Publications by authors named "A Yaacoubi"

In the present study, drinking water treatment sludge (DWTS) was reused as a catalyst in advanced oxidation processes for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. After determining their chemical and mineralogical compositions by X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), BET surface area, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), and FT-IR spectra. DWTS has been used as a heterogeneous photo Fenton-Like catalyst for the oxidation of MB under different parameters, including pH (3-6), HO concentration (9.

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The present investigation involves the preparation of activated carbon (AC) from olive stones using a single-step activation process with potassium hydroxide (KOH) as an activating agent. The resulting activated carbon (AC) was used in conjunction with sodium alginate (Alg) to prepare the AC/Alg beads at different ratios (50/50, 60/40, and 80/20) for batch adsorption of methylene blue (MB). Characterization of the materials was conducted using FTIR, SEM, CHNS-O, and TGA-dTG thermal analysis.

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Herein, the response surface methodology (RSM) has been used to study simultaneously the effects of carbonization temperature, residence time and moisture content on the activated hydrochar preparation-based vegetable-tanned leather shavings (VTS) using hydrothermal carbonization method (HTC). Owing to the desirability chosen, three responses were analysed, namely: the hydrochar yield, iodine and methylene blue numbers. The analysis of experimental results revealed that the hydrochar yield was decreased with increase in carbonization temperature which led to micropores formation inside the hydrochar network.

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Article Synopsis
  • Intensive human activities have polluted water sources, making treatment essential due to rising populations and water scarcity.
  • This study evaluated the effectiveness of four plant extracts (Agave americana, Carpobrotus acinaciformis, Austrocylindropuntia subulate, and Senicio anteuphorbium) as natural coagulants to remove Microcystis aeruginosa from water, examining how pH and coagulant dose affected results.
  • Results showed these extracts could remove up to 80% of M. aeruginosa, with lower pH levels enhancing effectiveness; they also exhibited low toxicity, particularly S. anteuphorbium and A. subulate, being the least toxic options.
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In recent years, the proliferation of Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms (CyanoHABs) has increased with water eutrophication and climate change, impairing human health and the environment in relation to water supply. In drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs), the bio-coagulation based on natural coagulants has been studied as an eco-friendly alternative technology to conventional coagulants for both turbidity and CyanoHABs removal. Plant-based coagulants have demonstrated their coagulation efficiency in turbidity removal, as reported in several papers but its ability in cyanobacterial removal is still limited.

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