PHYBIOMED at EWPRS 2026: three doctoral researchers share their work in Algiers
On 29–30 September 2026, Zohra Soumia Titouche, Maya Bouznada and Mohamed Amine Reniffi participated in the first international conference on “Efficient Water Purification and Reuse Strategies”, held at USTHB (The presentation can be downloaded at the bottom of the page).
Their work supports two complementary PHYBIOMED objectives: improving wastewater treatment for reuse and converting residues into useful resources.
Zohra Soumia TITOUCHE
“Photocatalytic Removal of Benzotriazole as an Emerging Micropollutant from Dairy Industry Wastewater” (The presentation can be downloaded at the bottom of the page).
Objective: investigate benzotriazole removal from model solutions using a ZnO/biochar photocatalyst, distinguishing adsorption from the effect of irradiation.
Connection to PHYBIOMED: develop pretreatment for dairy effluents to reduce micropollutants that may disrupt downstream biological processes, with a longer-term goal of using solar energy for water treatment.
Maya BOUZNADA
“Statistical optimization of oxytetracycline adsorption onto digestate-derived biochar using response surface methodology” (The presentation can be downloaded at the bottom of the page).
Objective: assess digestate-derived biochar for oxytetracycline adsorption and optimize operating conditions using response surface methodology, including pH and biochar dosage.
Connection to PHYBIOMED: link the valorization of anaerobic digestion residues with water treatment by turning digestate into an adsorbent for antibiotics. This approach connects residue recovery with wastewater purification.
Mohamed Amine RENIFFI
“Synthesis and Preliminary Evaluation of Biochar-Based Zinc Oxide Photocatalytic Composites for Water Treatment”
Objective: prepare a flax-shive biochar/ZnO composite and compare its response under UV irradiation with biochar alone, using Brilliant Blue G-250 as a model dye.
Connection to PHYBIOMED: develop biomass-derived materials for wastewater pretreatment. Preliminary decolorization results guide material selection, while further tests are needed to establish the photocatalytic contribution.
These studies connect materials development and process optimization within PHYBIOMED’s circular approach to water and resource management.
Congratulations to the three doctoral researchers, and thank you to the collaborating teams!
A special thank you to Prof. Noureddine NASRALLAH, research team leader at the Reaction Engineering Laboratory (LGR), USTHB, for his contribution to preparing and organizing EWPRS 2026 and for his kind invitation. We appreciated this opportunity to share our research and strengthen scientific collaboration.
PHYBIOMED is supported through the PRIMA Programme and participating national funding bodies.
#PHYBIOMED #PRIMA #EWPRS2026 #WastewaterTreatment #Biochar #CircularEconomy
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