Muscat: The innovation has earned her a spot to represent Oman at the Malaysia International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition 2025.
Tackling one of the oil industry’s toughest environmental challenges, Yusra bint Yousef Al Ghadani’s innovation harnesses the power of squid ink to filter toxic wastewater produced during oil extraction. Her project, born during her participation in Mawarid’s “Manafa’a” innovation marathon in 2023, aims to provide an economical and sustainable alternative to activated carbon, which is traditionally used in industrial water treatment.
Yusra explained to the Oman News Agency that the filter uses a specially treated powder derived from squid ink that can absorb heavy metals, reduce salinity, and capture dissolved hydrocarbons. Unlike conventional systems, her solution can be easily integrated into existing filtration units without significant structural changes—making it both scalable and flexible for industrial application.
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Highlighting its environmental edge, Yusra noted that the squid ink material has a far lower carbon footprint than imported activated carbon, as it is derived from local, natural resources and doesn’t require high energy manufacturing processes
Initial lab tests on simulated oil wastewater have shown highly promising results, and current trials are underway using real industrial samples. According to Yusra, early field data indicates strong performance and supports further development of the innovation.
Despite facing challenges—such as limited lab access post-graduation and difficulties securing early-stage incubation—Yusra pressed on. After not qualifying for the final incubation phase of “Manafa’a,” she eventually joined the OQX accelerator by OQ Company, where her project continues to grow.
Looking ahead, Yusra plans to launch a pilot project in collaboration with a major oil and gas firm and establish her startup “InkClear” to market the innovation globally. “My ambition is for this Omani product to become a global product that reaches international markets and is relied upon as a sustainable solution for industrial water treatment, particularly in the oil and gas sector,” she said.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Yusra has been selected to represent Oman at the 2025 Malaysia International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition—an honor she sees as a gateway to global exposure, investment opportunities, and recognition for young Omani talent.
