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PolyU researchers introduce biomineralization as a sustainable strategy against microbial corrosion in marine concrete

Microbially induced corrosion (MIC) is a prevalent issue in marine environments, leading to structural damages such as cracking in concrete infrastructure. This corrosion poses a persistent challenge, significantly reducing the lifespan of marine structures and resulting in substantial economic losses. In response to the need for an effective solution to combat the marine corrosion on concrete, researchers of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have developed a biomineralization approach to protect marine concrete from MIC.  Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment, Director of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development, Chair Professor of Environmental Science and Technology, and Ko Jan Ming Professor in Sustainable Urban Development, has led the research that successfully introduces a novel biomineralization strategy, which effectively isolates marine concrete from MIC, thereby contributing to the achievement of sustainable coastal structures.  MIC on concrete usually occurs in harsh environments with the presence of corrosive microorganisms, such as sewage structures, wastewater treatment plants, and marine structures. The formation of a biomineralized film on concrete surfaces is typically considered to be the major anticorrosion mechanism as it can provide a barrier to inhibit corrosion. Prof. LI said, “The biomineralization technique serves as an environmentally friendly coating method for controlling concrete corrosion, with minimal impact on the overall biofilm communities. Also, it utilises carbon dioxide to produce mineral precipitates, enhancing the durability of concrete structures. This process not only reduces the carbon footprint and energy consumption of marine infrastructure throughout its lifespan, but also makes a valuable contribution to carbon neutrality and sustainability.” The study showed the biomineralization treatment effectively prevents corrosion by reducing the total  and relative abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). SRB is a type of anaerobic bacteria and can produce hydrogen sulfide, which is corrosive and can lead to material deterioration.  The biomineralized film acts as a protective layer, controlling sulfate diffusion and isolating the concrete from the corrosive SRB communities. This protective mechanism significantly extends the lifespan of concrete structures. Moreover, this technique has no negative impact on the native marine microbial communities. Prof. LI added, “If the biomineralized film remains intact, repainting the concrete structures is unnecessary. The utilisation of a single coating treatment eliminates the need for multiple treatments, further minimising the cost and carbon footprint.” This biomineralization strategy has strong potential for applications in corrosive environments, such as marine environments, sewage environments, and water cooling utilities, where concrete corrosion is induced by corrosive microorganisms. The research, titled “Biomineralization to prevent microbially induced corrosion on concrete for sustainable marine infrastructure” was published in Environmental Science & Technology. The study employed a combination of chemical and mechanical property measurements of concrete, along with an analysis of the microbial community of biofilms, to evaluate the effectiveness of biomineralization techniques in inhibiting corrosion of marine concrete. These assessments aimed to enhance understanding of MIC development. The results contribute to the development of new techniques for inhabiting corrosion to achieve sustainable marine concrete structures.  In a sulfate chemical attack, calcium hydroxide and calcium aluminate hydrate will be consumed to form gypsum and ettringite, resulting in expansion stress and matrix fracture (Figure 1a). In an MIC attack, bacteria can colonise the corroded layer, which provides an excellent medium for microorganisms to grow. Microbial activity can extend beyond the corrosion layer near to the surface and spread across the deterioration zone (Figure 1b).  Compared with chemical corrosion, MIC causes more severe damage to marine concrete structures. However, the formation of the biomineralized film on the concrete surfaces led to higher surface pH (potential of hydrogen) and lower surface sulfate concentrations, which also acted as a protective layer to control the diffusion of sulfate and isolate the concrete from SRB communities, decreasing internal sulfate levels (Figure 1c). Considering that the type of colonised surface also affects the treatment effect of biomineralization, the effectiveness of biomineralization will be further investigated for different types of concrete to expand its applicability potential.  In addition, the functional prediction can be used in future studies to obtain a mechanistic understanding of the possible metabolic capability of microbial action on concrete corrosion. This understanding is beneficial for uncovering the mystery between SRB and the lifespan of marine concrete structures.  

