The pollution of aquatic bodies by synthetic dyes is regarded as one of the most significant environmental issues, which has prompted greater research into effective and sustainable removal techniques. Even though there have been major efforts in the previous few decades, more study is still necessary to fully examine the long-term performance and usable applicability of adsorbents and different adsorption techniques for the removal of dye. In the present study, a brown marine macroalga Sargassum muticum was used as an effective and sustainable biosorbent for the crystal violet (CV) dye removal from aqueous solutions. The biosorbent was characterized by analysis of SEM, EDX, and FTIR. In order to evaluate the optimum conditions of CV biosorption, several parameters have been examined as a function of contact time, algal dose, initial concentration of CV, and pH. The maximum CV removal was obtained at 60 min contact time, 10 g/L algal dosage, 30 mg/L initial concentration of CV, and pH 6. The isothermal models of Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich, and Temkin are best explained the equilibrium data obtained. At the optimum conditions, the maximum biosorption capacity of the algal biomass achieved from the Langmuir model was 39.1 mg/g. The kinetic adsorption models were also better explained using the pseudo-second-order and Elovich model, and the effect of the boundary layer was indicated using the intraparticle diffusion model as well as the chemisorption-controlled biosorption process. Thermodynamically, the process of CV biosorption was shown to be random, spontaneous, and endothermic. Furthermore, the proposed mechanism of CV dye biosorption onto algal biomass is regulated by hydrogen bond formation, electrostatic interaction, and ion exchange. These findings revealed that the biomass of S. muticum is a sustainable and promising material for the biosorption of water pollutants.

The release of heavy metals into the environment as a result of industrial and agricultural activities represents one of the century’s most significant issues. Cobalt is a hazardous metal that is employed in a variety of industries. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) combined with Box–Behnken design (BBD) was utilized to optimize the Co(II) ion removal from synthetic wastewater by the brown macroalga Padina pavonica. The influence of three factors, namely algal inoculum size, pH, and initial metal concentration, was assessed in optimization studies. RSM proposed a second-order quadratic model with a p-value of <0.0001 and R² of 0.984 for P. pavonica. According to the data related to RSM optimization, the maximum percentage of Co(II) removal of 84.3% was attained under the conditions of algal inoculum size of 5.98 g/L, pH of 6.73, and initial Co(II) concentration of 21.63 mg/L. The experimental data from the biosorption process were fitted well with the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models. The maximal Co(II) adsorption capacity was estimated using the Langmuir model to be 17.98 mg/g. Furthermore, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was shown to have the best fit for Co biosorption by P. pavonica, showing that the mechanism of Co(II) biosorption was chemisorption controlled by surface biosorption and intra-particle diffusion. Thermodynamic parameters were also investigated to evaluate the Gibbs free energy for the Co(II) ion, which was positive, showing that the biosorption process is nonspontaneous and exothermic, and the cobalt biosorption rate decreases with increasing temperature. Algal biomass was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. These analyses revealed the biosorbent’s diverse functional groups and porous, rough appearance. Therefore, P. pavonica can be used to implement sustainable, eco-friendly, and acceptable solutions to water pollution problems.

Due to their low cost and ability to synthesize lipids for sustainable biodiesel production, oleaginous fungus has recently gained more prominence than other microorganisms. The new oleaginous fungus Aspergillus carneus OQ275240’s dry biomass, lipid content, and lipid yield were all optimized in this work, using the response surface methodology-based Box–Behnken design. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also used to examine the experimental data, and multiple regression analysis was used to fit the data to a second-order polynomial equation. Three independent variables, such as the concentration of yeast, glucose, and phosphorus, were examined for their mutual impacts. Maximum dry biomass (0.024 g/50 mL), lipid content (36.20%), and lipid yield (8.70 mg/50 mL) were achieved at optimal concentrations of 2.68 g/L of yeast, 20.82 g/L of glucose, and 0.10 g/L of phosphorus, respectively, showing that the actual data and predictions of the models were in good agreement. A. carneus OQ275240 has a favorable fatty acid profile that can be used to successfully create biodiesel, as shown by the presence of palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), and oleic acid (C18:1) in its fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) profile. Furthermore, the qualities of the biodiesel were investigated, and it was found that they fell within the parameters established by the international specifications EN 14214 (Europe) and ASTM D6751-08 (United States). These findings point to the newly evaluated filamentous fungal strain as a potential feedstock for the production of high-quality biodiesel.

