Mohamed Aimen Boulebnane’s research while affiliated with University of Jijel and other places

Faced with the urgent need to develop environmentally friendly alternatives to cementitious materials, geopolymers, made from combinations of various by-products, offer a promising solution. In recent years, statistical optimization methods have begun to be applied in the field of engineering. This study focuses on sustainable geopolymer mortars by incorporating industrial by-product powders, specifically blast furnace slag (SP), waste glass powder (GP), and ceramic powder (CP) as partial replacements. Compressive strength, flexural strength, workability, and density were evaluated for various ternary compositions using a Mix Design Model (MDM) approach. The main results revealed a synergistic interaction between SP and CP, with a 20% replacement of CP leading to a 16% increase in compressive strength, indicating optimal performance. Microstructural analysis using SEM, TGA, and FTIR highlighted a dense, crack-free matrix with extensive calcium aluminosilicate gel phases, particularly in the SP–CP mixture. Optimization through desirability profiling identified a 30% CP replacement as ideal for maximizing strength and workability. Controlled optimization of multi-component geopolymer synthesis using by-products streams proves to be a promising method for developing next-generation sustainable construction materials.

The textile industry is among the primary causes of contaminated water, releasing harmful spills into the ecosystem. Because of their resistance to degradation in some cases, these spills pose considerable threats, not only to human health, but also to the equilibrium of ecosystems. This study aims to assess the viability of eliminating Congo Red (CR) dye by using the sand filtration method in the localities of BOUDA and El-METARFA, located in south-west Algeria. In addition to that, the impact analyzes of various parameters on the treatment approach was done in this study. The results obtained show that the optimum filter layer height for both types of sand is 30 cm. At this height, maximum Congo Red dye removal is achieved, resulting in removal rates exceeding 85% and 89% respectively for AL-METARFA and BOUDA sand blends. In addition, a removal rate of around 85% was observed for filters with a diameter of 200 μm or less. The results underline the disadvantages of smaller particle sizes, making the 200 μm filter the preferred choice for optimum performance. In conclusion, according to the results collected, it seems that the sand filtration method has remarkable technological potential when employed as a polishing stage in surface water treatment. This approach offers a promising solution for mitigating the damaging effects of textile dyes in the areas studied.