KUA Yin Leng
Assistant Professor Dr.
SDGs Focus
About Me
Dr. Kua Yin Leng is an Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering at Xiamen University Malaysia, specializing in novel colloids and sustainable food systems. Her research pioneers the valorization of agro-waste, particularly durian seeds and oil palm by-products, for innovative eutectogel and oleogel applications. She has published extensively in high-impact Q1/Q2 journals, including Food Hydrocolloids, Sustainable Chemistry & Pharmacy and Food & Bioproducts Processing. Dr. Kua possesses prior industrial working experience with Shin-Etsu Chemical and actively engages in consultancy and industry-sponsored projects with BioLoop Sdn Bhd, translating laboratory studies into processes that support sustainable manufacturing and circular bioeconomy development.
PhD in Chemical Engineering, University of Nottingham, 2014-2017 (First-authored 5 SCI/Scopus indexed journal publications)
- MEng in Chemical Engineering, University of Nottingham, 2008-2011 (First Class Honours)
- Graduate Engineer with Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM)
- Associate Member with Institution of Chemical Engineers
Research Interests
Research Projects
Formulation of olegel via hermetia illucens (black soldier fly) larvae and durian seed – principal investigator
Simultaneous oil and defatted protein meal fractionation from black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) – principal investigator
The formulation of fortified eutectogel using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) and durian seed gum for use as food coating – principal investigator
Simultaneous fractionation of low-gluten flour and gum from durian seed – principal investigator
Stabilization of protein-fortified pineapple jam using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) – principal investigator
Formulation of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) for phytonutrients extraction via computer-aided molecular design (CAMD) – principal investigator
Natural deep eutectic solvents as a greener alternative from the extraction of polar and non-polar phytonutrients from oil palm leaf – principal investigator
- Investigation of ethyl lactate as a green solvent to recover carotenes and vitamin E (tocols) from crude palm oil – research student
Recovery of Cu(II) ions from wastewater using Azadirachta indica (neem) leaf biosorbents – research student
Current Courses Taught
CME214 – Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering II
CME224 – Chemical Engineering Laboratory I
- CME443 – Oils and Fats Technology
- EGE203 – Principles of Chemical Engineering I
G0340 – Bakery Engineering
Local Grant(s)
Novel formulation using durian seed and black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), XMUM Research Fund 2023 Cycle 12 (XMUMRF/2023-C12/IENG/0058) – on-going
Tuning fortified eutectogel using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES): Oil palm leaf extract in durian seed gum, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) (FRGS/1/2021/TK0/XMU/02/2) – 100% KPI achieved
Fractionation of oil and protein from black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), BioLoop Sdn. Bhd. (EENG0041) – 100% KPI achieved
Formulation of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent to Extract Phytonutrients from Food Wastes, XMUM Research Fund 2019 Cycle 3 (XMUMRF/2019-C3/IENG/0010) – 100% KPI achieved
International Grant(s)
Novel oleogel formulation using durian seed and black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), WWF Train Fellowship - Sustainable Food Systems, EF16984 – on-going (supervision)
- Zhi Ling Chew, Yin Leng Kua*, Jun Kit Mah, Niroshiny Ra, Terri Zhuan Ean Lee, Samuel Kian Chee Yap (2025). Temperature-Controlled Mechanical Pressing of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL): Yields and Qualities of Oil and Protein Meal, Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 102 (10), 1501-1512. (SCIE Q3-https://doi.org/10.1002/aocs.70007)
- Zhi Ling Chew, Chi Loke Fun, Qi Qi Koh, Yingzhan Zhao, Yin Leng Kua*, Suyin Gan, Harrison Lik Nang Lau (2025). Improved stability of phytonutrients in fortified eutectogel: Tuning durian seed gum and oil palm leaf extract using natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) for food coating application, Food and Bioproducts Processing, 151, 337-354. (SCIE Q2-https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbp.2025.04.005)
- Qi Qi Koh, Zhi Ling Chew, Yingzhan Zhao, Yin Leng Kua*, Suyin Gan, Khang Wei Tan, Terri Zhuan Ean Lee, Harrison Lik Nang Lau (2024). Formulation and characterization of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) for simultaneous phenolics and carotenes extraction from fresh oil palm leaf, Food and Bioproducts Processing, 147, 459-473. (SCIE Q2-https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbp.2024.07.023)
- Zhi Ling Chew, Qi Qi Koh, Eng Eng Chu, Yin Leng Kua*, Suyin Gan, Khang Wei Tan, Terri Zhuan Ean Lee (2024). Tunable durian seed gum-derived eutectogel as a novel coating material: Rheological, thermal, textural and barrier properties for enhanced food preservation, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 267(1), 131201. (SCIE Q1-https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131201)