The antimicrobial activity of donkey milk was examined against 3 bacterial and 3 fungal strains selected on the basis of their relevance as human pathogens. All samples of donkey milk exhibited antimicrobial activity against dermatomycotic fungi and foodborne pathogen bacteria. The highest antimicrobial activity was recorded against Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. rubrum with minimal lethal concentration of 32 mg/ml. In respect to foodborne pathogenic bacteria, Gram- positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) were more sensitive to donkey milk than Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli) with minimal lethal concentrations of 32, 64 and 128 mg/ml respectively. Donkey milk kept about 60 to 62% of its antimicrobial activity against B. cereus and S. aurous respectively, after digestion with pepsin (2 mg/ml), suggesting that the fatty acids of donkey milk has the highest antimicrobial effect. While the antimicrobial activity against dermatomycotic fungi and Gram-negative bacteria not affected after digestion with pepsin. To explain the antifungal capability of donkey milk against dermatomycotic fungi, fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography. Fatty acids analysis indicated that the major constituents in donkey milk lipid are oleic (25.4%), palmitic (23.75%), linolenic (20.04%), arachidic (3.58%) and stearic (3.26%), which have antimicrobial activity. Finally, on the basis of results obtained in the current study, the antimicrobial activity of donkey milk against Staphylococcus aureus and dermatomycotic fungi, specially T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum which frequently cause acute or chronic inflammatory tinea corporis; may be considered as a valuable natural product with novel functional protection properties in cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.

The current study has been designed to investigate the possible biodegradtion of native keratin by fungi isolated from chicken feathers collected from chicken farms in Egypt. Out of 56 fungal isolates 23 species and 2 species varieties showed different degrees of keratinolytic activity, with Chrysosporium tropicum showing the highest keratinase productivity (23.15 U/ml) as well as the highest value of specific activity for keratinase (197.90 U/mg protein) indicating a great degree of purity for the enzyme. Our present study indicates that the highest production of keratinase by C. tropicum was recorded at pH 8 and a temperature of 35 °C during a period of 20 days. In addition the optimal value of ionic strength for keratinase production was 100 mM NaCl. Monitoring the influence of constituents deprivation from basal salt medium on production of keratinase enzyme showed that K⁺, Fe²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were necessary for keratinase production. Sulfur deprivation has no significant influence on keratinase production. Keratinase activity of C. tropicum showed that, the optimal values of temperature and ionic strength were 35–40 °C and 80 mM NaCl, individually. The optimum pH range was (7.8–9). These promising findings demonstrate a high potentiality of C. tropicum keratinase in keratin proteolysis, suggesting that keratinase producing isolates of C. tropicum may be suitable as a biodegradation agent.

This article aims to provide an alternative scientific interpretation for verse 35 in Surat An-Nur. This verse addresses the very famous simile in the Quran which describes the light of Allah. In this verse Allah mentioned that ꞌAllah (is the) light (of) the heavens and the earth. (The) example (of) His Light (is) like a niche in it (is) a lamp; the lamp (is) in a glass, the glass as if it were a star brilliant (which) is lit from a tree blessed - an olive, not (of the) east and not (of the) west, would almost its oil glow, even if not touched it fireꞌ [1]Despite all the most commentators who have addressed this verse singled the olive tree as the blessed tree, the intended tree still has one characteristic that is enigmatic. Regarding this characteristic ꞌnot east and not westꞌ, all previous interpretations directed this characteristic to the compass directions. But they did not give any logical and acceptable justification. Dealing with this verse with another linguistic concept, particularly with three words in the verse ꞌzaytūnatin, sharqiyyatin, and gharbiyyatinꞌ can change the story of the intended blessed tree. The first word in the Arabic language could be considered as an adjective for exaggeration meaning a high oil producer rather than the genus olive. More interestingly, this word has been mentioned as an indefinite noun without ꞌAlꞌ which makes the noun definite when it is used as a prefix; therefore, in this case, it is not specific to olive but it could refer to any tree producing high amount of oil. The second word ꞌsharqiyyatinꞌ comes from the verb ꞌsharekꞌ, which in Arabic means, particularly for dates, that they became reddish in color as a sign of maturity. The third word ꞌgharbiyyatinꞌ derives its meaning from the verb ꞌgharbꞌ which means it became black. When these new meanings are applied to the verse, the first word will now mean any tree with high oil production. The other two words, will mean reddish and black colors of the fruit not the east and west directions. These two characteristics could be considered to be distinguishable features for palm oil tree not for olive trees. In this paper two additional evidences supporting this idea have been addressed. Therefore, the palm oil tree, particularly the subspecies nigrescens could be a potential candidate for the blessed tree in the Quran. [1] ꞌٱللَّهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِۦ كَمِشۡكَوٰةࣲ فِیهَا مِصۡبَاحٌۖ ٱلۡمِصۡبَاحُ فِی زُجَاجَةٍۖ ٱلزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوۡكَبࣱ دُرِّیࣱّ یُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةࣲ مُّبَـٰرَكَةࣲ زَیۡتُونَةࣲ لَّا شَرۡقِیَّةࣲ وَلَا غَرۡبِیَّةࣲ یَكَادُ زَیۡتُهَا یُضِیۤءُ وَلَوۡ لَمۡ تَمۡسَسۡهُ نَارࣱࣱۚꞌ (النور– 35)