Ministry of Higher Education Participates in the 12th International Exhibition of Inventions in China

Darine Al-Ali: The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) has announced its participation in the 12th International Exhibition of Inventions (IEI 2026), scheduled to be held in Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China, from the 21st to the 23rd of this month. The institute will showcase a scientific innovation in the field of wastewater treatment and reuse.

KISR is participating through a patent titled “Wetland System for Treating Wastewater Resulting from Reverse Osmosis Wastewater Treatment,” granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in August 2025 to Dr. Mishaal Khaja and Dr. Mohammed Al-Muntasir Ahmed from the institute’s Water Research Center.

The innovation relies on using a wetland system to treat wastewater generated from reverse osmosis wastewater treatment, thereby improving water quality and enabling its reuse in various applications, while providing sustainable environmental and economic solutions.

Key benefits of the innovation include reducing reliance on heavy metals, lowering organic pollutants and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, minimizing pathogens and microplastics, enhancing biodiversity, and reducing carbon emissions. The system is also characterized by low construction, operation, and maintenance costs, as well as design simplicity and technical and financial efficiency.

Potential applications of the innovation include advanced treatment of domestic wastewater and wastewater resulting from reverse osmosis treatment, enabling the production of higher-quality water for reuse, as well as creating new wildlife habitats and biodiversity areas.

The wetland system was tested on a pilot scale between 2021 and 2023 at the Salibia Research Station, funded by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) under the project titled “A Typological Study of Wetland Systems for Treating Wastewater Resulting from Reverse Osmosis Treated Wastewater.” This reflects KISR’s efforts to develop applied research solutions that support environmental sustainability and enhance water resource efficiency.

The nomination of the researchers to participate in the International Exhibition of Inventions follows the achievements of the innovation, which earned Dr. Mishaal Khaja and Dr. Mohammed Al-Muntasir Ahmed a gold medal, along with the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Talent and Creativity award, at the 16th edition of the International Exhibition of Inventions in the Middle East, for the same patent.