Scientific Research: Publication and Visibility of Institutes and Countries in Relation to Development

The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the role of scientific research in ranking universities at the international or African scale. The number and quality of of journals published by institutions as well as their presence in databases such as Web of science, Scopus, Google Scholar, etc., affect their visibility and reputation. Each researcher has an identifier (ID) and is evaluated based on  the publication number, total citations, Impact factor, etc. Findings on several databases show that China is the leader since the year 2000. In 2022, China published more than one million papers exceeding the US (702840 papers). Among African countries, Morocco ranks fourth behind Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria. The indexed journals on SCImago highlighted the urgent  for policy makers to develop IMIST (Institut Marocain de l’Information Scientifique et Technique) to improve the scientific information and communication system in Morocc

Green corrosion inhibitors of carbon steel in acid medium: Plant extracts

The use of inhibitors is one of the most practical methods to save metals against corrosion from aggressive media. Corrosion is encountered in numerous sectors, and the studies summarized corrosion costs equivalent to 3% of each nation's gross domestic product (GDP) and can be estimated to be US$2.5 trillion. This review presents a prospection using plant extracts as green corrosion inhibitors considered as the friendship of the environment. The scientific articles on Scopus until the year 2022 were 2460 documents. For example, prof Ramezanzadeh Bahram from the Info Institute for Color Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran published more than 400 global papers followed by prof Hammouti, known at the University of Mohammed First in Oujda, Morocco

Study of Reactive blue 203 removal by TiO2-P25 adsorption combined with photocatalysis for its degradation

The treatment of wastewater containing textile dyes is a major environmental challenge due to the complexity of the effluents and the diversity of chemical compounds involved. In this study, we explored adsorption and photocatalysis to improve the purification efficiency of these waters. Adsorption on TiO2-P25 proved particularly effective in removing RB203 dye, reaching equilibrium in around 180 minutes, with optimum conditions A 25mL volume containing of 40 mg/L dye, 0.125 g TiO2-P25, pH 3, stirring speed 300 rpm and temperature 25°C. Photocatalysis using TiO2-P25 has shown promising results under solar irradiation, particularly with TiO2-P25 recycling techniques to reduce costs and improve durability. This study proposes effective solutions for the treatment of wastewater containing textile dyes, with specific recommendations for their practical application in industrial facilities, and future prospects include the optimization of treatment conditions and the integration of these processes into wider systems for sustainable environmental management. Keywords: TiO2; RB203; Solar photocatalysis; Photodegradation; Adsorption, Water treatment

Introduction to Essential Oils as New Agents for Corrosion Inhibition

Corrosion is a widespread problem that affects a variety of sectors, causing considerable economic losses and safety risks. Traditional corrosion inhibitors frequently use synthetic compounds, which can be poisonous and environmentally hazardous. Essential oils have recently emerged as interesting alternatives due to their natural origin, biodegradability, and potential anti-corrosion properties. This review introduces the use of essential oils as novel corrosion inhibitors. It addresses the chemical composition of essential oils, their corrosion-prevention processes, and the benefits they provide over traditional inhibitors. The review also includes contemporary research findings and case studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of essential oils in a variety of acidic situations. By investigating the potential of essential oils for corrosion inhibition, this research hopes to contribute to the development of safer and more sustainable corrosion control systems

Multivariate analysis and A GIS-based method to assess surface water quality in the Sakia El Hamra River Near Laâyoune City, Morocco

In the Laâyoune Sakia El Hamra region of Morocco, characterized by scarcity, fragility, and uneven distribution of water resources, acute water stress is prevalent due to overexploitation, climate change, and the escalating degradation of water quality from human activities. The Sakia El Hamra River, a vital watercourse, is subjected to continuous pollution from domestic waste and untreated wastewater from Laâyoune city, impacting a section designated as a Ramsar site. This study aims to enhance understanding of these impacts within the region. A series of physicochemical parameters were monitored spatiotemporally at multiple points along the river, both upstream and downstream of the Sakia El Hamra dam. The findings indicate that while the reservoir water maintains acceptable quality, influenced by evaporation, the salinity levels do rise. Conversely, the downstream water quality exhibits excessive mineral concentrations, far surpassing acceptable standards, as evidenced by elevated electrical conductivity. Furthermore, significant pollution levels are confirmed by high measurements of biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total phosphorus, ammoniacal nitrogen, and other contaminants.  The mapping of water quality indicators in the Oued Sakia El Hamra River, was achieved using a Geographical Information System (GIS) based on the Water Quality Information System and spatial analysis with Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation. The analysis reveals that the water quality downstream poses a substantial risk to the Foum El Oued aquifer and the local aquatic ecosystem, especially in zones affected by wastewater discharge and spring runoff. Mapping water quality will help to monitor and enforce standards and regulations to manage and control pollution

Effect of Calcium/phosphorus Ratio on the Chemical and Structural Properties of Oxygenated Apatite Synthesized by Neutralization

Zinc oxide-based cements are commonly used to fill dental canals, but they have drawbacks such as poor bonding and bacterial infection. In this work, we propose a novel phosphocalcic apatitic cement/oxygenated apatite mixture, which can mimic the natural filling of dental canals. Oxygenated apatite is a type of apatite that contains molecular oxygen in their tunnels. We aim to evaluate the effect of the Calcium/Phosphorus (Ca/P) atomic ratio on the chemical and structural properties of the synthesized oxygenated apatite, as well as on the quantity of oxygen retained in their tunnels. We use the neutralization method to precipitate apatite from lime milk and orthophosphoric acid, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. We characterize the materials the materials by X-ray diffraction, infrared absorption spectroscopy, thermal analysis, adsorption-desorption of nitrogen, and elemental analysis. We obtain simple oxygenated apatitic phases with a Ca/P ratio ranging from 1.53 to 1.76, an oxygen insertion rate of 3.5x10-4 moles, and a chemical formula of Ca9,9(PO4)6(OH)2(O2)0,69(CO2)0,01. We find that the deviation from stoichiometry and calcination at 900°C lead to the formation of a biphasic mixture of PAH/β-TCP. The synthesized apatites have low crystallinity and high specific surface area, which decreases from 156.3 to 141.6 m2/g as the Ca/P ratio increases

Green Innovation in Brake Pad Production: Harnessing Teak Powder and Clam Shells as Sustainable Alternatives for Subtractive Residual Waste

The automotive industry is critical to the world's rapidly expanding economy. Brake pads, which are critical components in braking, are commonly made of asbestos, which is hazardous to one's health and the environment. As a result, the purpose of this research is to evaluate and investigate the possible use of teak sawdust and shells in the automobile industry, specifically to build ecologically friendly and superior performing brake pads. The key materials for brake pads in this investigation were teak wood dust and shells. Teak sawdust is mixed with resin and catalyst in various proportions to make brake pads. The teak sawdust-to-resin-to-catalyst ratio is adjusted at 1:1 and 1.5:1. Subsequently, the ratio of catalyst to shells containing resin was adjusted to 1:1 and 1.5:1. Finally, the ratios of 1:1 and 1.5:1 are determined for the mixture of teak sawdust and shells to resin and catalyst. In addition, an examination utilizing a compression, friction, and puncture test was conducted to evaluate the brake pads' durability. The experimental findings demonstrate that the strength of the brake pads is significantly impacted by the compositional difference between teak sawdust and resin. The best combination, according to mechanical tests, was a 1:1 ratio of teak to shells. This investigation verified that a blend of shell powder and teak wood powder may be used in place of asbestos brake pads. It is anticipated that the car sector will employ teak sawdust to support environmental sustainability, enhance performance, preserve user safety, and offer ecological solutions

Ba(H2PO3)2.0.5H2O: Synthesis, crystal structure optimization, vibrational study, DFT computation and application as a corrosion inhibitor

This investigation involved the synthesis of barium phosphite Ba(H2PO3)2.0.5H2O by reacting barium chloride with phosphorous acid. The physical characteristics, FT-IR spectra, and X-ray diffraction were employed to validate the composition of the synthesized substance, and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) was used to determine the phase purity. The optimal molecular geometry, infrared intensities were calculated using density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) methods with the LanL2DZ basis set. The HOMO-LUMO properties and geometries of this compound have been determined and discussed. The computational structural parameters are generally in agreement with the experimental investigations. The theoretical infrared for the title compound has been constructed. Additionally, the anti-corrosion properties of this compound were investigated in an acidic solution using weight loss and electrochemical techniques. The results showed good effectiveness, indicating the formation of a protective film on the C38 surface

Kinetics and Equilibrium Study for the Adsorption of Maxilon Blue Dye on Prosopis juliflora Fruit Seeds as a Low-Cost Adsorbent

The aim of this work was to investigate the adsorption capacity of Maxilon Blue dye using Prosopis juliflora fruit seeds as an adsorbent. The seeds of P. Juliflora were utilized as a low-cost adsorbent to remove the cationic dye, Maxilon Blue, from an aqueous solution in batch experiments, examining the effects of mass, pH, and contact time. Three error functions —coefficient of determination, Chi-square, and the sum of error squares — were employed to assess the adsorption data. The adsorption equilibrium was characterized using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models. The equilibrium data closely followed the Langmuir model, indicating a maximum adsorption capacity of 85.54 mg/g on a monolayer. To elucidate the adsorption mechanisms, pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were applied. The kinetic analysis revealed that the adsorption process conformed best to the pseudo-second-order model. Consequently, this study demonstrates that P. juliflora fruit seeds are an effective, economical, and eco-friendly adsorbent for the removal of Maxilon Blue dye from aqueous solutions