PolyU and Zhongshan Municipal Government establish strategic agreement for research collaboration

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Zhongshan Municipal People’s Government have formed a cooperative framework agreement to enhance research and innovation development, fostering partnership among industries, academia, and research organisations in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. Prof. Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, along with Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation), Prof. Christina WONG, Director of Research and Innovation, and PolyU scholars attended the High-quality Development Conference in Zhongshan. Prof. CHAO signed the agreement during the event on 18 February. In delivering a speech at the event, Prof. WONG said PolyU will establish a strategic research platform with Zhongshan to drive innovation and technology development in fields such as chemical engineering and biomedicine. The agreement aims to foster research transformation, nurture talents, and strengthen cooperation among industries, academia and research organisations. PolyU will engage in collaboration with research organisations, governments and enterprises in Zhongshan, with a focus on biomedical technology and other fields. This partnership will facilitate cooperation in the biomedical industry in Hong Kong and Zhongshan, jointly promoting the development in China and overseas markets. With this strategic partnership, PolyU will be closely connected with Zhongshan to enhance industrial innovation and translational research, supporting the development of Zhongshan into a biomedical innovation centre. PolyU has two national state key laboratories, including the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University), which focuses on drug research and development. Their research projects have attained world-class standards, contributing to cutting-edge scientific discoveries.

PolyU researcher recycles textile waste for building clothing as thermal insulation

Textiles account for 10% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, while 85% of textile waste is simply landfilled and incinerated. Buildings in Hong Kong generate 60% of CO2 emission and air conditioners consume 30% of energy. Therefore, providing an attractive technology to recycle textile waste and save building energy simultaneously holds high promise for carbon reduction. Dr Dahua SHOU, Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies, Assistant Professor in School of Fashion and Textiles of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has led a research project to create multi-functional, value-added "building clothing" (BC) from textile waste for carbon reduction. Textile waste, often consisting of blended yarns, is difficult to recycle due to the challenges and high cost of sorting, depolymerisation, and dissolution. Dr SHOU’s research titled, “Development of multi-functional building clothing using textile waste for energy saving and waste reduction,” has recently supported by the Green Tech Fund in Hong Kong.  It proposes collecting textile waste to develop a sustainable building envelope for thermal insulation and radiative cooling by a mass production method. The reuse of textile waste as the thermal insulation for sustainable buildings will be an effective green technology that synergistically combines two crucial components in achieving carbon neutrality in Hong Kong: textile waste recycling and building energy saving. By leveraging photon engineering, nature-inspired design, and heat transfer optimization, the proposed "building clothing" will excel in managing the temperature of buildings. In addition to minimising thermal conductivity, the textile-reinforced hierarchical microstructures and colorants will selectively reflect solar heat, including visible light (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR), while emitting thermal radiation in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectrum. Furthermore, it effectively repels water and dirt on the surface, ensuring consistent performance and robustness. This multi-functional "building clothing," enhanced with multi-color aesthetics, is highly durable, lightweight, and flame-resistant, making it compatible with a variety of scenarios such as residential and factory buildings, village houses, stilt houses, substations, container apartments, curtains, canopies, and tents. The reuse of textile waste as thermal insulation for sustainable buildings is an effective green technology that synergistically combines two crucial components in achieving carbon neutrality in Hong Kong: textile waste recycling and building energy saving.   

PolyU project develops assisted navigation and collision avoidance system to promote connected urban traffic safety, funded by Smart Traffic Fund

A safe transport environment is vital for a densely built-up city like Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) utilizes advanced technologies to improve urban traffic safety, and an innovative project has been granted funding from the latest batch of Smart Traffic Fund. Led by Dr Weisong WEN, Assistant Professor of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, the project titled “Development of an Assisted Navigation and Collision Avoidance System using AI and Location-based Service” has secured funding of approximately HK$6.7 million for a duration of 24 months. This project aims to develop a low-cost, high-precision co-location solution suitable for urban canyons. It includes developing an algorithm to solve satellite positioning offsets caused by building obstructions and reflections, as well as developing a collision avoidance warning application for issuing early warning and enabling emergency interventions to reduce collision risks in blind areas of sight. PolyU has long been committed to the research and application of vehicle-related innovation and technology, with a total of 18 projects receiving grants from the Smart Traffic Fund to date.  For more information on other approved projects.  

