Microalgae are increasingly recognized as sustainable food ingredients due to their richness in proteins, vitamins,
minerals, flavonoid, phenolic compounds, and antioxidants. This study investigated the incorporation of Chlorella
vulgaris and Spirulina platensis powders at 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% into ice milk formulations to develop functional
dairy products. The fortified samples were evaluated for physicochemical, phytochemical, antioxidant, microbiological, and sensory characteristics. Results showed that the addition of microalgae did not significantly affect
proximate composition, including total solids, fat, protein, carbohydrate, ash, acidity, or pH (p ≤ 0.05). However, significant improvements were observed in functional bioactive properties, including antioxidant activity,
total phenolic content, and flavonoid content levels, alongside improvements in density, weight per gallon, and
overrun, indicating enhanced product structure and functional quality. Sensory evaluation confirmed strong
sensory acceptability by trained panelists, with favorable ratings for appearance, color, flavor, texture, and
overall quality. These findings highlight Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis as valuable natural sources of
bioactive compounds and colorants, supporting the development of functional ice milk with enhanced antioxidant potential rather than changes in basic macronutrient composition, aligning with current trends in sustainable and health-oriented dairy innovation. 
 

Bacterial soft rot, caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc), is a major threat to potato production, leading to severe yield losses and postharvest decay. This study evaluated the efficacy of chitosan, a biodegradable and ecofriendly biopolymer, as an alternative to chemical fungicides for controlling soft rot. Seven Pcc isolates were obtained from naturally infected potato tubers in Assiut Governorate and their pathogenicity was confirmed. Chitosan at concentrations of 1–7 mg/ml and azoxystrobin plus difenoconazole (Dicore) at 2,000–10,000 ppm was tested both in vitro and in vivo. Chitosan completely inhibited bacterial growth at ≥4 mg/ml. In vivo, 24-hour immersion in chitosan or Dicore (10,000 ppm) reduced disease severity to 15.5%, while shorter exposure times resulted in higher infection rates. Under greenhouse conditions, disease severity decreased to 4–5.3% with chitosan or Dicore at 10,000 ppm, compared to 100% in untreated controls. These findings indicate that chitosan is a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to chemical fungicides for managing bacterial soft rot in potatoes, reducing environmental risks while maintaining effective disease control.

Halfa grass (Desmostachya bipinnata) is an abundant lignocellulosic biomass with potential for thermochemical conversion and biochar production. This study investigated its physicochemical characteristics, pyrolysis kinetics, reaction mechanism, and thermodynamic behavior using an integrated experimental approach. Elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to characterize the biomass and the derived biochar. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted under a nitrogen atmosphere at heating rates of 10, 20, and 30°C min⁻¹. The TG–DTG profiles revealed a typical multi-stage decomposition pattern associated with the degradation of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin fractions. The activation energy was determined using Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), Friedman (FM), Kissinger, and Vyazovkin (VYZ) methods. The average activation energies obtained from the FWO, FM, VYZ, and Kissinger methods were 144.28, 151.09, 150.79, and 156.00 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively, demonstrating good agreement among the applied kinetic approaches. The variation of activation energy with conversion confirmed that halfa grass pyrolysis proceeds through multiple overlapping reactions rather than a single elementary process. Master plot analysis indicated that diffusion-related models provided the closest agreement with the experimental data over different conversion ranges, although additional validation would be required for definitive mechanistic confirmation. Thermodynamic analysis revealed positive enthalpy and Gibbs free energy values, indicating that the decomposition process is endothermic and requires continuous energy input. FTIR and XRD analyses demonstrated substantial structural transformation during pyrolysis, including the decomposition of oxygen-containing functionalities and the formation of condensed aromatic carbon structures within the resulting biochar. These results provide valuable insight into the thermal decomposition behavior of D. bipinnata and contribute to a better understanding of its physicochemical and kinetic characteristics for future thermochemical conversion and biomass valorization applications.