Egyptian soils are generally characterized by slightly alkaline to alkaline pH values (7.5–8.7) which are mainly due to its dry environment. In arid and semi-arid regions, salts are less concentrated and sodium dominates in carbonate and bicarbonate forms, which enhance the formation of alkaline soils. Alkaline soils have fertility problems due to poor physical properties which adversely affect the growth and the yield of crops. Therefore, this study was devoted to investigating the synergistic interaction of Rhizobium and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for improving growth of faba bean grown in alkaline soil. A total of 20 rhizobial isolates and 4 species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were isolated. The rhizobial isolates were investigated for their ability to grow under alkaline stress. Out of 20 isolates 3 isolates were selected as tolerant isolates. These 3 rhizobial isolates were identified on the bases of the sequences of the gene encoding 16S rRNA and designated as Rhizobium sp. Egypt 16 (HM622137), Rhizobium sp. Egypt 27 (HM622138) and Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae STDF-Egypt 19 (HM587713). The best alkaline tolerant was R. leguminosarum bv. viciae STDF-Egypt 19 (HM587713). The effect of R. leguminosarum bv. viciae STDF-Egypt 19 and mixture of AMF (Acaulospora laevis, Glomus geosporum, Glomus mosseae and Scutellospora armeniaca) both individually and in combination on nodulation, nitrogen fixation and growth of Vicia faba under alkalinity stress were assessed. A significant increase over control in number and mass of nodules, nitrogenase activity, leghaemoglobin content of nodule, mycorrhizal colonization, dry mass of root and shoot was recorded in dual inoculated plants than plants with individual inoculation. The enhancement of nitrogen fixation of faba bean could be attributed to AMF facilitating the mobilization of certain elements such as P, Fe, K and other minerals that involve in synthesis of nitrogenase and leghaemoglobin. Thus it is clear that the dual inoculation with Rhizobium and AMF biofertilizer is more effective for promoting growth of faba bean grown in alkaline soils than the individual treatment, reflecting the existence of synergistic relationships among the inoculants.

In the present study biodiesel was produced by various fungal species isolated from Egypt using sugarcane molasses as substrate. In the first stage 6 oleaginous fungi, namely, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Epicoccum nigrum, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus parasiticus and Emericella nidulans var. lata were used for lipid production. Subsequent to fungal cultivation on sugarcane molasses the cultures were filtered and biodiesel was prepared by direct esterification of dry fungal biomass. Methyl esters of palmitic, stearic, linoleic and elaidic represented the major components while palmitoleic represented a minor component of biodiesel produced from tested oleaginous fungi. In the second stage, the spent medium of fungal culture was used as the fermentation medium for hydrogen production by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824. The maximum total H2 yield was obtained with the spent medium of Epicoccum nigrum and Alternaria alternata. The results presented in this study suggest a possibility of interlinking the biodiesel production technology by fungi with hydrogen production by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 to exploit the residual sugars in the spent media and therefore increase the economic feasibility of the biofuel production from molasses

In the present study biodiesel was produced by various fungal species isolated from Egypt using sugarcane molasses as substrate. In the first stage 6 oleaginous fungi, namely, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Epicoccum nigrum, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus parasiticus and Emericella nidulans var. lata were used for lipid production. Subsequent to fungal cultivation on sugarcane molasses the cultures were filtered and biodiesel was prepared by direct esterification of dry fungal biomass. Methyl esters of palmitic, stearic, linoleic and elaidic represented the major components while palmitoleic represented a minor component of biodiesel produced from tested oleaginous fungi. In the second stage, the spent medium of fungal culture was used as the fermentation medium for hydrogen production by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824. The maximum total H2 yield was obtained with the spent medium of Epicoccum nigrum and Alternaria alternata. The results presented in this study suggest a possibility of interlinking the biodiesel production technology by fungi with hydrogen production by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 to exploit the residual sugars in the spent media and therefore increase the economic feasibility of the biofuel production from molasses

In the present study biodiesel was produced by various fungal species isolated from Egypt using sugarcane molasses as substrate. In the first stage 6 oleaginous fungi, namely, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Epicoccum nigrum, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus parasiticus and Emericella nidulans var. lata were used for lipid production. Subsequent to fungal cultivation on sugarcane molasses the cultures were filtered and biodiesel was prepared by direct esterification of dry fungal biomass. Methyl esters of palmitic, stearic, linoleic and elaidic represented the major components while palmitoleic represented a minor component of biodiesel produced from tested oleaginous fungi. In the second stage, the spent medium of fungal culture was used as the fermentation medium for hydrogen production by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824. The maximum total H2 yield was obtained with the spent medium of Epicoccum nigrum and Alternaria alternata. The results presented in this study suggest a possibility of interlinking the biodiesel production technology by fungi with hydrogen production by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 to exploit the residual sugars in the spent media and therefore increase the economic feasibility of the biofuel production from molasses

