Prof. YEUNG King-Lun Won Top Honor at 2024 Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards with Groundbreaking Multifunctional Odor Control Hydrogel
Prof. YEUNG King-Lun, Chair Professor of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE) and the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR) at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has recently won the prestigious Gold Award at the 2024 Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards (HKGIA). This esteemed recognition commends his team’s revolutionary project, “Breathe Easy: Innovative MOC Hydrogel Technology for Odor Suppression in Urban Drainage,” which has significantly advanced urban odor management.
Initiated at the request of the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), the Drainage Services Department (DSD), and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, this innovative project responds to ongoing community concerns regarding unpleasant odors in urban environments. Under Prof. Yeung’s leadership, along with Prof. Joseph KWAN, Adjunct Professor of ENVR, and Prof. HAN Wei, Research Associate Professor of ENVR, the HKUST team has developed a scientific, effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional odor management methods, significantly reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
“This award is a powerful validation of our team’s long-term commitment to translating fundamental scientific research into practical solutions for our city,” said Prof. Yeung. “We are grateful for the unwavering support from ITC, DSD, and EPD, which was crucial in testing and implementing this technology at scale. Our partnership with Absolute Pure EnviroSci Limited has also been vital in establishing an Industry 4.0 manufacturing facility in Hong Kong, enabling us to implement intelligent IoT solutions and achieve a remarkable production capacity of eight tons per day in a compact factory footprint.”
The Multifunctional Odor Control (MOC) Hydrogel represents a paradigm shift in odor management. Unlike conventional chemical masking or energy-intensive mechanical cleaning, the MOC Hydrogel targets the root cause of odor—sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and other microbes that produce hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), ammonia (NH₃), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Its precision-engineered, biodegradable formula gradually releases active agents over 30 days, effectively suppressing odor generation at the source, inhibiting biofilm formation, and preventing bacterial regrowth.
A Testament to Innovation and Impact
The MOC Hydrogel has demonstrated exceptional performance and practicality, achieving:
- Unprecedented efficacy: A sustained 95% reduction in toxic H₂S emissions, bringing levels down to a safe <0.01 ppm, and reducing ammonia and VOCs by over 90%.
- Remarkable efficiency: Just one kilogram of hydrogel treats 250,000 cubic meters of drainage water for an entire month.
- Environmental & social benefits: The fully biodegradable hydrogel eliminates the need for toxic chemicals and reduces sludge waste from dredging, directly improving air quality and public health for communities near drainage infrastructure.
- Upcycling & closing the loop: The depleted MOC hydrogel, primarily composed of silica sand, is environmentally safe and can be upcycled into high-performance thermal safety insulators for electric vehicle batteries, enhancing their safety through collaboration with IBIH (China).
In addition to HKGIA, the MOC Hydrogel has garnered global recognition, being selected from over 3,300 applications across 100+ countries and regions for the Prototypes for Humanity 2025 exhibition in Dubai. It has also been showcased at the InnoTech Expo 2022, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the HKSAR, and has won two Silver Medals at the Geneva International Exhibition of Invention (2022 & 2023) for its innovative approach.
As a patented invention (HK Patent No. 1185335), the MOC Hydrogel has already been adopted for large-scale use by the Drainage Services Department and the Environmental Protection Department of the HKSAR Government, with an annual deployment of eight tons across the territory’s drainage network. The technology’s implementation has expanded from 10 initial sites to over 200 by June 2025, significantly enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors during major water sports events, such as the cross-harbor swim and dragon boat races.
Related links:
- The Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE)
- HKSAR Government press release (Jan 16, 2026): Various companies and organisations with outstanding environmental performance awarded with HKAEE
