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This work investigates an experimental study for using low-cost and eco-friendly oils to increase the shelf life of strawberry fruit. Three natural oils were used: (i) Eucalyptus camaldulensis var obtuse, (ii) Mentha piperita green aerial parts essential oils (EOs), and (iii) Moringa oleifera seeds n-hexane fixed oil (FO). Furthermore, a mixture of EOs from E. camaldulensis var obtusa and M. piperita (1/1 v/v) was used. The treated fruits were stored at 5 °C and 90% relative humidity (RH) for 18 days. HPLC was used to analyse the changes in phenolic compounds during the storage periods. The effects of biofumigation through a slow-release diffuser of EOs (E. camaldulensis var obtusa and M. piperita), or by coating with M. oleifera FO, were evaluated in terms of control of post-harvest visual and chemical quality of strawberry fruits. The post-harvest resistance of strawberry fruits to Botrytis cinerea fungal infection was also evaluated. As a result, the EO treatments significantly reduced the change in visual and chemical quality of strawberry fruit. Additionally, changes in the titratable acidity of moringa FO-coated strawberry fruits were delayed. EO treatments improved total soluble solids, total phenols, ascorbic acid, antioxidants and peroxidase. E. camaldulensis var obtusa and M. piperita (1/1 v/v) EO-vapour fruit exhibited a slower rate of deterioration, compared to other treatments in all tested, in two experiments. The lowest colour change (ΔE) was observed inthe fruit treated with E. camaldulensis var obtusa EO and M. oleifera FO. HPLC showed changes in phenolic compounds’ concentration, where p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid and ellagic acid were mostly identified in the fruits treated with the oils. SEM examination confirmed the potential decrease in fungal growth as the fruits were treated with EOs. In conclusion, the treatment of EOs during different storage periods showed promising characterisations for strawberry fruit quality.
Doaa Abd-Elkader; Mohamed Salem; Doaa Komeil; Asma Al-Huqail; Hayssam Ali; Alaa Salah; Mohammad Akrami; Hanaa Hassan. Post-Harvest Enhancing and Botrytis cinerea Control of Strawberry Fruits Using Low Cost and Eco-Friendly Natural Oils. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1246 .
AMA StyleDoaa Abd-Elkader, Mohamed Salem, Doaa Komeil, Asma Al-Huqail, Hayssam Ali, Alaa Salah, Mohammad Akrami, Hanaa Hassan. Post-Harvest Enhancing and Botrytis cinerea Control of Strawberry Fruits Using Low Cost and Eco-Friendly Natural Oils. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (6):1246.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDoaa Abd-Elkader; Mohamed Salem; Doaa Komeil; Asma Al-Huqail; Hayssam Ali; Alaa Salah; Mohammad Akrami; Hanaa Hassan. 2021. "Post-Harvest Enhancing and Botrytis cinerea Control of Strawberry Fruits Using Low Cost and Eco-Friendly Natural Oils." Agronomy 11, no. 6: 1246.
Water shortage, human population increase, and lack of food resources have directed societies towards sustainable energy and water resources, especially for agriculture. While open agriculture requires a massive amount of water and energy, the requirements of horticultural systems can be controlled to provide standard conditions for the plants to grow, with significant decrease in water consumption. A greenhouse is a transparent indoor environment used for horticulture, as it allows for reasonable control of the microclimate conditions (e.g., temperature, air velocity, rate of ventilation, and humidity). While such systems create a controlled environment for the plants, the greenhouses need ventilation to provide fresh air. In order to have a sustainable venting mechanism, a novel solution has been proposed in this study providing a naturally ventilating system required for the plants, while at the same time reducing the energy requirements for cooling or other forced ventilation techniques. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to analyse the ventilation requirements for different vent opening scenarios, showing the importance of inlet locations for the proposed sustainable greenhouse system.
Mohammad Akrami; Can Mutlum; Akbar Javadi; Alaa Salah; Hassan Fath; Mahdieh Dibaj; Raziyeh Farmani; Ramy Mohammed; Abdelazim Negm. Analysis of Inlet Configurations on the Microclimate Conditions of a Novel Standalone Agricultural Greenhouse for Egypt Using Computational Fluid Dynamics. Sustainability 2021, 13, 1446 .
AMA StyleMohammad Akrami, Can Mutlum, Akbar Javadi, Alaa Salah, Hassan Fath, Mahdieh Dibaj, Raziyeh Farmani, Ramy Mohammed, Abdelazim Negm. Analysis of Inlet Configurations on the Microclimate Conditions of a Novel Standalone Agricultural Greenhouse for Egypt Using Computational Fluid Dynamics. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (3):1446.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohammad Akrami; Can Mutlum; Akbar Javadi; Alaa Salah; Hassan Fath; Mahdieh Dibaj; Raziyeh Farmani; Ramy Mohammed; Abdelazim Negm. 2021. "Analysis of Inlet Configurations on the Microclimate Conditions of a Novel Standalone Agricultural Greenhouse for Egypt Using Computational Fluid Dynamics." Sustainability 13, no. 3: 1446.
