Publications
Publications
Sustainable Water Research Funding and Water Quality Challenges in Agricultural Practices: An Economic Analysis in Egypt
- Mohamed Soultan
- Yasmen Salah
- Mohamed Ali Fathallah
- Amr Abedelkader
Abstract
This study sheds light on the significance of enhancing sustainable funding for water research and addressing water quality challenges in agricultural practices through economic analysis in Egypt. The study employed a survey questionnaire targeting researchers from various disciplines. The results revealed a gender distribution of approximately 44.7% female and 55.3% male participants. The study also disclosed university participation percentages, with the University of Alexandria having the highest at 43.5%, followed by Beni Suef University at 19.4%, Zagazig University at 17.6%, and Aswan University at 11.8%. The results further indicated the diversity of researchers’ specializations. Regarding funding sources, the study found that around 30% of researchers obtained external funding for their research projects. Funding sources included international donors (46.2%), governmental grants (30.8%), and the private sector (23.1%). The results also highlighted challenges faced by researchers in obtaining funding, and affirmed that 75% of projects made progress due to funding, while 25% were concluded upon achieving financial objectives. A field study was conducted in the Moghra and Wadi Natron regions to measure the impact of salinity (water quality) on agricultural productivity. The outcomes underscored the urgent need for water research funding, as it indirectly affects the increase in agricultural productivity.
Sensing of heavy metal Pb2+ ions in water utilizing the photonic structure of highly controlled hexagonal TiON/TiO2 nanotubes
- Asmaa M. Elsayed
- Ashour M. Ahmed
- M. T. Tammam
- M. F. Eissa
- Arafa H. Aly
Abstract
The detection of heavy metals in water, especially Pb2+ ions, is important due to their severe hazardous effects. To address this issue, a highly controlled hexagonal TiON/TiO2 heterostructure has been synthesized in this study. The fabrication process involved the utilization of atomic layer deposition and direct current sputtering techniques to deposit TiO2 and TiON layers onto a porous Al2O3 membrane used as a template. The resulting heterostructure exhibits a well-ordered hollow tube structure with a diameter of 345 nm and a length of 1.2 µm. The electrochemical sensing of Pb2+ ions in water is carried out using a cyclic voltammetry technique under both light and dark conditions. The concentration range for the Pb2+ ions ranges from 10–5 to 10–1 M. The sensitivity values obtained for the sensor are 1.0 × 10–6 in dark conditions and 1.0 × 10–4 in light conditions. The remarkable enhancement in sensitivity under light illumination can be attributed to the increased activity and electron transfer facilitated by the presence of light. The sensor demonstrates excellent reproducibility, highlighting its reliability and consistency. These findings suggest that the proposed sensor holds great promise for the detection of Pb2+ ions in water, thereby facilitating environmental monitoring, water quality assessment, and safety regulation across various industries. Furthermore, the eco-friendly and straightforward preparation techniques employed in its fabrication provide a significant advantage for practical and scalable implementation.
Annular one-dimensional photonic crystals for salinity sensing
- Hassan Sayed
- Mohamed A. Swillam
- Arafa H. Aly
Abstract
The use of annular one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystals (PCs) for salinity sensing is studied in this research. Annular 1D-PCs provide small and integrated structures that facilitate the creation of portable and miniaturized sensor equipment appropriate for field use. In order to generate annular 1D-PCs, the research explores the finite element method (FEM) simulation technique utilizing the COMSOL Multiphysics approach, highlighting the significance of exact control over layer thickness and uniformity. Furthermore, we construct a 1D annular PCs structure in the form (𝐴𝐵)𝑁, where A is silicon (𝑆𝑖) and B is silicon dioxide (𝑆𝑖𝑂2) of 40 nm and 70 nm, respectively, with a number of periods equal to 9. By incorporating a central defect layer of saline water (220 nm thickness), the sensor achieves optimum performance at normal incidence with a sensitivity (S) of 782(𝑛𝑚/𝑅𝐼𝑈), a quality factor (Q) of 10.22, and a figure of merit (FOM) of 12.6𝑅𝐼𝑈−1. The design that is suggested has several advantages over past work on planners and annular 1D-PCs, including ease of implementation, performance at normal incidence, and high sensitivity.