Research initiatives in MAPTech lab have led to groundbreaking discoveries. Our lab’s microbial electrochemical system treats wastewater while recovering energy and producing valuable gases such as methane and acetate.

We have also developed a microbial chain-elongation process that converts food and dairy waste into high-value chemicals and protein-rich products. “According to Vision 2030, all landfills (where waste is disposed) will be shut down and waste should be diverted away from landfills by 2030 or 2035,” Prof. Saikaly said. “This means there is an urgent need for an alternative solution for this huge amount of organic waste that is being generated.

Finally, in partnership with former KAUST scientist Dr. Mohammed Ali, our compact, mobile aerobic granular sludge gravity-driven membrane system treats up to 150 m³/day of domestic wastewater without energy-intensive aeration or pumping; it’s already serving 2,000 people in Rabigh and is ideal for rural or remote communities.

"These innovations are part of a broader push by Prof. Saikaly and his team to rethink how we deal with waste — not as something to dispose of, but as something to transform."

Read the full article in Arab News here.