Agus Saptoro
My research expertise and interest are mainly in the areas of process system engineering. I work mostly on mathematical, statistical and computational techniques to model, simulate and analyse any engineering system and to extract knowledge from the experimental and plant operational data. Summary of my research in the past 10 years can be seen as follows.
1. MULTIVARIATE DATA AND IMAGE ANALYSES
In this area, our group is focusing on the applications of traditional multivariate statistics (regression, principal component analysis, principal component regression, and partial least squares) and machine learning methods (discriminant analysis, support vector machines, artificial neural networks, support vector regression and deep learning) in analysing and modelling data and/or images collected from the experiments/plants. These analyses and modelling aim to develop predictive and prescriptive analytics, and inferential sensing.
Current projects
Project 1: Green Building Overall Performance Assessment based on Multivariate Data Analysis of Energy Consumption, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Occupant Satisfaction: A Case Study on Sarawak Energy’s Miri Regional Office
Funding: Sarawak Energy Berhad 2022 – 2024
Project leader: Prof. Agus Saptoro
MPhil student: Ms Dyg Siti Nur Amirah Binti Abang Ahmad Zulkipli
Co-investigators: Ir. Meheron Selowara Joo, Prof. Arindam Ghosh, Dr. Tay Ai Chen, SEB team
Project 2: A Rapid, Reliable and Cost-Effective System to Detect Authenticity and Geographical Origin of Ground Black Pepper: Technology Development and Prototyping
Funding: CMRI Prototype Grant 2021 – 2022
Project leader: Prof. Agus Saptoro
Co-investigators: Mr. Terence Chia Yi Kai, A/Prof. Garenth Lim King Hann, A/Prof. Chua Han Bing and Mr Zehnder Jarroop Augustine Mercer (MPB)
Project 3: Improved Deep Learning for Time Series Time-Delayed Chemical Processes
Funding: CMHDR Grant 2021 – 2024
Project leader: Prof. Agus Saptoro
PhD Student: Mr Terence Chia Yi Kai
Collaborator: A/Prof. Garenth Lim King Hann and Dr. Zulfan Adi Putra (ExxonMobil)
Project 4: Product Quality Estimation of Sago (Metroxylon sagu) based on Hyperspectral Imaging and Multivariate Image Analysis
Funding: Sarawak Research Development Council (SRDC) 2020 – 2023
Project leader: Prof. Agus Saptoro
PhD Student: Mr Lee Ming Hao
Collaborator: A/Prof. Garenth Lim King Hann, Prof. Vu Tuong Thuy, Prof Mohd Hasnain bin Md Hussain (UNIMAS) and Dr Nurleyna Yunus (CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd)
Completed projects
Project 1: Development of a rapid and cost-effective detector and estimator of adulterants in ground Sarawak Black Pepper using Spatial and Spectral Image Analysis
Funding: Sarawak Digital Economic Corporation (SDEC) 2018 – 2020
Project leader: Prof. Agus Saptoro
MPhil Student: Mr Terence Chia Yi Kai
Collaborator: A/Prof. Garenth Lim King Hann and A/Prof. Chua Han Bing
Project 2: Formulation of a robust, non-Gaussian algorithm used to develop adaptive soft sensors for sensing various states in industrial processing plants
Funding: Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) 2015 – 2018
PhD Student: Ms Christine Yeo Wan Sieng
Collaborator: Prof. Manabu Kano (Kyoto University)
2. NUMERICAL MODELLING AND ANALYSIS OF PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMS
Good understanding on the process behaviours and revealing underlying mechanisms of a process can be carried out through process modelling. The obtained mathematical models can then be solved either analytically or numerically. While process modelling is well-established for many systems, some systems are found to be poorly studied. These includes hybrid drying, process intensified crystallisation, bio-process based waste treatments, bioreactors, nanofluid heat transfer systems and supercritical packed bed reactors and extractors.