In the present study biodiesel was produced by various fungal species isolated from Egypt using sugarcane molasses as substrate. In the first stage 6 oleaginous fungi, namely, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Epicoccum nigrum, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus parasiticus and Emericella nidulans var. lata were used for lipid production. Subsequent to fungal cultivation on sugarcane molasses the cultures were filtered and biodiesel was prepared by direct esterification of dry fungal biomass. Methyl esters of palmitic, stearic, linoleic and elaidic represented the major components while palmitoleic represented a minor component of biodiesel produced from tested oleaginous fungi. In the second stage, the spent medium of fungal culture was used as the fermentation medium for hydrogen production by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824. The maximum total H2 yield was obtained with the spent medium of Epicoccum nigrum and Alternaria alternata. The results presented in this study suggest a possibility of interlinking the biodiesel production technology by fungi with hydrogen production by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 to exploit the residual sugars in the spent media and therefore increase the economic feasibility of the biofuel production from molasses

This paper is aimed at investigating how the DC corona performance of conductor-to-plane gaps as influenced by a floating grid of metallic parallel wires underneath and parallel to the stressed conductor. The corona current-voltage and corona current density distribution at ground level are studied experimentally with and without floating grids. The wire-to-wire spacing, number, lateral distribution and height of grid wires are varied. It is found that the number and distribution of grid wires are the major factors that influence the corona onset voltage

This paper is aimed at investigating how the positive dc corona performance of conductor-to-plane gaps is influenced by grounded and negatively stressed metallic grids located underneath the coronating conductor. A systematic experimental study is made to investigate the corona current–voltage characteristics and the current density distribution at the ground plane with and without grid. The wire-to-wire spacing, number, lateral distribution and height of grid wires as well as the conductor diameter are varied. The current density distribution at the ground plane is correlated with Warburg law that was proposed for point-plane coronas.

This paper evaluates the influence on the positive DC corona onset voltage in conductor-to-plane gaps of a grid of metallic wires placed underneath and parallel to the stressed conductor. A systematic experimental study investigates the dependency of the onset voltage on the gap geometry and the particulars of grounded and negatively stressed grids. These particulars include the wire-to-wire spacing, number, lateral distribution and height of grid wires. It was found that the number and distribution of grid wires are the major factors that influence the corona onset voltage together with the radius of the stressed conductor. In a theoretical approach, calculated values for the onset voltage of positive corona as influenced by the grid particulars are obtained using a method based on the criterion of onset streamers self-sustained growth. This calls for calculating the electric field in the vicinity of the stressed conductor in the presence of the grid. A comparison is made between the calculated onset voltages and those measured experimentally.

A surface dielectric barrier discharge reactor is used to investigate the destruction of naphthalene, as an example of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compound, in an air stream. The characteristics of the reactor including the current–voltage and the power consumed are examined to evaluate its effectiveness in destroying naphthalene. The effects of different operational parameters including applied voltage, frequency, flow rate and initial concentration of naphthalene on the destruction process are studied. The results indicated that the destruction efficiency decreases with increasing flow rate and increases with an increase in the applied voltage and frequency. Although the destruction efficiency is independent of the initial concentration, the energy efficiency is increased with increasing initial concentration. The study shows that naphthalene is totally destroyed in the reactor, but not completely transformed to CO and CO2. Ozone generated as a byproduct in the reactor did not play a role in the destruction process.

The destruction of naphthalene, as representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, by surface dielectric barrier discharge is investigated in air as well as dry and humidified nitrogen at ambient temperature. Naphthalene destruction efficiency is evaluated in terms of chemical change vis-a-vis energy utilization. The detected byproducts are qualitatively evaluated in order to understand the role of the active species in the destruction process. The results show that the destruction efficiency and the energy efficiency are higher in the dry nitrogen than in the humidified nitrogen, and these decrease with the increase of the humidity. Measured concentration of ozone as a byproduct qualitatively indicates the roles of oxygen and ozone in the destruction process in air. The analysis of the aerosol particles formed during the destruction process, both in the dry and humidified nitrogen, confirmed the adverse effects of the humidity on the byproducts formation and subsequently on the destruction process.