Saturday 28/March/2026 – 06:12 AM
Dr. Essam Khamis, former Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chairman of the Inter-Sciences Committee of the Supreme Council of Universities, announced the publication of a new applied scientific work during the year 2026, in cooperation with a distinguished research team, in an achievement that reflects the strength of Egyptian scientific research in facing industrial and environmental challenges.
The study was entitled: “Towards a sustainable treatment of ceramic industry wastewater by combining advanced oxidation, coagulation and sedimentation processes using environmentally friendly zero-valent iron nanoparticles, with a study of the corrosion of multiple metals,” with the participation of Dr. Dalia Abdel Khaleq, Dr. Muhammad Hajar, and chemist Tariq Riad.
Dr. Issam Khamis publishes an advanced study on treating ceramic wastewater using environmentally friendly nanotechnologies
The research was published in Scientific Reports, a journal of the Nature group, which is ranked among the top 11% of scientific journals globally, which reflects the quality, originality, and importance of the research work.
The research team also thanked the Science, Technology and Innovation Finance Authority for its support and funding of the project, which resulted in applied outcomes of real value.
The study focuses on developing an integrated system for treating wastewater resulting from the ceramic industry, which is a water-intensive industry that produces multiple pollutants such as salts, heavy metals, and corrosive materials. The methodology relied on combining advanced oxidation, coagulation and sedimentation techniques, using nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI) particles prepared in an environmentally friendly way.
The experiments included evaluating three conditions of water: untreated, traditionally treated, and treated using advanced technology, in order to study their effect on the corrosion of major metals: steel, stainless steel, and copper, using advanced electrochemical techniques, statistical analysis, and predictive models.
The results showed a significant improvement in the corrosion resistance of steel by up to 86% when using advanced treatment compared to untreated water, while the improvement was limited in stainless steel, while copper showed greater susceptibility to corrosion. Nanoparticles also contributed to reducing dissolved oxygen and forming a protective layer on the metal surface, limiting corrosive reactions.
The team was also able to develop a highly accurate predictive mathematical model that links corrosion rates with water characteristics, such as pH and concentration of dissolved materials, which enhances the ability to improve operating efficiency in various industrial systems.
This research represents an advanced model that combines environmental efficiency and industrial feasibility, by improving water quality and reducing infrastructure erosion, which supports water reuse and enhances the concepts of industrial sustainability and the circular economy.