Project 1: Mechanistic Modelling of Hybrid Microwave and Ultrasound Assisted Pharmaceutical Crystallisation with and without Addition of Anti-solvent
Funding: Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) 2020 – 2023
Project leader: Prof. Agus Saptoro
PhD Student: Ms Mariana Jaman
Collaborators: Dr. Angnes Tiong Ngieng Tze, A/Prof. Wee Siaw Khur, A/Prof. Yusuke Asakuma (Hyogo, Japan), Prof. Jos Derksen (Aberdeen, UK) and Dr. Aniruddha Majumder (Aberdeen, UK)
Project 2: Supercritical CO2 Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Sarawak Black Pepper: Experimental, Solubility Modeling and Kinetic Studies
Project leader: Prof. Agus Saptoro
PhD Student: Ms Christine Ann Obek
Collaborators: Dr. Angnes Tiong Ngieng Tze and Dr. Zeinab Abbas Jawad (Qatar)
Project 3: A New Approach to Fundamental Modelling of Sludge Dewatering under Low Pressure Condition
Funding: Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) 2020 – 2023
Project leader: Dr. Tan Yee Yong
PhD Student: Mr. Huong Yu Zhe
Collaborators: Prof. Agus Saptoro, A/Prof. Tang Fu Ee, Prof. Jos Derksen (Aberdeen, UK) and Dr. Mohd Ariff Bin Ahmad Nazri (UTHM)
Completed projects
Project 1: Laminar Forced Convective Heat Transfer Studies in Circular and Non-circular Ducts with Polyacrylamide Additives in Water-based Al2O3 Nanofluid
Funding: Exploratory Research Grant Scheme (ERGS), Ministry of Higher Education
Project leader: A/Prof. Perumal Kumar
PhD Student: Ms Angnes Tiong Ngieng Tze
Collaborator: Prof. Agus Saptoro
Project 2: Comparison of Turbulence Models for the Prediction of Hydrodynamics of Packed Beds under Supercritical Fluid Condition
Project leader: Prof. Moses O. Tadé
MPhil Student: Mr. Jameson Malang
Collaborators: Prof. Agus Saptoro and A/Prof. Perumal Kumar
Project 3: A mechanistic model for hydraulic behaviour and nitrogen dynamics in a vertical flow constructed wetland treating septage
Project leader: A/Prof. Tang Fu Ee
PhD Student: Mr. Tan Yee Yong
Collaborator: Prof. Agus Saptoro
3. PROCESS INTENSIFICATION
Improvements of a process at unit operational, functional and/or phenomena levels can be achieved by modifying a process and/or an unit operation and integrating unit operations leading to a substantially smaller, cleaner, safer, and more energy-efficient technology. Our research currently targets energy saving CO2 capture system, intensified crystallisation, enhanced bioprocesses and improved biomass to bio-energy conversion. Additionally, 3E, 4E and 7E analyses to chemical process systems have also been new directions of our research.
Current Projects
Project 1: Intensified crystallisation with microwave, ultrasound and addition of anti-solvent
Project leader: A/Prof. Yusuke Asakuma (Hyogo, Japan)
Collaborator: Prof. Agus Saptoro
Project 2: Hybrid Solar Drying: Experimental Studies and 7E analysis
Funding: CMHDR Grant 2021 – 2024
Project leader: A/Prof. Perumal Kumar
PhD Student: Mr. Evan Eduard Susanto
Collaborators: Dr. Angnes Tiong Ngieng Tze, Prof. Agus Saptoro, Dr. Aditya Putranto (Monash Malaysia), and Prof. Suherman (Diponegoro University, Indonesia)
Completed projects
Project 1: Energy Saving CO2 capture system
Funding: Curtin University Short-Term Postdoctoral Fellowship (July – Dec 2021)
Project leader: Prof. Agus Saptoro
Post-doc Student: Mr. Foster Kofi Ayittey
Project 2: Process design, control and optimisation of low-cost post-combustion CO2 capture system
Funding: CMRI Grant (MYR100,000)
Project leader: Prof. Agus Saptoro
PhD Student: Mr. Foster Kofi Ayittey
Collaborator: A/Prof. Perumal Kumar
4. MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATION
Molecular dynamics (MD) is a computer simulation employed to investigate the physical behaviours of atoms and molecules. Current projects include MD simulation to study pure and mixed CO2 hydrates, bioactive compound solubility in supercritical CO2 and nanofluids.
Current project
Project 1: Investigation of formation and dissociation mechanisms of pure and mixed CO2 hydrates in the presence of thermodynamics and kinetic promoters using molecular dynamics simulation
Funding: CMHDR Grant 2020 – 2023
Project leader: Prof. Agus Saptoro
PhD Student: Mr. Saeid Sinehbaghizadeh
Collaborators: Dr. Angnes Tiong Ngieng Tze, Dr. Sepideh Amjad-Iranagh (Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran), Prof. Amir H. Mohammadi (University of KwaZulu-Natal, SA), and Prof. Saman Alavi (University of Ottawa)
Agus Saptoro 
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