Local ecological materials in construction represent a fundamental step toward creating living environments that combine environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and occupant comfort. It is part of an organizational context that encourages the adoption of these methods and processes. This study aims to improve the use of locally available materials, particularly soil and agricultural residues, in the Errachidia region (southeastern Morocco). In particular, date palm waste fiber, a widely available agrarian by-product, was incorporated into the soil to develop six different types of stabilized earth bricks with fiber contents of 0 %, 1 %, 2 %, 3 %, 4 %, and 5 %. The aim was to evaluate their thermophysical, mechanical, and capillary water absorption properties. Thermal properties were determined using the highly insulated house method (PHYWE), a specific methodology for assessing thermal properties in a controlled, highly insulated environment. In addition, mechanical measurements were carried out to assess compressive and flexural strength. The results obtained showed that the addition of date palm waste fibers to brick based on soil improves the thermal resistance of the bricks. Flexural and compressive strength increased up to 3 % of fiber content, while a reduction was observed above this value. The 3 % fiber content is optimal for the stabilization of brick based on soil. Then, the increase of fiber content in bricks resulted in an increase in water absorption with a decrease in the density of the bricks. Physical and chemical characterization (XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDX) of the soil and date palm waste fibers was carried out with geotechnical soil tests. The results obtained showed that the soil studied satisfies the minimum requirements for the production of bricks stabilized by fibers. These bricks can be considered an alternative to conventional bricks in ecological construction.

Using local materials with low environmental impact is essential in building living spaces, combining energy efficiency, environmental respect, and user well-being. However, despite advances in using natural materials, few studies have focused on integrating spathe fibers into earth bricks to optimize their thermal, mechanical, and hydric performance. The study aims to develop an innovative approach to using spathe fibers as natural reinforcement in manufacturing soil bricks while analyzing their impact on thermal, mechanical, and hydric properties. Several soil bricks reinforced with spathe fibers at different concentrations (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%) were developed. Thermal performance was assessed using the hot disk method, while mechanical strength was measured in compression and flexure with capillary absorption tests. Based on fiber content, the brick density ranged from 1719.75 to 1247.6 kg/m3. The thermal conductivity of the materials ranges from 0.621 to 0.327 W/m. K, indicating good insulating performance. Maximum capillary water absorption values range from 170 to 287%, revealing a difference in water permeability depending on fiber content. Compressive strengths range from 1.4 to 3.6 MPa, and flexural strengths range from 1.6 to 1.91 MPa, suggesting potential for structural applications. Physico-chemical and geotechnical analyses confirm the suitability of the soil for the production of spathe fiber-stabilized bricks. This study offers an alternative to conventional bricks, contributing to the promotion of ecological and sustainable building materials suitable for arid and semi-arid climates.

The contamination caused by plastic is an environmental problem due to its high production and inadequate final disposal. Besides, plastic has low or null biodegradation capacity, which poses an alarming issue. So, looking for new income to produce plastics such as films is necessary for some applications. This study aimed to produce and characterize biodegradable films using gelatin, cellulose, glycerol, and Furan-Phenol Conjugates (FPC) from thermally modified Agave vinasses (concentrated in furans, phenols, and sugars). Conjugates were added in 1, 2, and 3% to produce gelatin-cellulose films. Chemical characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and mechanical properties were measured by texturing equipment, thermal capacity with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and morphological characterization was used by environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). The biodegradability of films was determined by weight loss. The films showed characteristic peaks for phenolic compounds and furans such as 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF), respectively, with signals at 2930 cm-1 and 1648 cm-1. Mechanical tests indicated that adding FPC improved the mechanical properties of the films. Besides, they increased the melting temperature in all samples. After 30 days of soil burial test, the films showed a weight loss of 95.1% for FPC-1, 87.9% for FPC-2, and 82.73% for FPC-3. Using residual waste as vinasses as an improver of the properties of biodegradable films could be the first step toward a circular economy for residues from distilleries.

Pisha sandstone (PS) is a special interbedded rock in the middle reaches of the Yellow River that experiences severe weathering and is loose and broken. Due to severe multiple erosion events, the Pisha sandstone region is called the most severe water loss and soil erosion in the world and the ecological cancer of the earth. As a special pozzolanic mineral, PS has the potential to be used as precursors for the synthesis of green and low-carbon geopolymer gel materials and applied in ecological restoration. This paper aims to undertake a phase review of the precursors for geopolymer gel materials. The genesis and distribution, physical and chemical characterization, erosion characteristics, and advances in the ecological restoration of PS are all summarized. Furthermore, current advances in the use of PS for the synthesis of geopolymer gel materials in terms of mechanical properties and durability are discussed. The production of Pisha sandstone geopolymer gels through the binder jetting technique and 3D printing techniques is prospected. Meanwhile, the prospects for the resource application of PS in mine rehabilitation and sustainable ecology are discussed. In the future, multifactor-driven comprehensive measures should be further investigated in order to achieve ecological restoration of the Pisha sandstone region and promote high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.