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The current study aims to determine how well pomegranate peel can remove Methylene Blue (MB) from an aqueous solution. For this purpose, kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic adsorption studies were performed in a batch system. The rate of MB adsorption was rapid and reached equilibrium at about 60 minutes. The adsorption capacity reached approximately 42.71 mg g-1 at the initial dye concentration of 100 mg L-1. The kinetic modeling of MB adsorption was conducted using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich, and intraparticle diffusion models. The pseudo-second-order model was found to be the most adequate for fitting the kinetic data based on R2, RMSE, ARE, and χ2 values. It was also discovered that MB adsorption onto pomegranate peel is not simply rate-limited by intraparticle diffusion. The isotherm approach showed a maximum adsorption capacity of 67.78 mg g-1 at 298 K using 2 g L-1 of pomegranate peel. Equilibrium modeling was also conducted. The four statistical values highlighted the better fit of the Langmuir model than the Freundlich model. Additionally, the exothermic and spontaneous nature of the adsorption process was revealed by thermodynamic research. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of pomegranate peel as an eco-friendly absorbent for MB removal.

The essential oil and the aqueous and ethanolic extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Pelargonium graveolens cultivated in Morocco were studied for their antioxidant and insecticidal activity against rice weevils (Sitophylus oryzae). The total phenolic content of the extracts was determined by a spectrophotometric method and the phenolic compounds were extensively characterized by HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS. To evaluate antioxidant potential, three in vitro assays were used. In the DPPH test, the ethanolic extract was the most active, followed by the aqueous extract and the essential oil. In the reducing power assay, excellent activity was highlighted for both extracts, while in the Fe2+ chelating activity assay, weak activity was observed for both the essential oil and the ethanolic extract and no activity for the aqueous extract. Concerning insecticide activity, the toxicity of the essential oil and the extracts was tested against rice weevils; the lethal concentrations LC50 and LC99 were determined, as well as the lethal time required for the death of 50% (LT50) and 99% (LT99) of the weevils. The essential oil had the highest activity; 100% mortality of S. oryzae was observed around 5, 9, and 8 days for the essential oil and the aqueous and ethanolic extracts, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study proposes to evaluate the extent of erosion according to the lithology in three sub-watersheds (Ras Elma, Sebab and Tamelalet) belonging to the Tigrigra basin and evolving in humid climatic context. The methodology adopts the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE). The results obtained make it possible to establish erosion class maps via GIS. A clear spatial difference in soil loss is observed, between the three sub-basins and in proportion to the lithology: on average 42.15 t/ha/year on Paleozoic schistose soils, against 17.06 t/ha/year on carbonate substrates Mesozoic and 8.46 t/ha/year on quaternary basalts. Correlations between soil loss and RUSLE factors are established. Soil infiltration regimes on different substrates are studied.

Morphological characterization was investigated by agro‐morphological criteria related to carob seed size in four different moroccan regions collected in 2018 and 2019. There was no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) on the seeds lengths and widths. However, a significant difference between seeds thickness and total seeds weight per pod (p ≤ 0.05) were observed between these four populations. The fatty acid, sterol, tocopherol, hydrocarbon, and the unoxygenated composition of carob seed extracts (Ceratonia siliqua L.) were studied. The mean fat yield of the seeds obtained is 1.53%–2.17%, 2.14%–2.15%, 1.61%–1.62%, 1.71%–1.75% for, respectively, the P1 (Meknes), P2 (Fez), P3 (Khemisset), and P4 (Marrakech) in 2018 and 2019. The seed oil was extracted with hexane and the analysis of the fatty fraction was performed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Results show that the major fatty acids for 2018 and 2019 are linoleic acid (61.48%–61.52%, 52.12%–52.14%, 57.76%–58.15%, 61.33%–61.52%), palmitic acid (15.78%–15.81%, 16.44%–16.45%, 19.11%–18.37%, 20.24%–20.32%), oleic acid (11.03%–11.04%, 8.72%–8.82%, 8.51%–8.61%, 8.41%–8.53%), stearic acid (4.35%–3.14%, 5.40%–5.43%, 3.12%–3.13%, 0.96%–1.56%), and cerotic acid (0.62%–0.53%, 4.51%–4.52%, 4.03%–4.06%, 3.84%–3.87%). The unsaturated fatty acids (69.39% in 2018 and 69.68% in 2019) are the most dominant in the four seed extracts compared to the saturated fatty acids. In addition, the oil carob seeds analysis revealed the presence of γ‐tocopherol, α‐tocopherol and four sterols that included campesterol, stigmasterol, and β‐sitosterol. Moreover, the determination of hydrocarbon and un‐oxygenated compounds confirmed the existence of major compounds such as heptadecane, 2‐methyltriacontane, 1‐iodo hexadecane and 1‐iodo octadecane. The hierarchical analysis based on the morphological and chromatographic characterization of the seeds allowed the identification of three groups. Consequently, the first group consisted of populations from Marrakesh (P4) and Khemisset (P3), the second group consisted of the P1 from Meknes, and the P2 from Fez constituted the third group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to develop a strategy for the safe management of insect pests in stored agricultural commodities, the essential oil of Artemisia herba alba Asso. was tested against Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius raised on seeds of Cicer arietinum (L.) at 20-30°C and 65±5% relative humidity under storage conditions. Chickpea seeds were fumigated with concentrations of essential oil and then infested by young adults of bruchids. On each treated or control lot, 10 newly emerged pairs were released. The number of dead bruchids and number of eggs hatched and unhatched from the seeds were counted. At the end of their development, adults emerged from treated and untreated seeds were counted separately by sex and the success rate was calculated. Three replicates were conducted for each treatment. The essential oil extracted from Artemisia herba alba Asso was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The chromatogram of the essential oil of Artemisia herba alba Asso shows 15 signals relating to the 15 compounds of which camphor is the major constituent with a percentage of 96.15%. The results of the biological tests obtained showed that the essential oil of Artemisia herba alba Asso exerts repellent and toxic effects on Callosobruchus maculatus. It causes a high mortality of adults and affects its fertility, fertility, and success rate in a very significant way compared to controls. These show that fumigation of stored commodities with the essential oil of Artemisia herba alba Asso against insect pests can be considered under storage conditions without risk to consumers and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil of Origanum compactum, from the region of Meknes (Morocco), and their antimicrobial effect, and on the other hand, to carry out a comparison between the chemical composition of this essential oil with the six regions of Morocco: Larache, Chefchaouen, Al Hoceïma, Tetouan, Taounate and Rabat. The essential oils of Origanum compactum thus obtained were analyzed and identified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). To determine the similarities and dissimilarities between the chemical compositions of the essential oil of Origanum compactum from the Meknes region with the other six regions of Morocco, we performed the principal component analysis (ACP). Regarding antimicrobial activity, the essential oils of Origanum compactum have shown significant inhibitory activity against the bacteria and molds studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]