Chemical Evolution of the Continental Terminal Shallow Aquifer in the South of Coastal Sedimentary Basin of Benin (West-Africa) Using Multivariate Factor Analysis

In southern Benin, where population is growing and water demand for domestic activities is increasing, water balance assessment constitutes a serious concern about sustainability of water resources. Major ions have been employed with statistical methods to identify geochemical processes controlling groundwater quality. Multivariate statistical analysis (principal component analysis “PCA” and hierarchical cluster analysis “HCA”) revealed the main sources of groundwater mineralization. According to the hydrochemical data and the methods of treatment, groundwater mineralization in the investigated aquifer is caused by four main processes: 1) mixing with Nokoué lake and Porto-Novo lagoon salt water causing salinity to increase in the southern part of the aquifer;2) anthropogenic activities;3) cation exchange process;and 4) soil CO2 diffusion providing a large proportion of bicarbonates.

Microbiological Pollution Indication as Tracer for the Pollution of Well Water: The Example of the District of Abomey-Calavi (Benin)

Water is indispensable at life. Resources in waters of the township of Abomey-Calavi are of national importance. The township of Abomey-Calavi is very close to the biggest plan of water Beninese lagoon: The Nokoué lake. Besides, not only the waters of the ground water are consumed by the majority of the population from the traditional well, but also, the underground waters of the terminal continnental of the township of Abomey-Calavi are exploited intensely by the Society Nationnale of the Waters of Benin (SONEB) to nourish in drinking water in the townships of Abomey-Calavi, of Cotonou the biggest city of the country and Sèmè. The microbiological parameter followup (total coliforms, coliforms thermotolerants and enterrococcis) to the level of many traditional well and deep boring and some different points of Nokoué lake were the object of a treatment of data by the establishment of card of fecal contamination of waters natural of the region, that informs us on the quality of waters by the slant of a microbiological quality indication that calculates itself according to the method of Bovesse and Depelchin (1980). The survey of the microbiological contamination indication, succeeds to the establishment of seasonal cards of quality of waters.

Elimination of Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Domestic Wastewater through a Series of Anaerobic and Aerobic Reactors for a Developing Country like Benin

Waste water treatment in order to preserve water resources is one of the major concerns in developing countries. This study aims to test the operating effectiveness of a pilot designed on a basis of several laboratory experiments, which consists of an anaerobic and aerobic pond in series. The test was performed through monitoring global parameters of pollution. The results of the analysis of these parameters indicate an elimination of 91% of suspended solids, 68% of COD, 77% of BOD5, 61% of nitrate and 81% of phosphorus. It was also noticed that the anaerobic pond removes most, carbonaceous organic materials and especially suspended matters;and the aerobic pond most, nitrogen and especially phosphorus. This study reveals the effectiveness of the series connection of an anaerobic and aerobic pond for domestic wastewater treatment.

Evaluation of the Opuntia dillenii as Natural Coagulant in Water Clarification:Case of Treatment of Highly Turbid Surface Water

This study was performed in laboratory scale and consisted of the using of aqueous Opuntia dillenii solution for the clarification of very turbid surface water (Turbidities varying between 186 NTU and 418 NTU). This plant from Cactaceae family was used as a natural coagulant for the different clarification tests. The preliminary phytochemical Screening of the powder of this plant showed that it contains tanins, saponins and mucilages. Flocculation and coagulation tests showed that Opuntia dillenii can be used in highly turbid water treatment. The removal efficiency varied from 89% to 93% for the turbidity and suspended solids, and from 4% to 15% for the obvious color in water when we used the optimum values of this natural coagulant (1 mL to 10 mL). The successive addition of this natural coagulant and the lime, gave a better elimination of turbidity and suspended solids, and a good reduction for the color. The removal efficiency of the turbidity and suspended solids became more than 95% and the one of the color between 67% and 94%.

Phytochemical Study and Evaluation of Cytotoxicity, Antioxidant and Hypolipidemic Properties of <i>Launaea taraxacifolia</i>Leaves Extracts on Cell Lines HepG2 and PLB985

Launaea taraxacifolia is a leafy vegetable of the family of Asteraceae (Compositae) found in several countries in West Africa including Ghana, Benin and Nigeria. The plant leaves are eaten either fresh as salad or cooked as sauces. They are also consumed as infusion to fight against several diseases including non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Several studies have been conducted in Ghana, Nigeria on the nutritional and medicinal values of this plant but no study has yet been conducted in Benin on the virtues of this plant. In this work we have achieved the phytochemical characterization and evaluated the cytotoxicity as well as hypolipidemic and anti-oxidant effects of the ethanol-aqueous extracts of Launaea taraxacifolia leaves. Cytotoxicity and hypolipidemic activities have been performed on HepG2 cells;the antioxidant effect has been performed on the PLB985 cells. The results showed that the ethanol-aqueous extracts of Launaea taraxacifolia leaves contained the following metabolites: catechic tannin, flavonoids, phenolic acids, mucilage and leucoanthocyanins. Only very high concentrations (>20 mg/ml) of leaves extracts are toxic for HepG2 cells. Launaea taraxacifolia leaves have significant antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities.