Journal of Material and Process Technologies

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Using Dyes Extracted From Roots of Lawsonia Inermis Plant

Getachew Adam Workneh — 2026-04-29

Whey, a nutrient-rich by-product of the dairy industry, is often underutilized despite its high nutritional value, thus requires proper utilization through value-added products. The aim of this study was to develop and characterize a functional fermented whey-based beverage flavored with beetroot juice and ginger, and to evaluate its quality during storage. Sensory evaluation identified the optimal formulation, with the 80:20 whey-to-beetroot ratio (T04) showing the highest acceptability in terms of color, flavor, taste, and overall quality. The selected formulation also contained 1% ginger and 10% sugar. Nutritional analysis showed that the formulated beverage had higher protein (3.33%), lactose (4.67%), and total solids (9.50%) compared to the control (acid whey), while fat content remained low. During 14 days of refrigerated storage, physicochemical and microbiological changes were observed. The pH decreased while titratable acidity increased, indicating ongoing fermentation. Total soluble solids and reducing sugars increased over time, whereas total phenolic content and antioxidant activity showed a slight decline. Microbial counts, including total bacteria, yeast, and molds, increased during storage, reflecting microbial activity in the beverage. Overall, the study demonstrated that the whey–beetroot–ginger beverage possesses good sensory acceptability, improved nutritional composition, and functional properties, highlighting its potential as a value-added functional beverage for industrial application.

Diatomite-Magnetite-Activated Carbon Composite: Hybrid sorption for Lead(II) Ions from Water

Sintayehu Shewatatek — 2026-04-29

Lead (Pb (II)) contamination in aquatic systems remains a critical environmental challenge, necessitating the development of sustainable, high-efficiency adsorbents. In this study, we reported a composite material prepared from diatomite treated with sulfuric acid, teff straw-based activated carbon (TSAC), and magnetite (Fe₃O₄) to improve the removal of Pb (II) ions from aqueous solution. The adsorbent was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer, Emmett and Teller, scanning electron microscope, and X-ray diffraction. At the optimum conditions (pH 7, an adsorbent dosage of 0.04 g/100 mL, an initial Pb(II) concentration of 10 mg/L, and an adsorption time of 45 min), a removal efficiency of 99.64% was achieved. The adsorption data fit best with the Sips and Freundlich isotherm models, indicating that the process involves multilayer adsorption and heterogeneous surface interactions. The composite adsorbent exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 144.034 mg/g, while the kinetic data were best described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption of Pb(II) onto DE/Fe₃O₄/TSAC is spontaneous and endothermic. The adsorbent retained its adsorption efficiency over five regeneration cycles, demonstrating strong stability and reusability. These results establish DE/Fe₃O₄/TSAC as an efficient and sustainable material for Pb(II) ions removal, providing a promising solution for mitigating lead contamination in water systems.

Isolation and Characterization of Quercetin Glycosides and Antioxidant Phytochemicals from Azadirachta indica Leaf Extract

Ibrahim Nasser Ahmed — 2026-04-29

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is consumed as vegetable in some parts of Southeast Asia, and as medicine and insecticides. This study reports the quantitative analysis of the major and minor antioxidant phytochemicals from its leaves, isolation and characterization process of them. Antioxidant activities were characterized by the ability of reducing power, DPPH scavenging, hydroxyl radicals scavenging and hydrogen peroxide scavenging. All antioxidant assay results showed that ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the strongest antioxidant activities and the highest total phenol content. Two major compounds (quercetin-3-O-galactoside and quercetin-3-rhamnoside) and four minor compounds (ferulic acid, myricetin, kaempferol and quercetin) were isolated and identified from the ethyl acetate extract using silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. The structures of the major compounds were identified from UV-Vis and LC-MS-MS chromatograms.

Enhancing Shelf-Life and Microbial Safety of Fresh-Cut Pineapple Using Coffee Pulp Pectin-Based Films