Media Interview: PolyU’s innovative ammonia pretreatment system enhances food waste management

Hong Kong is actively promoting green technologies in order to reduce carbon emissions. Implementing anaerobic digestion (AD) technology to convert food waste (FW) into biogas for electricity generation is one of the promising initiatives. However, the volume of digestate and recycling problems have yet to be broken through. Dr Ben Shao-Yuan LEU, Associate Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has led a research project to develop an ammonia pretreatment system to minimise odour, reduce the land footprint of digested solids, and produce high-quality organic fertiliser. In a recent interview with Ta Kung Pao, Dr LEU shared that his developed system will be applicable for achieving energy-efficient carbon sequestration at the Organic Resource Recovery Center (O-Parks). Specifically, an innovative Combined Thermal with Free Ammonia Pretreatment (CTFAP) System will be established to destroy flocs, extracellular polymeric substances and refractory organics (e.g., aromatic contents like lignin) for enhanced total solids reduction. This research project has been funded by the Green Tech Fund. In addition, Dr LEU revealed that another research team of PolyU has been working on ammonia-nitrogen power generation, and they may collaborate in combining technologies to explore further use of ammonia-nitrogen in the future. Full interview (Chinese only)   For more: PolyU leads in grants from Green Tech Fund, securing 3 projects for innovative sustainable development

PolyU chemistry scholar elected to European Academy of Sciences

Prof. Raymond Wai-Yeung WONG, Dean of Faculty of Science, Chair Professor of Chemical Technology and Clarea Au Professor in Energy at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been recently elected a Foreign Member of the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc) in the Chemistry Division.  Prof. WONG is recognised for his research achievements in the design and synthesis of new metallopolymers and metallophosphors with photofunctional properties and energy functions. This honour is bestowed upon scientific scholars for their contributions to forefront research and the development of advanced technology, especially those related to the European countries.  Prof. WONG said, “I am honoured to become a Foreign Member of EurASc and I will definitely continue to make important scientific contributions to our country, the European community and other parts of the world. “  Excelling in the study of organometallic optoelectronic polymers and molecules, Prof. WONG’s research on advanced materials proves highly valuable in energy-generating applications for solar cells and energy-saving applications in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). He has made remarkable contributions to the development of multifunctional metallopolymers and metallophosphors. His research is advancing the field of energy science, aiming to promote efficient energy generation and consumption, and contributing to the mission of building a sustainable society.  The EurASc is a non-profit non-governmental, independent organisation of the most distinguished scholars, who are performing leading research and developing advanced technologies, while promoting excellence in science and technology by fostering social and economic development. In the latest round of election, only twelve new members were elected and Prof. WONG is the only one working in China.  Prof. WONG also received the Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Award (Science and Technology) 2022 for his research in organic photovoltaic materials. He was bestowed the Second-Class Award in Natural Science for a collaborative research project titled “Alkylthio Side-Chain Engineering of High-Performance Organic Photovoltaic Materials.”   

Visit by Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology

 A delegation led by WANG Yueqin, Director of Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology visited the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on 29 January.  The delegation had in-depth meetings and discussions with Prof. Jin-guang TENG, President; Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation); Prof. Zuankai WANG, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Prof. Xiang-doing LI, Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment, Ir Prof. H.C. MAN, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, and Prof. Qingyan CHEN, Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research. During the meeting, Prof. TENG presented in details on PolyU’s development goals in applied research, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as its outstanding achievements in engineering and technology disciplines. He emphasised that PolyU has always been committed to addressing societal challenges, creating courses that align with industry applications, and cultivating talents with international vision and innovative spirit. Director WANG suggested that Guangdong and Hong Kong have a deep-rooted foundation and broad prospects for cooperation in technological innovation. To better meet the national strategy and the innovation and economic social development needs of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangdong Province has established multiple platforms for technological innovation cooperation. These platforms provide strong support for scientific research cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, focusing on areas of common interest to carry out in-depth research collaborations. PolyU places a strong emphasis on application-oriented research and holds the confident to play an important role in leading industrial development through technological innovation.  

