随着本港环保意识日渐提高，公众对食物浪费情况愈来愈关注，因而产生对厨余回收、循环再用的需求。大量厨余若未能适当处理，则对环境造成污染。厨余与污泥透过「共厌氧消化」可产生沼气，惟需密切监察消化过程中的生物活性，确保产生生物气的同时，「厌氧消化」亦能顺利进行。香港都会大学（都大）科技学院设计「微流控监测装置」，能实时监测「厌氧消化」的活性，了解厨余对污泥「厌氧消化」的影响，从而提高垃圾分解效率，并产生可再生能源，实践转废为能。
根据环保署的资料，香港现时大部分厨余会连同其他都市固体废物一起被弃置于堆填区。而在2020年，香港每日约有10,809公吨都市固体废物被弃置于堆填区，厨余占当中约三成。政府早前推行「厨余、污泥共厌氧消化」试验计划，把厨余与处理污水时产生的污泥一并进行「厌氧消化」，即于缺氧情况下以微生物消化及分解垃圾，这技术已成功应用于海外不同国家，能有效处理厨余和污泥，在减少垃圾量的同时，亦会产生生物气，可用作制造电能和热能，再转化为电力使用。
都大科技学院助理教授陈键林博士于2021年获环境及自然保育基金资助，推展有关厨余处理的研究。过程中，他发现如大量加入厨余于「厌氧消化」系统中，将可能改变系统的酸碱值，导致系统内的微生物群落失调，难以对垃圾进行有效消化分解，影响垃圾处理成效。
有见及此，陈教授的团队利用「微流控」技术设计「微流控监测装置（microfluidics monitoring device）」，即一种配备微小管道的纤细芯片。只要于「厌氧消化」过程进行前撷取微量厨余与污泥，芯片装置即会利用内置的特殊化学染剂对「厌氧消化」中的微生物活性产生萤光反应，透过观察萤光反应的强弱变化，能即时分析厨余、污泥「共厌氧消化」的活性，实时了解微生物分解垃圾的成效。
相对现时需要在实验室进行检测，利用「微流控监测装置（microfluidics monitoring device）」能实时分析污泥与厨余的比例对「厌氧消化」活性的影响，从而更快捷省时地监察垃圾分解。
经过反复测试，研究团队发现当污泥与厨余达到一定比例时，厨余能最有效协助污泥进行「厌氧消化」，达致最佳的垃圾处理效果。对比单独对污泥进行「厌氧消化」，加入厨余与污泥共同「厌氧消化」能释出更多沼气，加以回收及转化便能制造更多电力。
陈教授认为，此项研究有助提高厨余处理的稳定性和产生可再生能源的效率。他指：「研究结果反映微流控技术在实时监测厌氧消化过程的应用潜力，例如本研究的厨余、污泥『共厌氧消化』的生物活性监测，能更有效善用厨余实践转废为能。我们期望能把研究结果投入社区应用，并把『微流控』技术延伸至多个化验领域，为垃圾处理和环境保护作出贡献。」
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 |
