This study investigated the immunological responses of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) to the toxicity of three heavy metals—copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb)—at different temperatures (24 °C, 28 °C, and 32 °C). A multistrain microbial consortium (EM), was used to test potential mitigating effects. Eight groups were assigned: control (fish in standard water without the addition of heavy metals or EM), EM (1:1000 mL), individual exposures (Cu 0.630 mg/L, Cd 1.48 mg/L, and Pb 4.4 mg/L), and combined exposures with EM (EM/Cu, EM/Cd, EM/Pb). The study measured the effects on Glutathione- S- transferase activity (GST), T- and B-cell stimulation indices (SI) and complement hemolytic activity determination (CH50). The control group showed a temperature-dependent decrease in 50
Algeria possesses considerable geothermal resources associated with diverse geological and tectonic settings, yet no comprehensive national-scale geothermal favourability assessment integrating multiple thermal indicators has previously been conducted. This study addresses this gap by developing the first harmonized geothermal potential map for Algeria using borehole temperature data, geostatistical modelling, and Geographic Information System (GIS)-based multi-criteria analysis. The assessment is based on a database of approximately 400 hydrocarbon exploration boreholes distributed across the country’s principal geological domains. Corrected Bottom-Hole Temperature (BHT) measurements were used to estimate geothermal gradients, while terrestrial heat flow and thermal conductivity were incorporated as complementary indicators. Spatial interpolation was performed using ordinary kriging, and the resulting thematic layers were integrated into a Geothermal Potential Index (GPI) within a GIS environment. The generated maps reveal significant spatial variability in Algeria’s geothermal resources. The highest geothermal favourability is concentrated within the Tellian Atlas and selected structurally active regions, whereas moderate potential is observed in parts of the Saharan Atlas and several sedimentary basins. The integrated GPI successfully identifies priority areas for future geothermal exploration and direct-use applications. This study provides the first national-scale integrated geothermal assessment for Algeria by combining corrected borehole temperatures, geostatistical interpolation, and GIS-based multi-criteria analysis within a unified methodological framework. The resulting geothermal potential map constitutes a practical decision-support tool for geothermal exploration, renewable energy planning, and sustainable territorial development. The proposed methodology is readily transferable to other data-limited regions and contributes to advancing geothermal resource assessment across North Africa and the Euro-Mediterranean region.
Essential oils derived from Tetraclinis articulata, traditionally used for their medicinal properties, have attracted increasing interest as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical fungicides. In this study, extraction was carried out by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus, with yield and time monitoring enabling the isolation of distinct essential oil fractions at key intervals (10, 20, and 120 min). The raw oil, along with its individual fractions, underwent in vitro evaluation against various plant pathogens, specifically Pythium spp., Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL), and Fusarium solani. The bioassays relied on the agar dilution method, supplemented by the measurement of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) profiling demonstrated that oxygenated monoterpenes were the dominant chemical class. Bornyl acetate was identified as the main constituent across all extracts (20.40-31.48
Oilfield produced water (OPW), the main wastewater generated by the petroleum industry, contains a complex mixture of organic and inorganic contaminants that pose serious environmental challenges. In this study, electrocoagulation using aluminum electrodes was investigated for the treatment of OPW. The effects of pH, current density, and electrolysis time on chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity removal were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) based on a Box–Behnken design. Statistical analysis confirmed the adequacy and reliability of the developed models. The optimum operating conditions were identified at pH 6.5, current density of 30.36 mA/cm2, and treatment time of 37 min, leading to COD and turbidity removals of 99.9
The study aims to improve the energy performance of a sulfuric acid production unit using a superstructure-based heat exchanger network (HEN) optimization framework integrating thermodynamic and economic analyses. First, the existing process configuration is assessed to characterize its thermal performance and identify opportunities to improve heat recovery and reduce utility demand. A superstructure framework is then used to simultaneously optimize stream matching, utility selection, and the minimum temperature difference (ΔTmin), minimizing total annual cost (TAC) as the objective function. The novelty of the proposed approach lies in the simultaneous consideration of these three decision levels within a unified optimization framework applied to an existing industrial process, thereby enabling a realistic assessment of retrofit potential. The optimization yields an optimal (ΔTmin) of 10 K. Compared with the base case, the optimized configuration achieves approximately a 30
