Coolit-gel® can be described as the next-generation hydrogel system in biomaterial technology. Coolit-gel® is produced through cost-effective and eco-friendly methods that not only support the use of local underutilised natural resources but also contribute to sustainability and cost-efficiency in production, aligning with environmental and economic considerations.

In Malaysia, agricultural activities generate large quantities of lignocellulosic biomass that are typically underutilised. Every year, approximately 23 tons of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) are generated upon harvesting palm oil fruits. Meanwhile, kapok trees grow natively throughout Malaysia especially in rural areas. Kapok seed pod (KSP) fibres are natural non-wood fibres obtained from the seedpod of the kapok tree. These underutilised non-woody biomass can be used for value-added product generation such as Coolit-gel® presented here.

Waste-to-goldNon-woody biomasses are underutilised in Malaysia but rich in cellulose content, showing significant potential as cellulose source for hydrogel production. Additionally, using these underutilised fibres reduces the dependence on wood resources and aligns with sustainability efforts.Facile productionCoolit-gel® generation involves simple chemicals and production steps. The procedure has been optimised to create desired hydrogels for different applications. This also makes the commercialisation potential feasible.