Triangle

Turning Waste Into Value

A study transforms agricultural waste into a powerful tool that filters water and revives soil, empowering cleaner and healthier communities.

Our planet faces urgent environmental challenges; from rising temperatures to polluted rivers and degraded soil. But these issues also offer opportunities for innovation, especially in countries like Malaysia, where natural resources are abundant. Instead of merely adopting green technologies, we can lead in creating solutions tailored to its unique environment and communities.

Helping Communities, Protecting the Environment 

Ts Dr Anurita Selvarajoo, Associate Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, is one of the researchers helping to turn this vision into reality. Her research focuses on turning agricultural waste into practical, sustainable tools. One key method is pyrolysis, a process that heats the waste without oxygen, breaking it down into a carbon-like material called biochar. Biochar helps reduce emissions, purify water, and improve soil health, making it a simple yet powerful way to turn waste into long-term environmental value. 

Dr Anurita has developed a low-cost filtration system using locally available materials like gravel, sand, and biochar to treat contaminated river water. This solution empowers rural communities to access clean water while reusing agricultural waste. “We’re turning what was once waste into hope - hope for healthier soil, cleaner water, and a safer home for all of us,” she mentioned. 

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Biochar - a charcoal-like material made from plant waste using pyrolysis process.
 

A Greener Future

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UNM students cleaning contaminated water using a biochar filtration system.

Beyond environmental impact, Dr Anurita’s research invites students to engage with learning in a more meaningful way. It’s where theory comes to life, and scientific knowledge is grounded in real-world challenges. Students learn to listen, adapt, and design solutions that are not only effective but also relevant to real needs. It’s an experience that strengthens their technical skills while fostering a lasting sense of purpose.

By designing practical tools from everyday materials, Dr Anurita champions solutions that are sustainable, affordable, and deeply connected to local contexts. Her nature-based methods avoid expensive, chemical-heavy approaches, instead focusing on what’s accessible and effective. 

 


Researcher
Associate Professor Ts Dr Anurita Selvarajoo  

School/Faculty
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering

Research Focus
Water Security, Water Treatment, Renewable Energy, Biochar, Waste Management 

Year
2008 - Present 

 

As the world looks for more sustainable ways to grow and live, Malaysia is showing the way forward. By drawing on both scientific methods and resources of everyday life, Dr Anurita’s research creates tools that are simple, sustainable, and rooted in real life. It’s not just about fixing environmental problems - it’s about enabling people to take charge of our environment and shape our futures with the resources around us.