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The composition of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the Cairo metropolitan area is investigated. The outputs of MSW sorting analysis at various locations in Cairo with different waste management schemes are presented. Organics (58–75%) and plastic waste (19–28%) are the main components of MSW in Cairo with a higher percentage of organics in landfills compared to dumpsites. The leachate quality is analyzed, and the analysis results indicate that the concentration of macro inorganic pollutants (NH4+, Na+, Ca2+, and Cl−) and heavy metals (e.g., Cd2+ and Zn2+) are exceeding the majority of values reported in the literature in various cities all over the world. There was no evidence of an effect of the recycling process on chloride concentration in leachate, while the concentration of iron was reduced. The variation of leachate quality with time for two samples collected from the same municipal solid waste landfill is presented. The first leachate sample is a two-year-old, and the second sample is a sixteen-year-old. There was a significant increase in the concentration of chloride, sodium, chromium, calcium, and magnesium. The implications of the leachate quality in Cairo on the longevity of barrier systems in an MSW landfill are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Anew design of smart window integrated photovoltaic, phase change materials, and vacuum glazing is proposed. • Five distinct window designs are numerically investigated. • The design combined the air gap, glass photovoltaic, PCM and vacuum glass layers decreases the total heat gain 91.5 % compared with the basic case. • The PCM (RT35HC) with a thickness of 50 mm decreases the heat gain by 73 % and maintain the inner surface temperature lower than 25 °C. Nowadays, new generations of building envelope need to manage the energy exchange between outdoor and indoor environment responsively and save the building energy. A significant amount of solar heat gain in buildings comes through the windows. The transparent envelope also must answer to visual requirements allowing for external vision but guarantying comfort conditions. In this framework, this article aims to test numerically the thermal performance of a new design of multifunctional glazed window combining the most recent technologies used in building envelopes. Five distinct window designs combing phase change material (PCM), vacuum glazing (VG), photovoltaic (PV), and air cavity were numerically tested for hot weather conditions. The proposed window designs slide inside the wall of the building. A comprehensive transient Multiphysics model coupling the thermo-electric model of the PV, melting and solidification model of the PCM, and the heat transfer mechanisms in the vacuum and air gaps are developed. The model is step by step validated with data in the literature. Various PCM types and PCM thickness are investigated. Among the five investigated window designs, the result showed that the window, including the air gap with PV, PCM cavity, and VG, is the optimal design for the indoor air's thermal isolation. Simultaneously, the PCM with a melting point of 35 ˚C and thickness of 50 mm is the best performance material in a hot arid region in summer at Cairo. The proposed multifunction window generated maximum electrical power intensity of 162 W/m2 at received solar radiation of 1000 W/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around 28 million tons of municipal solid wastes (MSW) are annually generated in Egypt, with 40% in Greater Cairo Region (GCR). Although, the government aims at improving the MSW service coverage and collection efficiency, formal collection service is still limited and operates with low transportation efficiency resulting in illegal waste collection and dumping. This research aims at providing optimized collection systems to accommodate various housing levels and considering the available resources. As a case study, the collection routes in Al-Mostakbal City, are optimized by selecting the appropriate location and containers order. Meanwhile, the pick-up time is optimized using the appropriate vehicle type, fleet size, and rounds. In addition, dynamic routing is applied using developed production models. A simulation model is developed to assess various improvement scenarios and recommend the effective one for various schemes. The outcome is a highly-efficient framework; with potential to be extended to cover other urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]