Solar-powered desalination is a sustainable solution for countries experiencing water scarcity. Several studies have presented different solutions to provide cleaner production in desalination systems. Parabolic trough collector (PTC) is one of these solutions that has proven to be superior among solar concentrators. Furthermore, a number of studies have investigated the use of PTC for distillation of saline water in response to water scarcity. In this study, a modified PTC model was developed, in which the heat exchanger was replaced by a condensation tube to reduce the energy consumption, and a black layer was introduced to the surface of the receiver to enhance its absorptance. As a reference case, the system productivity according to average solar intensities in Zagazig, located at 30°34′N 31°30′E in the North East of Egypt, is estimated. The results indicated that the maximum production rate that can be attained is 1.72 kg/hr. Then, the structure of the system is evaluated with the aid of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling, in order to enhance its productivity. Many materials are examined and the results recognised copper as the most suitable material amongst marine grade metals (i.e., aluminium, galvanised steel and stainless steel) to construct the receiver tube. This is due to its superior thermal performance, satisfactory corrosion resistance, and acceptable cost. Afterwards, the selected receiver tube was employed to identify the optimal Concentration Ratio (CR). Consequently, a CR of 90.56 was determined to be the optimum value for Zagazig and regions with similar solar radiation. As a result, the system’s productivity was enhanced drastically, as it was estimated that a maximum production rate of 6.93 kg/hr can be achieved.
Mohammad Akrami; Husain Alsari; Akbar A. Javadi; Mahdieh Dibaj; Raziyeh Farmani; Hassan E.S. Fath; Alaa H. Salah; Abdelazim Negm. Analysing the Material Suitability and Concentration Ratio of a Solar-Powered Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) Using Computational Fluid Dynamics. Energies 2020, 13, 5479 .
AMA StyleMohammad Akrami, Husain Alsari, Akbar A. Javadi, Mahdieh Dibaj, Raziyeh Farmani, Hassan E.S. Fath, Alaa H. Salah, Abdelazim Negm. Analysing the Material Suitability and Concentration Ratio of a Solar-Powered Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) Using Computational Fluid Dynamics. Energies. 2020; 13 (20):5479.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohammad Akrami; Husain Alsari; Akbar A. Javadi; Mahdieh Dibaj; Raziyeh Farmani; Hassan E.S. Fath; Alaa H. Salah; Abdelazim Negm. 2020. "Analysing the Material Suitability and Concentration Ratio of a Solar-Powered Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) Using Computational Fluid Dynamics." Energies 13, no. 20: 5479.
In this study, an analysis is carried out to determine the optimal application of multiple renewable energy resources, namely wind and solar, to provide electricity requirements for green smart cities and environments. This was done to determine the potential of renewable energy to provide clean, economically viable energy for the case study of Zagazig, located at 30°34′ N 31°30′ E in the North East of Egypt. The relevant data surrounding the production of energy were collected, including the meteorological data from NASA, and specifications regarding renewable resources including solar panels, wind turbines, and storage batteries. Then a hybrid model was constructed consisting of Photovoltaics (PV) panels, wind turbines, a converter, and storage batteries. Once the model was constructed, meteorological data were added alongside average daily demand and cost of electricity per kWh. The optimal solution for Zagazig consisted of 181,000 kW of solar panels feeding directly into the grid. This system had the lowest Net Present Cost (NPC) of the simulations run of US$1,361,029,000 and a net reduction of 156,355 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Mohammad Akrami; Samuel J. Gilbert; Mahdieh Dibaj; Akbar A. Javadi; Raziyeh Farmani; Alaa H. Salah; Hassan E. S. Fath; Abdelazim Negm. Decarbonisation Using Hybrid Energy Solution: Case Study of Zagazig, Egypt. Energies 2020, 13, 4680 .
AMA StyleMohammad Akrami, Samuel J. Gilbert, Mahdieh Dibaj, Akbar A. Javadi, Raziyeh Farmani, Alaa H. Salah, Hassan E. S. Fath, Abdelazim Negm. Decarbonisation Using Hybrid Energy Solution: Case Study of Zagazig, Egypt. Energies. 2020; 13 (18):4680.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohammad Akrami; Samuel J. Gilbert; Mahdieh Dibaj; Akbar A. Javadi; Raziyeh Farmani; Alaa H. Salah; Hassan E. S. Fath; Abdelazim Negm. 2020. "Decarbonisation Using Hybrid Energy Solution: Case Study of Zagazig, Egypt." Energies 13, no. 18: 4680.
