This study focuses on succinic acid production by Actinobacillus succinogenes in batch fermentation from whey and lactose widely encountered in dairy effluents. The effects of initial whey and lactose concentration, CO2 rate on succinic acid production were investigated. The optimal succinic acid production was obtained with 25 g L-1 of lactose and 35 g L-1 of whey with yields and productivities respectively of 65% and 0.9 g L-1 h-1 for lactose and 62.1%, 0.81 g L-1 h-1 for whey. The maximum yield and productivity of succinic acid was obtained with lactose in comparison with whey. Productivity and yield decreased when the amount of initial lactose was increased. Biomass, acetic acid and formic acid increased when whey was used as a substrate compared to lactose. Succinic acid production by anaerobic fermentation is a green biotechnology alternative to valorize whey and lactose from dairy effluent and to reduce their impact on the environment.

In the present study, a series of isoxazole derivatives were severally evaluated for their antifungal activity against the yeast Candida albicans and molds such as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Fusarium oxysporum. The results demonstrate that the isoxazole derivatives exhibit considerable antifungal potential, particularly isoxazole-sulfonate ester 4b (Ar= 4-(Cl)C₆H₄, Ar′= 4-(CH₃)C₆H₄), which was found to be active with significant inhibition zones; the diameters of the C. albicans and F. oxysporum samples were measured at 17.00 ± 0.00 mm and 14.00 ± 0.00 mm, respectively. Furthermore, compounds 4a (Ar= 4-(CH₃)C₆H₄, Ar′= 4-(CH₃)C₆H₄), 4c (Ar: 4-(Cl)C₆H₄, Ar′: 4-(NO₂)C₆H₄) and 4d (Ar: 4-(Cl)C₆H₄, Ar′: 3-(Cl)-2-(OCH₃)C₆H₃) demonstrated MIC and MFC values of 20 µg/mL against C. albicans. In addition, the anti-hemolytic activity of these derivatives was evaluated. Compounds 4a, 4e (Ar: 4-(Cl)C₆H₄, Ar′: 3,4-(OCH₃)₂C₆H₃) and aroylisoxazole 3a (Ar: 4-(CH₃)C₆H₄) demonstrated a high degree of anti-hemolytic activity (>99%) at all concentrations evaluated (10, 15, and 20 mg/mL). Molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies over 200 ns revealed protein–ligand complexes to have high affinity and stability, which agrees with the experimental results. The compounds 4d, 4e, and 3a have shown significant interaction with the target proteins of C. albicans, A. flavus, and F. oxysporum, respectively. The results have revealed that the major interaction sites are hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and the presence of a water molecule, especially with key residues like TYR_84, ASP_120, SER_90, and THR_89. The crystal structure of compound 4a was also obtained.

Olive oil producing countries, including Morocco, generate large volumes of olive mill wastewater (OMW), which is characterized by high organic and phenolic loads, leading to serious environmental concerns. The present study aimed to evaluate this by-product by investigating its antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. Twelve OMW samples collected from five Moroccan regions were subjected to this study. Polyphenol extraction yielded total phenolic contents ranging from 183.49 ± 2.18 to 736.56 ± 2.94 mg GAE/g extract and total flavonoid contents between 43.22 ± 0.42 and 341.92 ± 1.99 mg QE/g extract. HPLC-DAD analysis identified 17 phenolic compounds, with hydroxytyrosol being the predominant compound, reaching concentrations of up to 135.16 ± 0.01 mg/g in OMWExt 2. All extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with total antioxidant capacities between 112.79 ± 0.37 and 515.00 ± 1.84 mg EAA/g extract. The FRAP values ranged from 69.78 ± 1.27 mg ET/g extract to 284.73 ± 0.85 mg ET/g, and the optimal IC₅₀ values were 11.99 ± 1.19 μg/mL (DPPH) and 11.91 ± 0.55 μg/mL (ABTS) for OMWExt 2. Antibacterial activity was observed against both Gram-negative ( Escherichia coli K12, Pseudomonas aeruginosa CIP 82.114, and Klebsiella pneumoniae CIP A22) and Gram-positive bacteria ( Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213), with MIC values ranging from 625 μg/mL to 2.5 mg/mL. Antifungal activity was detected particularly in extracts with high hydroxytyrosol contents, especially OMWExt 2, which presented MIC values between 1.15 and 25 mg/mL against Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Aspergillus flavus MTCC 9606, Aspergillus niger MTCC 282, and Fusarium oxysporum MTCC 9913.

Olive oil production is a key agro-food sector in Morocco, with olive cultivation serving as an essential socio-economic pillar. However, the olive milling process generates substantial quantities of biowaste, including olive pomace and olive mill wastewater, posing serious environmental and economic challenges. Ensuring the sustainable management of this waste throughout the olive oil production chain is therefore critical. This study, based on a survey of 855 individuals working in the olive oil industry in the Fez-Meknes region, aims to assess the extraction methods used, the quantity of waste generated, and the waste management practices adopted by local mills. It also explores potential applications and valorization pathways for olive oil by-products, intending to enhance sustainability, increase the value of these residues, and protect the environment. The findings indicate a trend toward modern extraction technologies, often combined with traditional methods to preserve oil quality. Olive oil yield ranges from 20% to 30%, depending on the extraction technique, while waste outputs consist of 40% to 50% solid waste and 50% to 70% liquid effluents. The study highlights promising applications for these by-products, including energy production, composting, and the development of high-value compounds. These alternatives could help reduce the environmental burden of olive mill waste and contribute to a circular bioeconomy. Nevertheless, implementation of efficient reuse and recovery strategies remains a significant challenge and an opportunity for increasing both environmental sustainability and economic returns in the sector.