Hydrogeochemical assessment of aquifer salinization in north-eastern Morocco's Gueroaou coastal plain using statistical methods.

The Guerouaou aquifer investigation spanning 280 km2 in Ain Zohra yields promising outcomes, instilling optimism for regional water quality. These analyses were applied to 45 sampling instances from 43 wells, enabling a comprehensive water quality assessment. Groundwater conductivity ranged from medium to high, peaking at 18360 ms/cm2. The conductivity reveals insights about the groundwater's mineralization. Key physiochemical parameters fell within desirable thresholds, bolstering the positive perspective. HCO3- levels spanned 82-420 mg/L, while chloride content ranged from 38 to 5316 mg/L, benefiting water quality. NO3- ions, vital for gauging pollution, ranged from 0 to 260 mg/L, indicating favorable results. Cation concentrations exhibited encouraging variations: Ca2+- 24 to 647 mg/L, Mg2+- 12 to 440 mg/L, Na+- 18 to 2722 mg/L, K+- 1.75 to 28.65 mg/L. These collectively favor water quality. Halite breakdown dominated mineralization, as evidenced by the prevalence of Na-Cl-Na-SO4 facies. Water resource management and local communities need effective management and mitigation strategies to prevent saltwater intrusion.

Pollution Vulnerability of the Ghiss Nekkor Alluvial Aquifer in Al-Hoceima (Morocco), Using GIS-Based DRASTIC Model.

Groundwater resources of the alluvial aquifer Ghiss Nekkor, which covers an area of 100 km2, are the main source of domestic and agricultural freshwater supply in the region of Al Hoceima in Morocco. Due to human activities (overexploitation, increase in agricultural activity), this alluvial aquifer has become very sensitive to chemical pollution. The principal objective of this current study is to develop and implement a calibration method to assess, map, and estimate the vulnerability of the Ghiss Nekkor alluvial aquifer to pollution risk. In this work, the GIS-based DRASTIC model was used to estimate the inherent vulnerability to contamination of the Ghiss Nekkor alluvial aquifer with seven standard hydrogeological parameters. Nitrate (NO3) and electrical conductivity (EC) data were used to validate the DRASTIC map. The results of the vulnerability map analysis show that the vulnerability to contaminants varies from non-existent in the southwestern part of the plain (7.3% of the total area), to very high (14.5%). The vulnerability is moderate in the central and northeastern areas (26.9%), while it is high in the other areas (17.5%). Furthermore, the most sensitive areas are mainly concentrated near the coastal strip and the central plain on both sides of the Nekkor River. In these areas, the NO3 and EC values are above the maximum allowable limit of the World Health Organization. The results suggest that the DRASTIC model can be an effective tool for decision-makers concerned about managing groundwater sustainability.

Valorization of Moroccan Bentonite Deposits: "Purification and Treatment of Margin by the Adsorption Process".

The main objective of this work was to contribute to the reduction in the contamination of phenolic compounds contained in margin by an adsorption process on two types of raw bentonite. The margin used in the studies was collected from a semi-modern oil mill located in the Nador-Morocco region. The results of the physico-chemical analyses showed that the effluents of the oil mills showed that they are highly polluted, particularly in terms of the total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and iron content of around 154.82 (mg/L), and copper content of 31.72 (mg/L). The mineralogy of bentonites studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals the existence of two types of montmorillonite; theoretically, the diffraction peak (001) of the montmorillonite appears at 15 Å, with a basal spacing that corresponds to a calcium pole, and the diffraction peak (001) appears at 12Å, with a basal spacing that corresponds to a sodium pole. The specific surface area of the bentonite used is characterized by a large specific surface area, varying between 127.62 m2·g-1 and 693.04 m2·g-1, which is due to the presence of hydrated interleaved cations. This surface is likely to increase in aqueous solution depending on the solid/liquid ratio that modulates the degree of hydration. With a high cation exchange capacity (CEC) (146.54 meq/100 g), samples of margin mixed with raw bentonites at different percentages vary between 5% and 100%. The potential of Moroccan bentonite for the phenol adsorption of 9.17 (g/L) from aqueous solutions was investigated. Adsorption tests have confirmed the effectiveness of these natural minerals in reducing phenolic compounds ranging from 8.72% to 76.23% contained in the margin and the efficiency of heavy metal retention through microelements on raw bentonites. The very encouraging results obtained in this work could aid in the application of adsorption for the treatment of margin.