Centre for Urban Sustainability (CUS)
Overview
CUS focuses on two R&D thrusts of Solid Waste Management and Recycling for Strategic Building Materials, and Food Waste Reduction and Recycling.
With the mission to achieve zero waste and zero carbon through eco-materials and green processes, CUS capabilities include R&D at the national level; value-added industry engagement through consultancy; and alignment of research and service with education.
CUS has multi-disciplinary expertise on innovative materials (built environment, consumer products, etc), waste valorisation, bioprocessing, environmental care, energy management, applied chemistry, sustainability reporting, etc. On top of technical expertise, the Centre has state-of-art facilities to support industry for innovation, including creation of intellectual properties (IPs); licensing of raw ingredients and finished products; as well as commercialisation of IP.
Solid waste management & innovative building materials
Raw materials & finished products from plastic wastes
Park facilities from wood & horticultural wastes
Sand replacement
3D printable composites
Food waste reduction & recycling
Recycling food wastes into value-added products
Organic wastes to building materials
Sustainable food packaging
Shelf-life extension
Industry collaborative research projects:
Integrated systems to transform urban wastes into finished products for building & infrastructure > National Environment Agency (NEA)
3D printable composites for productive & sustainable built environment > National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC)
- Repurposing wood & horticultural wastes for park facilities > National Parks Board (NParks)
- Substitution of strategic natural resources with recycled urban wastes in concrete production > Building & Construction Authority (BCA) and Housing & Development Board (HDB)
Physical Properties Testing:
- Instron mechanical tester/ Vickers hardness tester
- TGA and DSC
- Malvern nanosizer/ Zeta potential
- Ultrasonic pulse velocity tester
- Contact angle measurement
- Thermal conductivity equipment
- Drop weight impact test
- Mobile surface roughness tester
- UV vis spectrophotometer with rotating sphere (powdered sample)
- Powder flow meter
- Penetrometer
- Rotational viscometer
- Indirect tensile test, Triaxial test (creep parameter)
- Wheel tracker (simulate wheel frictional forces on asphalt)
Industry Consultancy Projects:
- Waste plastics in hot mix asphalt for infrastructural application
- Bi-functional cold sprayed TiO2 composite
- Environmentally friendly, reusable and cost-effective grease removal material
- Development of thermal insulation composite material from renewable resources
- Development of cellulosic insulation materials for buildings
- Study of waste aggregate fines as partial replacement of cement and sand in mortar composites
Water Technology Domain
Water Technology Domain focuses on innovative, sustainable solutions for global water and wastewater challenges. Specializing in advanced treatment technologies, aquaculture systems, and chemical waste management, we aim to protect water resources while pioneering the future of water technology for a sustainable world.
More recently, the domain is focused on environmental management for circular economy and sustainable biofuels production. Leveraging on our staff expertise, our domain has prepared students to compete in WorldSkills Singapore competition in the skill area of Water Technology.
Moving forward, water technology domain will also be focusing on research or technology development related to the impact of climate change on coastal water quality, green water treatment solutions as well as sustainable water solutions.
Projects
Integrated Solution for Hazardous Industrial Wastewater Mixture (HIWM)
Industry collaborator: NSL OilChem Waste Management Pte Ltd
Project objectives: The project aims to develop an integrated wastewater treatment technology for High-Strength Industrial Wastewater Management (HIWM) using pilot-scale facilities that combine Fenton oxidation to enhance biodegradability and a Moving Bed BioReactor (MBBR) to reduce COD levels. It also investigates the impact of various operational conditions—such as rapid biological system start-up, shock organic loading, and pH fluctuations—on the stability of biological treatment processes to provide practical operational insights. Additionally, on-site pilot studies using actual HIWM will generate first-hand knowledge to support industrial application and potential commercialization of the technology.
MSG for Air-water Online Quality System
Industry collaborator: Airowater Pte Ltd Pte Ltd
Project objectives: The company is seeking a solution to develop and implement an integrated sensors system for real-time, online monitoring of key water quality parameters (pH, TDS, conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solid, ORP (oxidation reduction potential and temperature) in the air-to-water purification machine, enabling automated quality control and remote access via mobile application.
CUS is part of Singapore’s R&D ecosystem to explore new solutions in plastic waste recycling
Singapore launched a new association, Plastics Recycling Association of Singapore (PRAS) to help enhance the nation’s rate of recycling plastic waste. CUS researchers are part of this new alliance along with various stakeholders to exchange knowledge and best practices on plastic waste management and recycling.
CUS’ key role will be to look at processing mixed plastic waste into ingredients for building and construction applications, all part of Singapore’s priority to adopt a circular approach when using our resources.
Innovation Challenge Merit Award 2022
Congratulations to the CUS team, Kevin Lee (Project Co-lead) and Wong Sook Fun (Project Advisor & Team Member) who received the award at the inaugural Public Service Science, Technology & Engineering (STE) Conference 2022 held on 2 September. The event was graced by Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, Mr Chan Chun Sing.
The award-winning project, Recycled Waste Plastic as Fine Aggregate Replacement of Non-Structural Concrete Elements was jointly undertaken by TP’s Centre for Urban Sustainability (CUS), Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) and National Environment Agency (NEA). The project investigated various challenges to align with SG Green Plan 2030, which involved the potential use of recycled waste plastic as fine aggregate in concrete whilst having the twin challenge of managing waste plastic and sourcing alternative natural aggregates; and finally scaling up for the construction of waste plastic-incorporated concrete kerbs and drain channels as public utilities around Singapore.
This is one of the many successfully completed projects funded through grants by the Prime Minister’s Office, Science & Technology Policy & Plans Office (PMO-S&TPPO).
Helping Built Environment Companies Grow!
A Joint Innovation Platform for Built Environment Advanced Materials was launched as part of a collaboration among the three polytechnics – Singapore Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic at the Built Environment Xpo Asia (BEX Asia) 2022 held on 6 September.
Temasek Polytechnic’s Centre of Urban Sustainability with its strong technical capabilities in advanced materials is open to assist such companies planning to embark on green innovation projects.
Contact Details
- Dr Miao Huang
- miao_huang@tp.edu.sg
- 67804163
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8.30 am to 6.00 pm (Mon to Thu)
8.30 am to 5:30 pm (Fri)
Closed on Sat, Sun & Public Holidays -
ASC General Office Address:
Temasek Polytechnic
School of Applied Science
East Wing, Block 1A, Level 3
21 Tampines Avenue 1
Singapore 529757