11 PolyU projects secure RGC Collaborative Research Funding

11 projects from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has secured support from the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) of the Research Grants Council (RGC) in 2023/24. Nine of them are funded from the Collaborative Research Project Grant (CRPG) and two projects from the Young Collaborative Research Grant (YCRG). Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “This outstanding result is encouraging and highlights PolyU's prowess in impactful research. The University is committed to providing outstanding and creative interdisciplinary research to support Hong Kong's innovation and technological development, as well as to nurturing young talented researchers in a mutually supportive, interdisciplinary, and forward-thinking research culture. We look forward to collaborating with various partners in supporting our future professional scientists.” The nine projects funded from the CRPG received total support of over HK$55.5 million, with this funding amount being the highest among local institutions. The projects embrace a number of leading areas, including edge artificial intelligence, artificial auditory systems, nanomaterials, cancer diagnosis, age-related metabolic disease, and construction and environment. The other two projects, funded from the YCRG, cover neural networking in psychology and behaviour and 6G-based sensing technologies respectively. The CRF supports multi-investigator, multi-disciplinary projects to encourage research groups to engage in creative and high-quality cross-disciplinary / cross-institutional projects. Under the CRF, the CRPG aims to enhance the research output of universities in terms of attainment level, quantity, dimensions and impact. The YCRG aims to support early-stage academic staff members in gaining first-hand experience in leading and managing collaborative research. For further information of these PolyU funded projects, please refer to the appendix.

PolyU develops the first self-adaptive platform for tourism demand forecasts across the Greater Bay Area

