Nowadays, reverse osmosis (RO) desalination has become a highly effective and economical solution to address water scarcity worldwide. The membranes used in this type of separation are influenced by both pre-treatment operations and feed water quality, leading to fouling, a complex phenomenon responsible for reducing treatment performance and shortening membrane lifespan. In this study, an autopsy of a RO membrane from the Boujdour plant was performed, and a fouling prediction tool based on transmembrane pressure (TMP) was developed using MATLAB/Simulink (R2015a) with an artificial neural network (ANN) model. The impact of membrane fouling on treatment performance was also examined through one year of monitoring. A detailed analysis of the fouled membrane was conducted using SEM/EDS techniques to characterize the fouling on the membrane’s surface and cross-section. The results revealed significant fractures on the membrane surface, with fouling predominantly consisting of organic deposits (characterized by a high oxygen concentration of 39.69%) and inorganic fouling, including Si (7.99%), Al (2.79%), Mg (1.56%), Fe (1.27%), and smaller quantities of K (0.87%), S (0.36%), and Ca (0.12%). The ANN model for predicting transmembrane pressure was successfully developed, achieving a high R² value of 92.077% and a low mean square error (MSE) of 0.005657. This predictive model demonstrates the ability to forecast future TMP cycles based on historical data. The research provides a detailed understanding of the types of fouling affecting RO membranes and contributes to the development of preventive strategies to mitigate membrane fouling.

Composite materials are commonly employed because of their superior mechanical and electrical properties, as well as their lower density compared to metals. In this research, ceramic waste from the Casablanca region (Morocco) was incorporated into a composite material by combining it with finely ground ceramic fragments (CB) in an unsaturated polymer (UP) resin. The study objectives include the characterization of ceramic waste, evaluation of the mechanical stiffness, influenced by CB content and specimen thickness, and the assessment of its hydric behavior and erosion resistance in aggressive chemical environments. This valorization approach includes a baseline assessment of unmodified ceramic waste and UP’s compatibility and systematic documentation of geometry-dependent stiffness in short-cylinder compression tests. Several methods were used to characterize the material, including XRD, optical microscopy, FTIR-ATR, erosion testing, hydric behavior analysis, surface area measurement, and Young’s modulus. The results showed increased tensile strength and stiffness compared to the starting materials through the evolution of Young’s modulus, demonstrating the enhanced mechanical quality of the composite. Additionally, the material properties changed with the CB content and thickness of the sample, which indicated the potential for optimization. These findings advocate for the reuse of Moroccan industrial ceramic waste as a viable mineral filler for semi-structural polymer composites, supporting the circular economy, environmental sustainability, and public health.

Cost-effective, durable, and environmentally friendly electrocatalysts to be used for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) represent one of the key challenges facing green hydrogen generation. In this context, a TiO₂-doped hydrochar derived from Phoenix dactylifera L. Deglet Nour (date pits) was synthesized and incorporated into a graphite-based electrode to improve HER performance in a 1 M KOH solution. Three TiO₂ loadings (1, 3, and 6 wt%) were systematically studied and compared using electrochemical techniques to evaluate the influence of oxide incorporation on HER kinetics. In parallel, physicochemical characterization analyses were performed to acquire an in-depth understanding of the morphology, composition, and surface properties of biomass-derived carbonaceous materials and to establish correlations with their electrochemical behavior. The G/HC-3% TiO₂ electrode exhibited the most pronounced electrocatalytic performance, with an overpotential of 194 mV at −10 mA·cm⁻² and a Tafel slope of 67 mV·dec⁻¹, indicating favorable interfacial charge transfer kinetics. The present work demonstrates that biomass-derived TiO₂-doped hydrochar has significant potential as a sustainable and high-performance electrocatalyst in alkaline water electrolysis.