The need for sustainable desalination arises from fast-occurring global warming and intensifying droughts due to increasing temperatures, particularly in the Middle East and North African (MENA) regions. Lack of water resources has meant that the countries in these regions have had to desalinate seawater through different sustainable technologies for food supplies and agricultural products. Greenhouses (GH) are used to protect crops from harsh climates, creating a controlled environment requiring less water. In order to have a sustainable resilient GH, a zero-liquid-discharge system (ZLD) was developed by using solar still (SS) desalination techniques, humidification-dehumidification (HDH), and rainwater harvesting. An experiment was designed and carried out by designing and manufacturing a wick type solar still, together with an HDH system, implemented into a GH. Using a pyrometer, the solar intensity was recorded, while the microclimate conditions (temperature and relative humidity) of the GH were also monitored. The GH model was tested in the UK and was shown to be a successful standalone model, providing its water requirements. In the UK, for one solar still with a surface area of 0.72 m2, maximum amount of 58 mL of distilled water was achieved per day. In Egypt, a maximum amount of 1090 mL water was collected per day, from each solar still. This difference is mainly due to the differences in the solar radiation intensity and duration in addition to the temperature variance. While dehumidification generated 7 L of distilled water, rainwater harvesting was added as another solution to the greenhouse in the UK, harvested a maximum of 7 L per day from one side (half the area of the greenhouse roof). This helped to compensate for the less distilled water from the solar stills. The results for the developed greenhouses showed how GHs in countries with different weather conditions could be standalone systems for their agricultural water requirement.
Mohammad Akrami; Alaa H. Salah; Mahdieh Dibaj; Maxime Porcheron; Akbar A. Javadi; Raziyeh Farmani; Hassan E. S. Fath; Abdelazim Negm. A Zero-Liquid Discharge Model for a Transient Solar-Powered Desalination System for Greenhouse. Water 2020, 12, 1440 .
AMA StyleMohammad Akrami, Alaa H. Salah, Mahdieh Dibaj, Maxime Porcheron, Akbar A. Javadi, Raziyeh Farmani, Hassan E. S. Fath, Abdelazim Negm. A Zero-Liquid Discharge Model for a Transient Solar-Powered Desalination System for Greenhouse. Water. 2020; 12 (5):1440.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohammad Akrami; Alaa H. Salah; Mahdieh Dibaj; Maxime Porcheron; Akbar A. Javadi; Raziyeh Farmani; Hassan E. S. Fath; Abdelazim Negm. 2020. "A Zero-Liquid Discharge Model for a Transient Solar-Powered Desalination System for Greenhouse." Water 12, no. 5: 1440.
Cultivation in open fields mainly depends on the location and time of farming, which itself highly depends on the quality and quantity of water for irrigation, weather conditions and soil characteristics. Water resources are highly dependent on the limited freshwater resources from the groundwater system, or rainwater. Countries in MENA (the Middle East and North Africa) rely mostly on desalination technologies for agriculture, due to water scarcity. Therefore, greenhouse (GH) agriculture can be developed to succeed in dealing with the water scarcity and provide sufficient sources of agricultural products as a sustainable solution. These indoor agriculture facilities, which are enclosed by transparent covers, can produce different sources of fruits and vegetables, using a controlled amount of water. By reducing the exchange rate of air with the outside environment, which is known as the confinement effects, greenhouses generate a suitable environment for the plants to grow under transparent covers to trap the sunlight. This raises the inside temperature above the maximum threshold levels, especially within the warm season, due to the high solar radiation intensity, having an adverse influence on the microclimate conditions and consequently the crop growth. In order to sustain maximum agricultural yield, greenhouse ventilation is an important parameter in which its trends and emerging practices were reviewed in this study.
Mohammad Akrami; Alaa H. Salah; Akbar A. Javadi; Hassan E.S. Fath; Matthew J. Hassanein; Raziyeh Farmani; Mahdieh Dibaj; Abdelazim Negm. Towards a Sustainable Greenhouse: Review of Trends and Emerging Practices in Analysing Greenhouse Ventilation Requirements to Sustain Maximum Agricultural Yield. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2794 .
AMA StyleMohammad Akrami, Alaa H. Salah, Akbar A. Javadi, Hassan E.S. Fath, Matthew J. Hassanein, Raziyeh Farmani, Mahdieh Dibaj, Abdelazim Negm. Towards a Sustainable Greenhouse: Review of Trends and Emerging Practices in Analysing Greenhouse Ventilation Requirements to Sustain Maximum Agricultural Yield. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (7):2794.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohammad Akrami; Alaa H. Salah; Akbar A. Javadi; Hassan E.S. Fath; Matthew J. Hassanein; Raziyeh Farmani; Mahdieh Dibaj; Abdelazim Negm. 2020. "Towards a Sustainable Greenhouse: Review of Trends and Emerging Practices in Analysing Greenhouse Ventilation Requirements to Sustain Maximum Agricultural Yield." Sustainability 12, no. 7: 2794.