Total international visitor arrivals to the Greater Bay Area (GBA) are forecasted to recover to the pre-pandemic level at close to 130 million by the end of 2024, and the total number of inbound visitor arrivals to Hong Kong to recover to the 2018 level of 65 million by 2025. These are some of the findings released by the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today at the launch of a new forecasting platform under the project entitled “The Development of an Automated and Self-Adaptive Tourism Demand Forecasting Platform for the Greater Bay Area (GBA-TDFP).” Led by Prof. Haiyan SONG, Principal Investigator and SHTM Associate Dean, Chair Professor and Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism, the project adopts an interdisciplinary approach to integrate well-established theories in economics, tourism management and computer science to develop GBA-TDFP. It features key functions that include big data visualisation, market sensitivity analysis, short-, medium- and long-term forecasting, sentiment analysis, and interactive scenario forecasting, and will serve as a valuable tool for industry professionals, policy makers and academics to adapt and generate forecasts of visitor arrivals to the GBA in different economic scenarios. Tourism is considered a key industry in the GBA, with its sights set on becoming a world-leading destination by 2035. While the economy has now largely recovered from the shocks caused by travel restrictions and public health measures taken during the pandemic, there are still challenges to overcome, including labour shortage, supply constraints, changing economic conditions, and shifts in consumer behaviour. “It all points to the fact that in order to sustain ongoing recovery,” Prof. Song remarked, “accurate forecasts of tourism demand recovery are crucial for policy makers and practitioners to be able to develop sustainable tourism strategies that foster long-term economic growth in the region.” To facilitate accurate forecasting, the project has collected macroeconomic data such as GDPs, CPIs and exchange rates of the GBA cities and their key source markets from statistical departments and international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund. For short-term tourism demand forecasting, the project has leveraged big data collected from popular online and social media platforms such as Google, Ctrip and Baidu. Analysis reveals that: According to the short-term forecasting results, it is expected that there will be a significant rebound in inbound visitor arrivals to Hong Kong and Macao, by the end of 2024. Mainland Chinese cities within the GBA are projected to experience a substantial recovery in domestic visitor arrivals and visitor flows within the GBA, by the end of 2024. These projections suggest that the volume of visitors will reach levels comparable to those observed before the pandemic. The five-year-ahead long-term tourism demand forecasting results indicate that the total number of domestic and inbound visitor arrivals into the GBA, as well as visitor flows within the GBA, will return to the pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024. By 2027, the GBA as a whole is expected to witness over 335 million domestic visitor arrivals, along with 195 million inbound visitor arrivals. Visitor flows within the GBA are projected to reach 200 million. In the GBA, visitor reviews overwhelmingly lean towards the positive side for all destinations. These encouraging reviews not only validate the robust recovery of the tourism industry in all GBA destinations but also signify the immense potential for further growth in the GBA tourism market. Meanwhile, moderate and negative reviews still point out critical areas for the destinations to further improve, including service quality and border control. Across all destinations, the monthly average satisfaction levels of visitors, as reflected by sentiment scores extracted from their reviews, are consistently positive. However, there are fluctuations in daily satisfaction levels, indicating that experiences may vary from day to day. There are also noticeable discrepancies in satisfaction levels across different tourism activities. Forecasting results for the GBA generated by the platform.   The GBA-TDFP serves to simplify the process for policy makers and industry leaders to conduct “what-if” scenario analyses on tourism demand forecasts. Users can input hypothetical values for determinant variables (such as GDP and price levels) through web browsers, which are then incorporated into the estimated econometric models to generate scenario forecasts. This functionality is deemed particularly valuable for policy evaluation and decision-making purposes. With advances in technology, destinations and visitors are increasingly dependent on information and communications technologies. By integrating cloud computing, big data and artificial intelligence techniques with advanced forecasting methods, the GBA-TDFP offers innovative insights and valuable guidance for both industry professionals and academics, effectively transforming vast amounts of data into actionable information, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions and maximise the value derived from it. Prof. Kaye CHON, SHTM Dean, Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, said, “This is another contribution that our School has made to the tourism industry. We are committed to bringing the results of cutting-edge research to business practice, thereby addressing the global challenges that the tourism industry faces.” About PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management For 45 years, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Ranked No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality and Tourism Management” category in ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023 for the seventh consecutive year; placed No. 1 globally in the “Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services” category in the University Ranking by Academic Performance in 2022/2023 for six years in a row; rated No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism” subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017; and ranked No. 2 in the world among university based programmes in the “Hospitality and Leisure Management” subject area in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 for the seventh consecutive year, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism. The School is driven by the need to serve its industry and academic communities through the advancement of education and dissemination of knowledge. With a strong international team of 90 faculty members from 20 countries and regions around the world, the SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate to doctoral degrees. Through Hotel ICON, the School’s groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and a vital aspect of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM is advancing teaching, learning and research, and inspiring a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry. Website: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/shtm/

PolyU participated in the Asian Universities Science and Technology Innovation Forum

The Asian Universities Science and Technology Innovation Forum jointly organized by the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel (CAIEP) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) was held from 27 to 28 January in Hong Kong. More than 30 presidents or vice-presidents from leading universities in China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Japan and other Asian countries and regions were invited to attend the Forum. They held discussions and exchanged views during the event, which aimed at strengthening cooperation among Asian universities in response global challenges and building collaboration platforms to drive science and technology innovations. Professor Christopher Chao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, was invited to deliver a keynote speech at the forum and participate in a roundtable discussion. The top management of Asian universities discussed the strategies to nurture and retain young talents, aiming to contribute to the advancement of technological innovation in Asia and worldwide. On the second day of the event, leaders from these universities visited PolyU’s National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Center (Hong Kong Branch) and the University Research Facility in 3D Printing. The visitors were impressed by the high-impact applied research and development achieved by these research centers.