Mohammad Ghalit

The toxicity, bioaccumulation, and persistence of heavy metals, especially copper (Cu ²⁺ ), in ecosystems make their poisoning of water supplies a serious environmental and public health risk. Numerous treatment processes, such as ion exchange, membrane filtering, chemical precipitation, and electrochemical methods, have been developed to remove copper from wastewater. However, these technologies often face challenges related to high operational costs, energy consumption, and the generation of secondary waste. In this regard, adsorption has become a viable, economical, and environmentally sustainable heavy metal removal method. This paper offers a thorough examination of Cu ²⁺ adsorption with bio-adsorbents, natural clays, and modified clays (organoclays Key adsorption parameters examined included pH, metal concentration, temperature, contact time, and adsorbent dosage. With their increased surface area and adsorption capacity, modified and functionalized clays and bio-adsorbents demonstrated superior performance. While functionalized biochar and organoclay composites were experimentally shown to have the highest adsorption capacity, while most natural and modified adsorbents demonstrated substantial removal efficiencies. Both monolayer and multilayer adsorption were indicated by the adsorption isotherms fit well to the Langmuir and Freundlich models. For the majority of adsorbents, kinetic investigations showed that the most accurately described the adsorption behavior. These findings suggest that due to their high cation exchange capacity (CEC) and large surface area, natural and modified adsorbents can be employed to remove Cu ²⁺ from wastewater.

Introduction: Nosocomial infections or healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) represent a public health problem. The burden of antibiotic resistance in these infections is still unclear in Morocco. The objective of this study was to describe antibiotic susceptibility of the main bacteria responsible for nosocomial infections in order to propose prevention measures. Methodology: Data were collected from 1519 laboratory records including hospital inpatients suspected of nosocomial infections in Mohamed V Hospital of Al-Hoceima between January 2016 and December 2020. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 25. Results: Bacteriological test samples included 65.5% of urine, 27.2% of pleural fluid, 4.5% of pus, and 2.8% of protected distal swab. Two hundred and twenty-seven (15%) samples were culture-positive. The bacteria isolated were mainly enterobacteria (Escherichia coli, 43.6% and Klebsiella pneumoniae, 13%), non-fermentative Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 10.8%), and Staphylococcus aureus (24.3%). Extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing Enterobacteriaceae represented 25.4% and those resistant to other families of antibiotics accounted for 12.5%. In our study, we reported 17% ESBL producers among urinary infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 22.2%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa that were resistant to ticarcillin, ceftazidime, and imipenem represented 29% of the cases. Conclusions: Our results showed a higher frequency of resistance. A microbiological surveillance system is highly needed to identify bacterial niches in the hospital environment at Mohamed V Hospital.

Groundwater is crucial for meeting the water needs of rural communities, serving both domestic and agricultural purposes. However, its quality in our study area remains unclear. Therefore, the primary objective of the current study is to evaluate the groundwater quality and ascertain the level of...

Bottled waters are among the most important products in the human diet. In Morocco, eleven bottled mineral waters were analyzed (physicochemical composition and water stable isotopes) to identify their geologic origins and hydrochemical characteristics. The study of the ionic ratios shows that the mechanisms of water–rock interaction, such as the dissolution of carbonate and silicate minerals, influence the chemistry of these mineral waters, which are controlled by lithology and tectonics, sometimes with the influence of deep flux through fractures. The water from the Oulmes plateau shows a Na-HCO₃ chemical facies in relationship with alkaline granite. Moreover, the carbonated waters (EM_G and EM_GL) are characterized by high concentrations of Si, Li, Rb, Sr, and Cs due to deep CO₂ flux origin. The waters of Saiss, Middle Atlas, and Rif are of the Ca-HCO₃ type linked mainly to carbonate formation. The stable isotope contents of water range from −7.74 to −5.35‰ for δ¹⁸O and −45.4 to −30.4‰ for δD. The recharge altitude of the aquifer was estimated to be between 250 and 1200 m, following a δ¹⁸O altitudinal gradient between 0.25 and 0.27‰ per 100 m. The industrial production process and the natural presence or artificial addition of CO₂ can also influence the isotopic composition of water. These results can be a relevant guide to decision makers for better exploitation and assessment of the water quality.

The assessment of major elements and stable isotopes of groundwater in the Laayoune-Dakhla region was carried out in order to determine the various geochemical processes that contribute to the mineralization of these waters. A total of 30 groundwater samples were collected from wells in the Laayoune-Dakhla region (southern Sahara, Morocco). Using a hydrogeochemical assessment technique, this study will look at the general conditions of groundwater for drinking reasons. The statistical results of the major cations (Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺) of the major anions (Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, HCO₃⁻, NO₃⁻), show that the abundant cations and anions are of the order of Na⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺ and Cl⁻ > SO₄²⁻ > HCO₃⁻ > NO₃⁻, respectively. The EC value of the water in the study area ranges from 1290 to 6895 µS/cm with an average of 3341.53 µS/cm. The pH value of the water samples is between 6.88 and 7.75. The waters of the study area were determined to be hydrogeochemical facies Na-Cl (86.66%) and Ca-SO₄ (13.33). Their chemistry seems to be mainly controlled by sulphate, calcium, chloride and sodium and is explained by the dissolution of the evaporative formations characteristic of the Saharan regions. Ionic reports show that rock weathering and mineral dissolution and evaporation control the chemical evolution of groundwater. In addition, a good correlation between calcium and sulphate suggests leaching of gypsum and anhydrite. The values of δ¹⁸O vary from − 6.96 to -8.93‰ while those of δ²H vary between − 51.5 and − 65.56‰. The presence of evaporation was confirmed by stable isotope levels (δ¹⁸O, δ²H). The variation in oxygene-18 levels can be interpreted in terms of the difference in altitude between the recharge altitudes.

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The rainfall irregularity in the Al-Hoceima area places the Ghis-Nekor coastal aquifer as a primary resource for water supply. However, it is of paramount priority to adopt management and optimization plans that can mitigate the effects of the irrational use of the resource and the deterioration of its quality in the region of our study. In order to study the alteration aspects of this aquifer, 26 wells were sampled and their suitability for irrigation was assessed. The sodium adsorption rate (SAR) values indicate that most groundwater samples fall into the risk classes of high salinity and low sodium (C3-S1) and high salinity and medium sodium (C3-S2). The results also show a medium to high alkalinity risk due to the high concentration of HCO3–. The excess of salts is largely due to the intensive exploitation of groundwater and to the phenomenon of salt-water intrusion into the coastal karst aquifer. As a result, the quality of groundwater is not adapted to sustainable agricultural production and soil balance, which requires controlled monitoring to ensure its rational use with a view to the sustainable development of the region.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of human anthropic activities on the physicochemical and biological properties as well as the quantity of the groundwater in the central Rif of Morocco. Series of analyses were carried out on the water resources of this area. The interpretation of...