President of Damietta University Inaugurates a Workshop on Supercritical Fluid Technology Applications

Professor Dr. Hemdan Rabie El-Metwally, President of Damietta University, inaugurated on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, the scientific workshop entitled:

“Transferring Supercritical Technology from a Pilot Scale to an Industrial Scale: Green and Cost-Effective Technology”

The workshop is organized as part of the activities of the research project No. (46662), funded by the Science, Technology & Innovation Funding Authority (STDF), under the supervision of Professor  Dr. Mamdouh Abdel-Moneim Sofan, Former President of Damietta University and Project Director.

The opening session witnessed the presence of several faculty members, researchers, and experts.

The activities began at the Faculty Members Club Hall with the playing of the national anthem.

In her speech, Professor Dr. Gehan El-Gammal, Vice Dean for Postgraduate Studies and Research and Head of the Department of Textile Printing, Dyeing, and Finishing, welcomed the attendees, stressing the importance of the workshop in supporting modern trends in supercritical fluid technology and its role in enhancing research capabilities within the faculty and the university. She highlighted that this field is one of the promising areas that contribute to providing innovative and eco-friendly solutions in the textile industry.

This was followed by a speech by Professor Dr. Ghada El-Sayed, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Arts, who praised the efforts of the project team, affirming that scientific research is a top priority for the faculty, especially applied research directly linked to industrial needs. She added that the project reflects the university's direction towards supporting green technology and achieving sustainable development.

Professor Dr. Mamdouh Sofan, Former President of Damietta University, reviewed in his address the most significant achievements accomplished during the project’s implementation, as well as the developmental steps witnessed by the Prof. Dr. Tarek Abu Al-Maati Center for Supercritical Fluids. He emphasized the importance of this field in promoting innovation and sustainability.

In his speech, Professor Dr. Hemdan Rabie El-Metwally, President of the University, affirmed that the workshop is held in honor of the late Professor Dr. Tarek Abu Al-Maati, whose distinguished contributions laid the foundations of the Supercritical Fluids Laboratory at the university. He praised his scientific legacy and congratulated the project team on the progress made, stressing that the university places top priority on applied projects with societal impact.

He added that the development of the Supercritical Fluids Laboratory represents a successful model of integrating scientific research with industrial needs and stands as evidence of the university’s ability to produce applicable knowledge that supports the national economy. He also reiterated the university’s commitment to supporting young researchers and strengthening collaboration between the university and the industrial sector.

A group of researchers delivered a series of specialized lectures during the workshop on the scientific principles of supercritical fluid technology and its applications in extraction, dyeing, and the development of textile materials. Among the speakers were:

Professor Dr. Hanan Gamal El-Sisi – Associate Professor, Department of Textile Printing, Dyeing, and Finishing, and Member of the Research Team.

Professor  Dr. Khaled Abdel-Fattah – Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, seconded to the Faculty of Science at New Mansoura University, and Member of the Research Team.

The workshop included scientific presentations on the developmental stages of the laboratory, which is considered the first of its kind in the region in the field of eco-friendly dyeing and reducing water and energy consumption. An open discussion session was also held, addressing research and practical challenges in transferring technology to industry.

At the conclusion of the event, the project team expressed their gratitude to the university administration for its continuous support, affirming their commitment to further developing the project's outcomes and expanding the applications of supercritical fluid technology to achieve added value for the industrial sector and the national economy.