Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority

About: Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority is a government organization based out in Cairo, Egypt. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Adsorption & Chemistry. The organization has 1215 authors who have published 1369 publications receiving 9308 citations.

Cadmium in plants: uptake, toxicity, and its interactions with selenium fertilizers

Abstract: Cd is the third major contaminant of greatest hazard to the environment after mercury and lead and is considered as the only metal that poses health risks to both humans and animals at plant tissue concentrations that are generally not phytotoxic. Cd accumulation in plant shoots depends on Cd entry through the roots, sequestration within root vacuoles, translocation in the xylem and phloem, and Cd dilution within the plant shoot throughout its growth. Several metal transporters, processes, and channels are involved from the first step of Cd reaching the root cells and until its final accumulation in the edible parts of the plant. It is hard to demonstrate one step as the pivotal factor to decide the Cd tolerance or accumulation ability of plants since the role of a specific transporter/process varies among plant species and even cultivars. In this review, we discuss the sources of Cd pollutants, Cd toxicity to plants, and mechanisms of Cd uptake and redistribution in plant tissues. The metal transporters involved in Cd transport within plant tissues are also discussed and how their manipulation can control Cd uptake and/or translocation. Finally, we discuss the beneficial effects of Se on plants under Cd stress, and how it can minimize or mitigate Cd toxicity in plants.

Recent advances in carbon capture storage and utilisation technologies: a review

Abstract: Human activities have led to a massive increase in $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ emissions as a primary greenhouse gas that is contributing to climate change with higher than $$1\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$ global warming than that of the pre-industrial level. We evaluate the three major technologies that are utilised for carbon capture: pre-combustion, post-combustion and oxyfuel combustion. We review the advances in carbon capture, storage and utilisation. We compare carbon uptake technologies with techniques of carbon dioxide separation. Monoethanolamine is the most common carbon sorbent; yet it requires a high regeneration energy of 3.5 GJ per tonne of $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ . Alternatively, recent advances in sorbent technology reveal novel solvents such as a modulated amine blend with lower regeneration energy of 2.17 GJ per tonne of $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ . Graphene-type materials show $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ adsorption capacity of 0.07 mol/g, which is 10 times higher than that of specific types of activated carbon, zeolites and metal–organic frameworks. $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ geosequestration provides an efficient and long-term strategy for storing the captured $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ in geological formations with a global storage capacity factor at a Gt-scale within operational timescales. Regarding the utilisation route, currently, the gross global utilisation of $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ is lower than 200 million tonnes per year, which is roughly negligible compared with the extent of global anthropogenic $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ emissions, which is higher than 32,000 million tonnes per year. Herein, we review different $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ utilisation methods such as direct routes, i.e. beverage carbonation, food packaging and oil recovery, chemical industries and fuels. Moreover, we investigated additional $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ utilisation for base-load power generation, seasonal energy storage, and district cooling and cryogenic direct air $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ capture using geothermal energy. Through bibliometric mapping, we identified the research gap in the literature within this field which requires future investigations, for instance, designing new and stable ionic liquids, pore size and selectivity of metal–organic frameworks and enhancing the adsorption capacity of novel solvents. Moreover, areas such as techno-economic evaluation of novel solvents, process design and dynamic simulation require further effort as well as research and development before pilot- and commercial-scale trials.

Wearable Contact Lens Biosensors for Continuous Glucose Monitoring Using Smartphones.

Abstract: Low-cost, robust, and reusable continuous glucose monitoring systems that can provide quantitative measurements at point-of-care settings is an unmet medical need. Optical glucose sensors require complex and time-consuming fabrication processes, and their readouts are not practical for quantitative analyses. Here, a wearable contact lens optical sensor was created for the continuous quantification of glucose at physiological conditions, simplifying the fabrication process and facilitating smartphone readouts. A photonic microstructure having a periodicity of 1.6 μm was printed on a glucose-selective hydrogel film functionalized with phenylboronic acid. Upon binding with glucose, the microstructure volume swelled, which modulated the periodicity constant. The resulting change in the Bragg diffraction modulated the space between zero- and first-order spots. A correlation was established between the periodicity constant and glucose concentration within 0–50 mM. The sensitivity of the sensor was 12 nm mM–1, a...