Dr. Mohd Asyraf Kassim

Expertise:

• Industrial microbiology
• Microalgae biotechnology
• Bioconversion of biomass for biofuel and fine chemicals

 

Dr. Asyraf graduated his Bachelor and Master degree from School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, UKM majoring in microbiology. He has worked in the field of applied microbiology including bioremediation, biofuel and microalgal biotechnology. He was appointed as research officer at Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) for 4 years prior to continue his PhD in Bioprocess field focusing on bioconversion of renewable biomass into fine chemicals at Department of Chemical Engineering,Monash University, Melbourne. Currently he is a senior lecturer at School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

 

Academic Background

PhD - Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne

MSc - School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Selangor

BSc -  School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Selangor

 

Related SDGs

 

Research Interest

• Industrial microbiology
• Microalgae biotechnology (cultivation, biochemical biosynthesis)
• Bioconversion of biomass (pretreatment, hydrolysis and fermentation) to liquid biofuel and fine chemicals

Research Projects/Grants

1. Biosynthesis of Chlorella sp. and Tetraselmis suecica carbohydrate polymer in carbon dioxide (CO2) rich fermentation condition (Duration: 2017-2019)
2. Strategy to improve enzymatic saccharification of high-solid lipid-extracted microalgal biomass for biorefinery and biofuel production (Duration: 2016-2018)
3. A study on growth, fermentation and thermochemical conversion of two microalgae species (2011-2015)
4. Bioethanol production from juice/sap of oil palm trunk (OPT) (Duration: 2009-2011)
5. Bioethanol production from empty fruit bunches (EFB) (Duration: 2007-2011)
6. Biodegradation of methyl tert butyl ether (MTBE) isolated from MTBE  processing plant (Duration: 2015-2007)

TEACHING

IBG111        Industrial Microbiology

IBG205  DNA and Metabolite Technology

IBK211     Renewable Biomass

SUPERVISIONS

PhD

1. Tan Kean Meng - Microalgal Carbohydrate Biosynthesis for Liquid Fuel and Fine Chemicals

Undergraduate

1. Cheng Man Teng - Fed-batch Enzymatic Hydrolysis of High Solid Loading Pre-Treated Microalgal Chlorella sp. Biomass

2. Muhammad Faris Izaan Bin Mat Adnan - Investigation of carbonic anhydase (CA) activityand chlorophyl production of Chlorella sp. under elevated CO2 concentration

3. Fariz Ikhram Muhammad -  Isolation, identification and characterization of nannocellulose producing bacteria from rotten local acidic fruit

4. Tan Kean meng - Kinetic modelling and optimization of CO2 biofixation by Chlorella sp. microalgae cultivated under elevated condition

5. Nur Aien Gatini Bt Abdul Latif - Color and nitrogen removal of batik effluent treatment using immobilized Chlorella sp. 

6. Khok Yong Seng - Enzymatic saccharification at high solid loading of microwave assisted-alkaline pretreated microalgae Tetraselmis suecica biomass for sugar production

7. Mohd Ashahrul Izham Mohd Zuki (Co-supervisor)- Production of bioethanol from watermelon waste and kinetik modelling study

 PUBLICATIONS

Journals

1. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Tan Kean Meng, Noor Aziah Binti Serri, (2019). Enzymatic hydrolysis of dilute alkaline pretreated Chlorella sp. biomass for biosugar production and fed-batch bioethanol fermentation, Asia-Pacific Journal of Science and Technology.

2. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Nur-aien Fatini Abdul Latif, Noor-Haza Fazlin Hashim, (2018). Decolization and total nitrogen removal from batik effluent using alginate immobilized freshwater microalgae Chlorella sp., Journal of Applied Biology and Biotechnology. 26-34.

3. Soh Kheang Loh, Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Nurul Adela Bukhari, (2018). Optimization of process conditions for ethanol production from enzymatically saccharified empty fruit bunch using response surface methodology (RSM), Journal of Oil Palm Research, :, 1-13

4. Noor Haza Fazlin Hashim, Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Nur Athirah Yusof, Syazrin Syima Sharfuddin. (2018). Bioremediation of endocrine disruptive chemicals: The power of microbial enzymes. Asian Journal of Biotechnology and Bioresource Technology. 2(4).

5. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Mohd Aziz Rashid, Ronald Halim (2017). Towards biorefinery production of microalgal biofuels and bioproducts: Production of acetic acid from the fermentation of Chlorella sp. and Tetraselmis suecica hydrolysates. Green and Sustainable Chemistry 7(2).

6. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Noor-Haza Fazlin Hashim, Nur Athirah Yusof. (2017).Archea domain as biocatalyst in environmental biotechnology and industrial application: A review. Journal of Advance in Microbiology. 5(2). 1-21.

7. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Tan Kean Meng. (2017). Carbon dioxide (CO2) biofixation by microalgae and its potential for biorefinery and biofuel production. Science of the Total Environment. 584-585. 1121-1129.

8. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Sankar Bhattacharya (2016). Dilute alkaline pretreatment for reducing sugar production from Tetraselmis suecica and Chlorella sp. biomass. Process Biochemistry. 51 (11).1757-1766.

9. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Sankar Bhattacharya. (2015). Dilute alkaline pretreatment for reducing sugar production from Tetraselmis suecica and Chlorella sp. biomass. Process Biochemistry. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prochio.2015.11.027.

10. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Ravichandra Potumarthi, Akshat Tanksale, Srikanth Srivatsa, Sankar Bhattacharya. (2014). Enzymatic saccharification of dilute alkaline pretreated microalgal (Tetraselmis suecica) biomass for biobutanol production. International Journal of Biological, Biomolecular, Agriculture, Food and Biotechnological Engineering. 8 (9). 1001-1006.

11. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, David De La Cruz, Nasser Curra, Kawnish Kirtania, Srikanth Srivatsa, Sankar Bhattacharya. (2014). Thermogravimetric analysis and kinetic characterization of lipid-extracted Tetraselmis suecica and Chlorella sp. Algal Research. 39-45.

12. Kawnish Kirtania, Janik Joshua, Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Sankar Bhattacharya. (2014). Comparison of CO2 and steam gasification reactivity of algal and woody biomass chars. Fuel Processing Technology. 117. 44-52.

13. Arash Tahmasebi, Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Jianglong Yu, Sankar Bhattacharya. (2013). Thermogravimetric study of the combustion of Tetraselmis suecica microalgae and its blend with Victorian brown coal in O2/N2 and O2/CO2 atmosphere. Bioresource Technology. 150. 15-27.

14. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Nasrin Abu Bakar, Loh Soh Kheang, Astimar Abdul Aziz (2011). Influence of solid loading concentration, inoculum size and nitrogen sources on ethanol production from empty fruit bunches (EFB) hydrolysate in separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF). Research Journal of Applied Science. 6(5). 310-319.

15. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Loh Soh Kheang, Nasrin Abu Bakar, Astimar Abdul Aziz, Rosnah Mat Som. (2011) Bioethanol production from enzymatically saccharified empty fruit bunches hydrolysate using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Research Journal of Environmental Sciences. 5(6).573-586.{/tab}

 Invited Book Chapter

1. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, H.P.S Abdul Khalil, Noor Aziah Serri, Mohamad Haafiz Mohamad Kassim, Muhammad Izzuddin Syakir, N.A. Sri Aprila and Rudi Dungani (2016). Irraditation pretreatment of tropical biomass and biofibre for biofuel production In: "Radiation Effects in Materials" edited by Waldemar A. Monteiro, ISBN 978-953-51-2418-4, Print ISBN 978-953-51-2417-7, InTech, July 7, 2016

2. M.I. Syakir, N.A. Nurin, N. Zafirah. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, H.P.S. Abdul Khalil. (2016). Nanoclay Reinforced on Biodegradable Polymer Composites: Potential as a Soil Stabilizer. In: “Nanoclay Reinforce Polymer Composite” edited by Jawaid, M., Qaiss, A.K., Bouhfid, R. Page: 329-356. Print ISBN: 978-981-1952-4

Conferences

1. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Ravichandra Potumarthi, Akshat Tanksale, Srikanth Srivatsa, Sankar Bhattacharya. (2014). Enzymatic saccharification of dilute alkaline pretreated microalgal (Tetraselmis suecica) biomass for biobutanol production. 16th International Conference on Bioprocess and Fermentation Technology. 29-3th September 2014. Istanbul, Turkey.

2. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, David De La Cruz, Nasser Curra, Kawnish Kirtania, Srikanth Srivatsa, Sankar Bhattacharya. (2014). Thermal kinetic characterization of lipid-extracted microalgal biomass. ICCE 2013: International Conference and Exhibition on Clean Energy. 9-11th September 2013. Ottawa, Canada.

3. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Nur Hidayah Zainan. (2013). Fermentable sugar production from Tetraselmis suecica biomass using dilute alkaline pretreatment. 3rd Annual Monash University Chemical Engineering Conference. 31st October 2013. Melbourne, Australia.

4. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Kawnish Kirtania, Ravichandra Potumarthi, Chiranjib Saha, Sankar Bhattacharya. (2012). Pyrolysis and Gasification characteristic of algal biomass. Chemeca 2012: Quality of Life Through Chemical Engineering. 23-26th September 2012. Wellington, New Zealand.

5. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Loh Soh Kheang, Anis Mokhtar, Choo Yuen May. (2010). Bioethanol Production from Juice/Sap of Oil Palm Trunk (OPT). Poster Presenter for Palm Oil Milling, Refining Technology, Quality and Environment. 27-28th September 2010. Sutera Habour Resort, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

6. Loh Soh Kheang, Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Nasrin Abu Bakar. (2010). Bioethanol Production from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB). Poster Presenter for 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Waste to Wealth. 26-29th July 2010. Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

7. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Loh Soh Kheang, Nasrin Abu Bakar. (2009). Effect of Physical Parameters on Bioethanol Production from Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB). Poster Presenter for International Palm Oil Congress (PIPOC) 2009 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC, 9-12th November 2009, Malaysia.

8. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Loh Soh Kheang, Nasrin Abu Bakar. (2009). Optimization of Bioethanol Production from Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB). Poster Presenter for Seminar on Biomass for Biofuel and Value-Added Products 2009, The Saujana Kuala Lumpur, 27-28th October 2009, Malaysia.

9. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Loh Soh Kheang, Nasrin Abu Bakar, Muhammad Sulong. (2008). Fermentation of Fermentable Sugar From Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) to Bioethanol. Poster Presentation at 2008 National Seminar on Palm Oil Milling, Refining Technology, Quality and Environment. 15-16th December 2008. Sutera Habour Resort, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

10. Nasrin Abu Bakar, Choo Yuen May, Muhammad Sulong, Astimar Abdul Aziz, Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Rosnah Mat Som, Wan Hasamuddin Wan Hassan (2008). A Preliminary Study on Extraction of Fermentable Sugar from EFB via Dilute Acid Pre- Treatment and Enzymatic Hydrolysis. Poster Presentation at 2008 National Seminar on Palm Oil Milling, Refining Technology, Quality and Environment. 15-16th December 2008. Sutera Habour Resort, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

11. Mohd Asyraf Kassim, Ainon Hamzah. (2007). Biodegradation of Methyl Tert Butyl Ether (MTBE) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa UKMP-5G. 29th Symposium of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology.24-26th November 2007, Primula Beach Resort, Terengganu, Malaysia.

 

RECOGNITIONS

1. Anugerah Hadiah Sanjungan (2018): Awarded by Universiti Sains Malaysia for outstanding publications
2. Anugerah Sanggar Sanjung (2015): Awarded by Universiti Sains Malaysia for outstanding publications.
3. Universiti Sains Malaysia Academic Scheme Training Scholarship (ASTS) – (2011-2014)
4. Zamalah Scholarship (2005-2006). Awarded by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

VACANCY