TECHINNOVATION TECH OFFERS

A challenge faced by many chemical processing plants is the high process temperature and high energy consumption. For example, in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) production process, one of the commonly used approaches of concentrating the medicine is by evaporation. This process operates at 100°C and aims to remove 2/3 of the total amount of water from the feed solution. The main issues are: High operating temperature causing irreversible damage to the active ingredients. Taking up 75% of the overall energy consumed. 2-3 days to process one batch of the extracted liquid. Labour-intensive and hard to scale up. Furthermore, as the production is operated in batch mode, the boiler needs to be turned off and on (heating and cooling) frequently. To overcome these challenges, the membrane – pervaporation system has been developed. The operating principles have been tested at laboratory scale using actual TCM products. The operating temperature can be lowered so that the risk of damage to the active ingredients is reduced. It was computed that an energy saving of 39% can be achieved. The team that designed and developed the system is well-versed with membrane technology and is ready to transfer the know-how and knowledge. They are seeking partners to collaborate and further develop this proof-of-concept for commercial deployment, targeting applications where thermal damage to high value active ingredients are of concern.     

Routine monitoring of water quality is paramount in aquaculture operations such as Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) to ensure high productivity and high produce quality. Currently, the monitoring of microbial content in water is mostly based on visualisation of water turbidity and observation of fish behaviour. Some RAS operations use the bacterial culture-based approach for surveillance of microbial quality of water. However, this approach is laborious, requires microbiological testing expertise, and test results are obtainable only after a long incubation period.  Bioluminescent ATP assay is another method that can be used to monitor microbial content. However, it requires lysis of bacteria to release the ATP contained inside the bacteria, and enzymatic reaction of luciferase on ATP to produce the luminescence. While it provides results within a short time, the cost of luciferase, lysis reagents and luminometer could be prohibitive for routine and extensive testing of water samples.   The technology owner has developed a non-enzymatic test reagent which gives a rapid colour change in the presence of Gram-negative bacteria. The technology owner is keen to collaborate with manufacturers of analytical instruments and diagnostic test kits, as well as partners from the aquaculture, biomedical and water quality control industries, to further develop and commercialise this technology.

Thin film composite (TFC) membranes are the main membrane types for reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes. RO membranes can be used for desalination, utility water treatment, wastewater treatment and reuse as well as process water treatment. NF membranes can allow monovalent ions, such as sodium chloride, to pass through the membrane, while rejecting divalent and multivalent ions, such as sodium sulfate. It has applications in the diary, food, dye, biotech, pharmaceutical and industrial processes for concentrating targeted streams. Boosting membrane permeability without a decrease in their rejection to target ions has been the objective of many membrane producers. Many methods have been proposed in literature to achieve the target, such as incorporating nanoparticles or surfactants. However, the synthesis of uniform nanoparticles in large scale is a problem and the long-term stability of nanoparticles in the polyamide layer is of concern. The process of adding surfactants is also not controllable, leading to a potential concern for quality control in the final membrane product. This invention relates to a simple method to increase the water permeability of thin film composite membranes for nanofiltration and reverse osmosis by 2 to 5 times.

Thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes are a promising technology for desalination to increase water permeability of thin-film composite (TFC) membranes without compromising selectivity. However, their widespread use has been limited by the time and resources required to synthesise the necessary nanomaterials.  This invention relates to a methodology to form TFN membranes directly on TFC membranes, resulting in membranes with enhanced water permeability with little compromise on salt rejection. 

One-fifth of all local and imported food in Singapore and about 15% of all food globally is spoiled during the supply chain due to inadequate food transport facilities. To overcome this, the startup offers a patented technology in the form of a hardware device that emits a magnetic interference field. It can be used throughout the supply chain starting immediately after harvest and all the way to storage and display. In particular, this technology has great potential to be applied during the food transportation when the chance of spoilage is highest due to reasons such as overripening caused by supply chain delays. The startup is looking to collaborate with food logistics and storage companies, as well as retailers, to integrate their solution.

