Showing papers by "Cairo University published in 2022"

Sustainable applications of rice feedstock in agro-environmental and construction sectors: A global perspective

Abstract: Rice is second only to maize among the world's most important cereal crops, with a global harvested area of approximately 158 million hectares and an annual production of more than 700 million tonnes as paddy rice. At this scale, rice production generates vast amounts of waste in the form of straw, husk, and bran. Because of high cellulose, lignin, and silica contents, rice biowaste (RB) can be used to produce rice biochar (RBC) and rice compost (RC). Furthermore, RB can be used as sorbents, soil conditioners, bricks/concrete blocks, flat steel products, and biofuels, all of which make significant contributions to meeting United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). Although previous reviews have explored individual applications of rice feedstocks, inadequate attention has been paid to multifunctional values and potential multi-utilities. Here, we offer a comprehensive review of RBC and RC with respect to: (1) preparation and characterization; (2) applications as soil conditioners and organic fertilizers and their effects on soil-carbon sequestration; (3) remediation of toxic element–contaminated soils and water; (4) removal of colors, dyes, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, personal-care products, and residual pesticides from water; and (5) applications in the construction industry. Specifically, we describe the opportunities for the sustainable use of RBC and RC in the management of contaminated soils and water as well as the construction industry. Overall, this review is expected to lengthen the list of possible multifunctional applications of RBC and RC.

Newly synthesized series of oxoindole–oxadiazole conjugates as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents: <i>in silico</i> and <i>in vitro</i> studies

Abstract: The pharmacophoric features of the novel series of 1,3,4-oxadiazole–oxoindole conjugates (IVa–g) as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents based on the reported M pro inhibitor (Ia) are presented.

Decision making algorithmic techniques based on aggregation operations and similarity measures of possibility intuitionistic fuzzy hypersoft sets

Abstract: <abstract><p>Soft set has limitation for the consideration of disjoint attribute-valued sets corresponding to distinct attributes whereas hypersoft set, an extension of soft set, fully addresses this scarcity by replacing the approximate function of soft sets with multi-argument approximate function. Some structures (i.e., possibility fuzzy soft set, possibility intuitionistic fuzzy soft set) exist in literature in which a possibility of each element in the universe is attached with the parameterization of fuzzy sets and intuitionistic fuzzy sets while defining fuzzy soft set and intuitionistic fuzzy soft set respectively. This study aims to generalize the existing structure (i.e., possibility intuitionistic fuzzy soft set) and to make it adequate for multi-argument approximate function. Therefore, firstly, the elementary notion of possibility intuitionistic fuzzy hypersoft set is developed and some of its elementary properties i.e., subset, null set, absolute set and complement, are discussed with numerical examples. Secondly, its set-theoretic operations i.e., union, intersection, AND, OR and relevant laws are investigated with the help of numerical examples, matrix and graphical representations. Moreover, algorithms based on AND/OR operations are proposed and are elaborated with illustrative examples. Lastly, similarity measure between two possibility intuitionistic fuzzy hypersoft sets is characterized with the help of example. This concept of similarity measure is successfully applied in decision making to judge the eligibility of a candidate for an appropriate job. The proposed similarity formulation is compared with the relevant existing models and validity of the generalization of the proposed structure is discussed.</p></abstract>

Adsorption of Tartrazine anionic dye by novel fixed bed Core-Shell- polystyrene Divinylbenzene/Magnetite nanocomposite