Girma Biratu — 2026-04-29

This study investigated the application of coffee pulp pectin-based edible films on the physicochemical, sensory, and microbial qualities of fresh-cut pineapples stored at room temperature. After 132 h of storage, pineapples wrapped with pectin propolis glycerol (PPG) maintained higher firmness (2.5 N) compared to pectin honey (PH, 2.3 N) and showed lower weight loss (23.3%). The PPG samples also exhibited titratable acidity (16.3%) and total soluble solids (7.4%), indicating better preservation of fruit quality. Sensory evaluation revealed that PH-treated pineapples received the highest overall acceptability score (6.25), surpassing both the control and PPG groups. Although both coated and uncoated samples scored above the hedonic scale average (5), they were still less preferred compared to freshly cut unwrapped pineapple. Microbial analysis highlighted that PPG provided a higher antimicrobial effect, showing the lowest growth of bacteria (1.15 cm), yeast (2 cm), and mould (2 cm), followed by PH, whereas the control exhibited the highest microbial growth (3 cm bacteria, 4 cm yeast, 5 cm moulds). Kinetic modelling of the physicochemical parameters revealed that quality changes followed a first-order model. Overall, the findings demonstrate that coffee pulp pectin-based films, particularly PPG, effectively enhance shelf-life, microbial safety, and quality retention in fresh-cut pineapples.

Development and Characterization of a Functional Fermented Whey-Based Beverage Flavored with Beetroot and Ginger

Habtamu Admassu — 2026-04-29

TWhey, a nutrient-rich by-product of the dairy industry, is often underutilized despite its high nutritional value, thus requires proper utilization through value-added products. The aim of this study was to develop and characterize a functional fermented whey-based beverage flavored with beetroot juice and ginger, and to evaluate its quality during storage. Sensory evaluation identified the optimal formulation, with the 80:20 whey-to-beetroot ratio (T04) showing the highest acceptability in terms of color, flavor, taste, and overall quality. The selected formulation also contained 1% ginger and 10% sugar. Nutritional analysis showed that the formulated beverage had higher protein (3.33%), lactose (4.67%), and total solids (9.50%) compared to the control (acid whey), while fat content remained low. During 14 days of refrigerated storage, physicochemical and microbiological changes were observed. The pH decreased while titratable acidity increased, indicating ongoing fermentation. Total soluble solids and reducing sugars increased over time, whereas total phenolic content and antioxidant activity showed a slight decline. Microbial counts, including total bacteria, yeast, and molds, increased during storage, reflecting microbial activity in the beverage. Overall, the study demonstrated that the whey–beetroot–ginger beverage possesses good sensory acceptability, improved nutritional composition, and functional properties, highlighting its potential as a value-added functional beverage for industrial application.

Volcanic Stratigraphy and Petrography of the Northwestern Ethiopian Flood Volcanics in Upper Kesem River Section, Central Ethiopia

Misrak Lemma — 2026-04-29

Abstract

A petro-stratigraphic study of the volcanic sequence exposed in the Upper Kesem river section is presented. The study area is located in central Ethiopia, North Shewa administrative zone, between Koremash and Shola Gebeya localities, about 80 kilometers north-east of Addis Ababa. The study examined a nearly continuous, ~1080-m thick sequence of stratigraphically preserved basalt flows and intervening silicic pyroclastic deposits. The lower contact of the volcanic sequence is not exposed in this river section. Following a comprehensive field investigation, lithostratigraphic logs for various sections are presented. The sequence is dominated by flood basalts (~78%) with significant proportions of felsic lavas and pyroclastic deposits (~22%) towards the top part of the succession. The very top of the volcanic succession comprises of shield-forming basaltic lava flows and scoraceous deposits. Paleosols and clastic sediments are commonly found as thin layers interbedded within the volcanic sequence, indicating time gaps in eruptive activity. This sequence includes the main phase of flood basalt volcanism and the transition to the termination of flood basalt activity From the constructed composite volcanic stratigraphy , five lithostratigraphic units have been identified, namely 1) Lower Basalt, 2) Lower Rhyolitic Ignimbrite, 3) Upper Basalt, 4) Upper Rhyolitic Ignimbrite, and 5) Shield Basalt. These lithostratigraphic units correlate very well with sequences described in other sections of the Northwestern Ethiopian plateau. A total of 25 representative samples from these stratigraphic units have been studied petrographically. The petrographic studies reveal that only basalts and felsic volcanics have been identified; rocks of intermediate compositions have not been found, indicating a bi-modal petrological distribution for the volcanic sequence. Overall, the basalts exhibit a wide range in their modal mineralogy and phenocryst assemblage. This variation suggests a polybaric plumbing system for the basaltic lavas with several magma chambers developed at various depths within the crust and with each chamber undergoing independent recharge and fractionation processes. Shield volcanism likely represents a decrease in magmatic flux over time. The large-volume silicic pyroclastic deposits further reveal that flood basalt volcanism was accompanied by the development of large and shallow magma chambers, in which basaltic magmas were stored and underwent extensive fractionation and evolution.