- Zhi Ling Chew, Yin Leng Kua*, Suyin Gan, Khang Wei Tan, Terri Zhuan Ean Lee (2024). Simultaneous fractionation of low-gluten flour and gum from durian seed: Process-properties relationship, Waste and Biomass Valorization, 15, 2299-2311. (SCIE Q3-https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-023-02294-2)
- Qi Qi Koh, Yin Leng Kua*, Suyin Gan, Khang Wei Tan, Terri Zhuan Ean Lee, Wai Kit Cheng, Harrison Lik Nang Lau (2023). Sugar-based natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES): Physicochemical properties, antimicrobial activity, toxicity, biodegradability and potential use as green extraction media for phytonutrients, Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, 35, 101218. (SCIE Q1-https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scp.2023.101218)
- Xiao Fang, Yunjia Li, Yin Leng Kua*, Zhi Ling Chew, Suyin Gan, Khang Wei Tan, Terri Zhuan Ean Lee, Wai Kit Cheng, Harrison Lik Nang Lau (2022). Insights on the potential of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) to fine-tune durian seed gum for use as edible food coating. Food Hydrocolloids, 132, 1-16. (SCIE Q1-https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2022.107861)
- Yin Leng Kua*, Suyin Gan (2019). Natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) as a greener alternative for the extraction of hydrophilic (polar) and lipophilic (non-polar) phytonutrients, Key Engineering Materials, 797, 20-28. (Scopus-https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.797.20)
- Yin Leng Kua, Suyin Gan*, Andrew Morris, Hoon Kiat Ng (2018) Optimization of simultaneous carotenes and vitamin E (tocols) extraction from crude palm olein using response surface methodology, Chemical Engineering Communications, 205(5), 596-609. (Q3, IF 2.5) (SCIE Q3-https://doi.org/10.1080/00986445.2017.1407760)
- Yin Leng Kua, Suyin Gan*, Andrew Morris, Hoon Kiat Ng (2018) Simultaneous recovery of carotenes and tocols from crude palm olein using ethyl lactate and ethanol, Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 989, 012005. (Scopus-https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/989/1/012005)
- Yin Leng Kua, Suyin Gan*, Andrew Morris, Hoon Kiat Ng (2017) Liquid-liquid equilibrium data for the ternary systems of palm oil + ethyl lactate + phytonutrients (carotene and tocol) at 303.15 K, International Journal of Chemical Engineering and Applications, 8(3), pp 215-220. (https://doi.org/10.18178/ijcea.2017.8.3.659)
- Yin Leng Kua, Suyin Gan*, Andrew Morris, Hoon Kiat Ng (2016) A validated, rapid, simple and economical high-performance liquid-chromatography method to quantify palm tocopherol and tocotrienols, Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 53, 22-29. (SCIE Q2-https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2016.09.003)
- Yin Leng Kua, Suyin Gan*, Andrew Morris, Hoon Kiat Ng (2016) Ethyl lactate as a potential green solvent to extract hydrophilic (polar) and lipophilic (non-polar) phytonutrients simultaneously from fruit and vegetable by-products, Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, 4, 21-31. (SCIE Q1-https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scp.2016.07.003)
Book
- Zhi Ling Chew, Yin Leng Kua*, Qi Qi Koh (2025). Chapter 14 - DESs gel materials: Applications in green and sustainable chemistry, Deep Eutectic Solvents, 215-222. (https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-21962-7.00014-6)
Current Supervision (Postgraduate only)
CHEW Zhi Ling (PCE2407002)
PhD in Chemical Engineering
Novel oleogel formulation using durian seeds and black soldier fly larvae (BSFL)
2024 – Present
Xiamen University Malaysia
Completed Supervision (Postgraduate only)
KOH QI QI (MEG2112001)
Master in New Energy Science and Engineering
(First-authored 2 SCIE indexed journal publications)
Phenolics and Carotenes Extraction from Fresh Oil Palm Leaf using Sugar-based Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES)
2021 – 2024
Xiamen University Malaysia
CHEW Zhi Ling (MEG2205001)
Master in New Energy Science and Engineering
(First-authored 3 SCIE indexed journal publications)
Formulation of Fortified Eutectogel using Durian Seed Gum for Use as Food Coating
2022 – 2024
Xiamen University Malaysia
- Best Paper Award, International Conference on Global Sustainability and Chemical Engineering, Malaysia (2018)
- Recipient of Departmental 2017 RA Conference Funding, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (2017)
- Best Oral Presentation, 4th International Conference on Chemical and Food Engineering, Japan (2017)
- Top 6 Finalist of Poster Presentation, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (2015)
- Best Poster Award, 3rd Symposium of Foods, Vegetables and Fruits, Malaysia (2014)
- Recipient of PhD Scholarship, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (2014-2017)
- Certified GEOMET Engineer, NOF Metal Coatings Asia Pacific Co. Ltd., Japan (2012)
- Outstanding Project Management Presentation, Project Management Institute, Malaysia (2010)
- Recipient of High Achievers Scholarship, University of Nottingham, Malaysia (2008-2011)