Abstract: In this study, the in situ chemical polymerization process was used to synthesize polystyrene/magnetite nanocomposite (PS-DVB/ Fe3O4). The prepared composite was characterized by XPS, SEM, XRD, HRTEM, FT-IR, and TGA technique. The XPS as an essential elemental analysis tool proved the proposed general formulae of the prepared nanocomposite (PS-DVB/ Fe3O4). FT-IR data proved the functional groups in the proposed structural formula of the prepared nanomaterials. The thermal analysis confirmed the high thermal stability of the prepared core–shell polymer. XRD results prove the crystallinity and single phase. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the presence of Fe2O3 and PS-DVB/Fe3O4 composite has been confirmed by HRTEM. The particle size analysis was used to determine the distribution of particle size within the polymer matrix. The adsorption potential of Tartrazine azo dye from polluted water samples onto cross-linked (PS-DVB/Fe3O4) using fixed-bed adsorption column was investigated. The adsorption capacity of Tartrazine onto PS-DVB greatly improved when Fe3O4 is added to the porous composite of PS-DVB copolymer to be 0.15 mol with removal efficiency reach 98%. In this respect, the effect of liquid flow rate, initial Tartrazine concentration, and PS-DVB/Fe3O4 bed height on the adsorption technique's breakthrough features was taken. In this work, the mass transfer model, which involved the two parameters of τ (50% breakthrough time) and k (adsorption rate constant), was suggested for discussion the effect of PS-DVB/Fe3O4on such values. It was found that the adsorption capacity Qe and τ values were decreased with the flow rate increases. The flow rate had little effect, at least for the PS-DVB/Fe3O4, on the k value. On the other hand, both Qe and τ values decreased with increasing the initial Tartrazine concentration, whereas the k value was slightly increased. We concluded that the liquid flow rate, initial Tartrazine concentration, and bed height were1mL/min, 5 M, and 7 cm, respectively. Finally, the PS-DVB/Fe3O4 was a suitable Tartrazine adsorbent using a fixed-bed adsorption column, which fitted well with the mass transfer model.

Nanopotassium, Nanosilicon, and Biochar Applications Improve Potato Salt Tolerance by Modulating Photosynthesis, Water Status, and Biochemical Constituents

Abstract: Salinity is one of the main environmental stresses, and it affects potato growth and productivity in arid and semiarid regions by disturbing physiological process, such as the photosynthesis rate, the absorption of essential nutrients and water, plant hormonal functions, and vital metabolic pathways. Few studies are available on the application of combined nanomaterials to mitigate salinity stress on potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Diamont). In order to assess the effects of the sole or combined application of silicon (Si) and potassium (K) nanoparticles and biochar (Bc) on the agro-physiological properties and biochemical constituents of potato plants grown in saline soil, two open-field experiments were executed on a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with five replicates. The results show that the biochar application and nanoelements (n-K and n-Si) significantly improved the plant heights, the fresh and dry plant biomasses, the numbers of stems/plant, the leaf relative water content, the leaf chlorophyll content, the photosynthetic rate (Pn), the leaf stomatal conductance (Gc), and the tuber yields, compared to the untreated potato plants (CT). Moreover, the nanoelements and biochar improved the content of the endogenous elements of the plant tissues (N, P, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, and B), the leaf proline, and the leaf gibberellic acid (GA3), in addition to reducing the leaf abscisic acid content (ABA), the activity of catalase (CAT), and the peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in the leaves of salt-stressed potato plants. The combined treatment achieved maximum plant growth parameters, physiological parameters, and nutrient concentrations, and minimum transpiration rates (Tr), leaf abscisic acid content (ABA), and activities of the leaf antioxidant enzymes (CAT, POD, and PPO). Furthermore, the combined treatment also showed the highest tuber yield and tuber quality, including the contents of carbohydrates, proteins, and the endogenous nutrients of the tuber tissues (N, P, and K), and the lowest starch content. Moreover, Pearson’s correlation showed that the plant growth and the tuber yields of potato plants significantly and positively correlated with the photosynthesis rate, the internal CO2 concentration, the relative water content, the proline, the chlorophyll content, and the GA3, and that they were negatively correlated with the leaf Na content, PPO, CAT, ABA, MDA, and Tr. It might be concluded that nanoelement (n-K and n-Si) and biochar applications are a promising method to enhance the plant growth and crop productivity of potato plants grown under salinity conditions.