Professor Dr. Mohamad Roji bin Sarmidi
(R&D Manager Of Chemical Engineering Pilot Plant)
B.Sc in Chemical Engineering (1984), University
of Surrey, Gilford, U.K
M.Sc In Biochemical Engineering (1986), University
of Birmingham, U.K.
Ph.D in Biochemical Engineering (1993), Aston
University, Birmingham, U.K.
Tel: 607-5536354
Fax: 607- 5569706
Email:
mroji@cepp.utm.my
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The research interest in environmentally friendly bioprocessing, especially in the production of fine and specialty chemicals from biological material. The main research theme is in the area of enzyme reaction in organic media for the esterification of medium chain fatty acids, enzymatic chiral synthesis and the application of electrodialysis in bioprocessing. In the past six year 11 Masters and one Ph.D. candidates have successfully completed their study. Currently there are 4 Ph.D. candidates, 4 Masters candidates, and several undergraduates pursuing research in the area. One of the research projects entitled 'Biorefinery of Forest Product' was awarded with Silver Medal for the development of an integrated phytochemical processing equipment in ITEX 2000. In the same event he was awarded a Silver Medal for the development of environmentally friendly biopesticide rotenone. The projects attracted interest both from local and foreign companies. In year 2002 at Salon International des Inventions Geneve, Switzerland , he was awarded with a Silver medal for his work on the development of Enzsim 2.0 an innovative biotransformation software.
LATEST NEWS
Sweet hopes for diabetics 
STAR- Nation
Friday January 6, 2006
MUAR: Good news for diabetics. A three-year study carried out by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Skudai has confirmed previous findings that cinnamon has the potential to lower sugar levels. UTM research and development manager Prof Dr Mohammad Roji Sarmidi said yesterday their research showed that the spice, known as kayu manis locally, has positive effects on the disease, especially Type II diabetes.
Type II diabetes causes cells to lose their ability to respond to insulin, the hormone that tells the body to remove excess glucose from the bloodstream. This condition usually develops in people in their middle age and prematurely kills an estimated 100 million of the world’s population every year. Dr Mohammad Roji said herbalists all over the world had used cinnamon in the treatment of diarrhoea and arthritis, as cinnamon extract was found to improve blood circulation, heal wounds, reduce pain spasm and prevent ulcer and allergies.
“In the last decade, laboratory studies have also revealed that cinnamon extract mimicked insulin action in the cells,” he said. Insulin regulates glucose metabolism, helping body cells to convert glucose to energy and keep blood sugar levels normal. “Studies by the Agriculture Research Service in the United States have also found that certain substances in cinnamon helps cells become more responsive to insulin,” he added. Cinnamon is an ingredient used in cooking, and in cakes, pastries and beverages like coffee and tea.
Dr Mohammad Roji said UTM would conduct further studies next year, which would cover tests on animals and metabolic profiling for diabetic patients before cinnamon can be validated as a health food supplement for diabetes.
SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Sarmidi, M.R and Barker, P.E., (Pergamon Press, 1993), Simultaneous Biochemical Reaction and Separation in a Rotating Annular Chromatograph. Chemical Engineering Science Journal, Vol. 48, N0. 14, pp 2615-2623.
Sarmidi, M.R and Barker, P.E., (SCI, 1993), Saccharification of Modified Starch to Maltose in a continuous Rotating Annular Chromatograph (CRAC). Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology. Vol 57, 229-235.
Ling, L. P., Leow, H. F. and Mohamad Roji, S. (Elsevier, 2002). "Citric acid concentration by electrodialysis: ion and water transport modelling." Journal of Membrane Science. 199 (2002) 59-67.
Mohamad Roji Sarmidi, Ramlan Aziz, Mohammad Azlan Hussain and Wan Ramli Wan Daud. (2001). Overview of petrochemical based industry in Malaysia. ASEAN Journal of CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Vol. 1 No. 1, pp 7-16.
Chua Lee Suan and Mohamad Roji Sarmidi.Synthesis of lauric acid ester using immobilised enzyme lipase in a recirculated packed bed reactor: A kinetic and reactor performace study. Submitted in November 2001 and communicated in February 2002 to Enzyme and Microbial Technology Elsevier Science Inc. New York
L.L Pee and M.R. Sarmidi (Penerbit Universiti Teknologi Malaysia,1999), Electrodialysis of citric acid. Journal Teknologi, Vol. 30(F), pp 47-54.
Sarmidi, M.R., Aziz R., Ngadiran S. and Noor Z. (2001) Integrated extraction-distillation unit for the production of phytochemicals. UTM R&D Bullettin, Vol II/ 2001.
Sarmidi, M.R., Aziz R., Ngadiran S. and Noor Z.(2001) The development of biopesticide from Derris Eliptica (Tuba) UTM R&D Bullettin, Vol II/ 2001.
Maizirwan Mel, Sarmidi M.R., Fong H Nee, Ramlan Aziz, Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin and Zaini Z., The growth rate of of Haemophilus paragallinarum profile in shake flask fermentation; Determination substrate]critical Journal Teknologi: Alam Sekitar dan Teknologi Proses Universiti Teknologi Malaysia pg 57-62 No 36 Jun 2002.
Sarmidi, M.R., Ling Lay Pee, Mahadevan M, Sim. W.K. and Zainal Abidin, Penyediaan dan Pencirian Membran Pertukaran anion bagi proses elektrodialisis. Journal Teknologi: Alam Sekitar dan Teknologi Proses, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia pg 45-56 No 36 Jun 2002.
Khamis A.K, Sarmidi M.R., Mohamad M.F and Ngadiran S. Extraction of bioflavonoids rotenone from Derris Elliptica. 3rd International Conference on Biopesticides, Kuala Lumpur, 22-26 April 2002.
Mohamad Roji, S., Ling, L. P., Leow, H. F. and Khairul Faezah, M. Y. (2001). "Ion transport modelling for electrodialysis of citric acid. In Proceeding "6th World Congress of Chemical Engineering, Melbourne, Australia, 23 - 27th September 2001.
Mel.M., Sarmidi M.R., Aziz, R.A., Zain, Z.M. and Jamaludin, A.A. Scaling-up coryza vaccine production in pilot scale fermentor. Proceeding Regional Symposium on Chemical Engineering (RSCE) 2001. 28-31st October 2001. Institute Teknologi Bandung, ITB, Bandung, Indonesia.
Wong Tak Hiong and Mohamad Roji Sarmidi. Engineering aspects of recirculated packed bed immobilized enzyme reactor for the synthesis of butyl laurate, Regional Symposium on Chemical Engineering 2000 (RSCE 2000) Singapore, 11-13 December 2000
M.R. Sarmidi and C. L. Suan, Synthesis of Lauric acid Ester using Immobilized Enzyme Lipase in Recirculated Packed Bed Reactor.,Presented at APBioChEC'99 , Fifth Asia-Pacific Biochemical Engineering Conference 15-18 November 1999, Phuket, Thailand.
Mel, M., Sarmidi, M.R., Aziz, R.A., Zain, Z.M., and Jamaluddin,A.A., Screening and Optimization of Haemophilus paragallinarum for Coryza Vaccine Production. Proceeding of the Chemical and Process Engineering Conference (CPEC) 2000 in conjunction with Regional Symposium on Chemical Engineering (RSCE) 2000. 11- 13 December 2000. NUS Guild House, Singapore.