理成效。
有見及此，陳教授的團隊利用「微流控」技術設計「微流控監測裝置（microfluidics monitoring device）」，即一種配備微小管道的纖細芯片。只要於「厭氧消化」過程進行前擷取微量廚餘與污泥，芯片裝置即會利用內置的特殊化學染劑對「厭氧消化」中的微生物活性產生螢光反應，透過觀察螢光反應的強弱變化，能即時分析廚餘、污泥「共厭氧消化」的活性，實時了解微生物分解垃圾的成效。
相對現時需要在實驗室進行檢測，利用「微流控監測裝置（microfluidics monitoring device）」能實時分析污泥與廚餘的比例對「厭氧消化」活性的影響，從而更快捷省時地監察垃圾分解。
經過反覆測試，研究團隊發現當污泥與廚餘達到一定比例時，廚餘能最有效協助污泥進行「厭氧消化」，達致最佳的垃圾處理效果。對比單獨對污泥進行「厭氧消化」，加入廚餘與污泥共同「厭氧消化」能釋出更多沼氣，加以回收及轉化便能製造更多電力。
陳教授認為，此項研究有助提高廚餘處理的穩定性和產生可再生能源的效率。他指：「研究結果反映微流控技術在實時監測厭氧消化過程的應用潛力，例如本研究的廚餘、污泥『共厭氧消化』的生物活性監測，能更有效善用廚餘實踐轉廢為能。我們期望能把研究結果投入社區應用，並把『微流控』技術延伸至多個化驗領域，為垃圾處理和環境保護作出貢獻。」
Jonathan handles all external affairs include business development, patents write up and public relations. He is frequently interviewed by media and is considered a pioneer in 3D printing products.
After graduating from OUHK, Krutz obtained an M.Sc. in Engineering Management from CityU. He is now completing his second master degree, M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering, at CUHK. Krutz has a wide range of working experience. He has been with Siemens, VTech, and PCCW.
Hugo Leung Wai-yin, who graduated from his four-year programme in 2015, won the Best Paper Award for his ‘intelligent pill-dispenser’ design at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering’s International Conference on Consumer Electronics – China 2015.
The pill-dispenser alerts patients via sound and LED flashes to pre-set dosage and time intervals. Unlike units currently on the market, Hugo’s design connects to any mobile phone globally. In explaining how it works, he said: ‘There are three layers in the portable pillbox. The lowest level is a controller with various devices which can be connected to mobile phones in remote locations. Patients are alerted by a sound alarm and flashes. Should they fail to follow their prescribed regime, data can be sent via SMS to relatives and friends for follow up.’ The pill-dispenser has four medicine slots, plus a back-up with a LED alert, topped by a 500ml water bottle. It took Hugo three months of research and coding to complete his design, but he feels it was worth all his time and effort.
Hugo’s public examination results were disappointing and he was at a loss about his future before enrolling at the OUHK, which he now realizes was a major turning point in his life. He is grateful for the OUHK’s learning environment, its industry links and the positive guidance and encouragement from his teachers. The University is now exploring the commercial potential of his design with a pharmaceutical company. He hopes that this will benefit the elderly and chronically ill, as well as the society at large.
Soon after completing his studies, Hugo joined an automation technology company as an assistant engineer. He is responsible for the design and development of automation devices. The target is to minimize human labor and increase the quality of products. He is developing products which are used in various sections, including healthcare, manufacturing and consumer electronics.
| Course Code | Title | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMP S321F | Advanced Database and Data Warehousing | 5 | |
| COMP S333F | Advanced Programming and AI Algorithms | 5 | |
| COMP S351F | Software Project Management | 5 | |
| COMP S362F | Concurrent and Network Programming | 5 | |
| COMP S363F | Distributed Systems and Parallel Computing | 5 | |
| COMP S382F | Data Mining and Analytics | 5 | |
| COMP S390F | Creative Programming for Games | 5 | |
| COMP S492F | Machine Learning | 5 | |
| ELEC S305F | Computer Networking | 5 | |
| ELEC S348F | IOT Security | 5 | |
| ELEC S371F | Digital Forensics | 5 | |
| ELEC S431F | Blockchain Technologies | 5 | |
| ELEC S425F | Computer and Network Security | 5 |
| Course Code | Title | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELEC S201F | Basic Electronics | 5 | |
| IT S290F | Human Computer Interaction & User Experience Design | 5 | |
| STAT S251F | Statistical Data Analysis | 5 |
| Course Code | Title | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMPS333F | Advanced Programming and AI Algorithms | 5 | |
| COMPS362F | Concurrent and Network Programming | 5 | |
| COMPS363F | Distributed Systems and Parallel Computing | 5 | |
| COMPS380F | Web Applications: Design and Development | 5 | |
| COMPS381F | Server-side Technologies and Cloud Computing | 5 | |
| COMPS382F | Data Mining and Analytics | 5 | |
| COMPS390F | Creative Programming for Games | 5 | |
| COMPS413F | Application Design and Development for Mobile Devices | 5 | |
| COMPS492F | Machine Learning | 5 | |
| ELECS305F | Computer Networking | 5 | |
| ELECS363F | Advanced Computer Design | 5 | |
| ELECS425F | Computer and Network Security | 5 |