Lipid nanoparticles have undergone significant advancements in biomedicine, evolving into a sophisticated platform for delivering therapeutic agents and imaging agents. Their biocompatibility, tuneable properties, and successful translation into clinical applications signify their maturity as a versatile and effective technology. This technology is a patented lipid nanoparticle technology platform, designed to harness unique synergies from a combination of: (1) novel core fluorescence materials with tuneable wavelengths; (2) biocompatible lipid encapsulation matrix, delivering challenging materials in water-based environment; (3) surface functionalisation on nanoparticles, allowing for tailored targeting functionalities. The technology is a key enabling solution for advanced fluorescence imaging and detection, with characteristics of high brightness, sensitivity, and biocompatibility. The high sensitivity and specificity of the technology allow researchers to obtain accurate and conclusive experimental data, whereas outstanding photostability eliminates concerns of signal loss, enabling precise visualization and long-term monitoring of cellular processes for both in-vitro and in-vivo studies. The introduction of this technology opens new possibilities in accelerating biomedical breakthroughs, empowering studies in long-term in-vivo cell fate determination, drug development utilizing advanced 3D organoids, monitoring stem cell differentiation, transplantation, and potential for precision medicine and early diagnostic platforms, driving personalized therapeutic approaches, and leading to significant advancements in biomedicine and other similar applications. The technology owner is seeking partners for research and application development projects, with the goal of integrating this technology into existing workflows and protocol for biotech companies and contract research organisations.

MXene fibers are a new class of functional fibers that have been shown to have excellent electrical, electrochemical, and mechanical properties. Fabricated from electrically conductive and mechanically strong MXene nanosheets, these fibers cater to the growing demand for advanced materials in the field of textile-based devices and beyond. However, achieving a harmonious balance between electrical conductivity and mechanical properties remains a significant challenge in fully harnessing the potential of MXene fibers. This challenge primarily stems from the difficulties encountered in compacting the loose MXene nanosheets further. This technology presents a continuous and controllable approach to fabricate highly compact MXene fibers. The resulting MXene fibers exhibit exceptional compactness, with high orientation and low porosity, thereby demonstrating outstanding tensile strength, remarkable toughness, and superior electrical conductivity. Moreover, these ultra-compact fibers are constructed into meter-scale MXene textiles, which showcase high-performance electromagnetic interference shielding and personalized thermal management capabilities. These MXene textiles also exhibit exceptional mechanical durability and stability, even after undergoing multiple washing cycles. The technology can be readily extended to a wide range of nanostructured materials, enabling the construction of functional fibers for large-scale applications in various domains, including both space and everyday life. The technology owner is interested in joint R&D projects and out-licensing opportunities with companies who require high performance functional fibers.

Chemical analysers determine the chemical composition and characteristics of compounds. Such devices aim to provide rapid and accurate results of the analysed compounds but are often limited to bulky, laboratory-grade designs. Traditional spectroscopic systems are limited by its detection range based on the monochromator and light source, often resulting in poor resolution that affects the results of the analysis. This technology on offer is a patented low-cost, high signal-to-noise ratio micro-spectrometer module that can be used in long-distance detection. In comparison to traditional spectrometers that use spectral splitting, the utilisation of frequency-varying incident light to measure different spectral bands without signal intensity loss enables the user to achieve high signal-to-noise ratios and high precision. By using this spectrometer, real-time analysis of the composition of chemicals at the point of manufacture is possible which makes it a convenient tool for quality checks to enhance product quality and reduce risks. The technology has been validated for use in semiconductor manufacturing and the technology owner is interested in co-development projects and test-bedding opportunities to extend the technology in other sectors such as specialty chemicals, pharmaceutical, smart home appliances, food and agriculture to name a few.

This technology is a patented synbiotics (combination of probiotics and prebiotics) cleaning solution that offers a safe and sustainable alternative to traditional cleaning products and disinfectants. When released onto the surface, the probiotics will digest and break down dirt, grime, and other unwanted substances while the prebiotics in the solution act as an additional source of nutrition for the probiotics. The resultant surface microbiome provides a continuous cleaning effect that is longer lasting than traditional cleaning chemicals and disinfectants. Often, the overuse of traditional chemicals and disinfectants results in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), allergenic reactions to the user, negative impact on the environment and short effective lifespan. With this synbiotics technology, users can overcome these limitations and achieve a long-term effective cleaning system and a natural microflora to the environment. When utilised in healthcare settings, the synbiotics cleaning solution demonstrated a higher reduction of pathogens (80% more), decreased AMR (up to 99.9%) and health-associated infections (52% lesser). The technology owner is interested in co-development projects and test-bedding opportunities with companies looking for a sustainable and long-lasting cleaning technology i.e., cleaning equipment and automation manufacturers/suppliers and cleaning service providers.