Dr. Aida Zaabtia at University of Gabes Faculty of Sciences of Gabes, Tunisia.
Aida ZAABTIA is a dedicated Tunisian researcher specializing in environmental and materials chemistry, with a growing academic presence in the field of water treatment. 🌍🔬 Born on January 21, 1999, in Gabes, Tunisia, Aida pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry followed by a Master’s in Materials and Environmental Chemistry at the Faculty of Sciences of Gabès. Currently, she is advancing her expertise through a Ph.D. program in the same institution, focusing on water treatment techniques, particularly the electro-Fenton process. 💧 She has demonstrated strong analytical chemistry skills, participated in impactful scientific research projects, and contributed to multiple international conferences and journals. Aida is also active in academic publishing and peer reviewing, showcasing her commitment to scientific rigor and innovation. With a focus on sustainable solutions to environmental issues, she aims to merge practical research with societal needs in Tunisia and beyond. 🌱📘
Professional Profile
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ORCID
🎓 Education
Aida’s academic journey is rooted in chemistry and environmental sciences. 🧪 She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the Faculty of Sciences of Gabès in 2021. Following this, she completed a Master’s degree in Materials and Environmental Chemistry (2021–2023), where her dissertation focused on the “Treatment of Indigo Carmine by Electro-Fenton in the Presence of Pyrite.” Her current pursuit is a Ph.D. in Chemistry, with a specialization in water treatment, which she began in October 2023. Aida’s secondary education culminated in a Baccalauréat in Experimental Sciences in 2018 at Lycée Houssine Bouzaiene, Gafsa. Throughout her academic progression, she has cultivated skills in experimental design, data analysis, and chemical process optimization. 🎓📊 This solid foundation in both theoretical and applied chemistry positions her as a competent researcher in the fight against environmental pollution.
🧪 Experience
Aida has accumulated meaningful laboratory and field experience in environmental chemistry. From June to September 2023, she interned at the Faculty of Sciences of Gabès, where she conducted experiments using the electro-Fenton process for dye removal and analyzed data with advanced tools. 🧫💻 In July 2020, she worked in the Medical Analysis Laboratory at Hôpital Houssine Bouzayen in Gafsa, performing and interpreting biological tests such as complete blood counts and chemistries. In August 2020, she joined the Tunisian Chemical Group in Gafsa, conducting experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of chemical treatments and contributing to the analysis of processing methods. ⚗️🔍 Aida’s professional experience highlights her capacity to operate independently in high-stakes laboratory settings while collaborating within multidisciplinary research teams.
🔬 Research Interests
Aida’s primary research interests lie at the intersection of water treatment technologies, electrochemical oxidation, and environmental chemistry. 🌿🔬 Her current Ph.D. research focuses on optimizing the electro-Fenton process using solar energy for the degradation of organic pollutants in water systems. She is also exploring the treatment of complex effluents such as olive mill wastewater using coagulation–flocculation and electrochemical techniques. Other key areas include the design of advanced oxidation processes, analytical characterization of pollutants, and the application of green chemistry to mitigate industrial wastewater contamination. 🌞💧 Additionally, she has a growing interest in experimental design methodologies (e.g., Box-Behnken design) for optimizing treatment parameters, aiming to enhance both cost-efficiency and environmental sustainability. Aida’s long-term vision is to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and real-world applications, especially in arid and semi-arid regions like Tunisia.
🏆 Awards & Recognitions
Aida has built an impressive portfolio of academic and professional certifications. 🏅 She holds a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) certificate and a Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001:2015) certification from British Safety Services (BSS). She actively participates in major scientific gatherings, including the 9th Mediterranean Conference on Desalination and Water Treatment (2024) and the GEME1 conference (2024). 🧠📊 In 2023, she attended the conference-debate on scientific and technical monitoring and the international meeting “Water in the Desert”. In 2025, she took on roles as an academic board member for the Global Open Share Publishing (GOSP) and as an online reviewer for the Environmental Engineering and Management Journal. These achievements reflect her rising status as an emerging expert and her commitment to fostering innovation in environmental science. 🌟🌍
📚 Top Noted Publications
Aida has published her research in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals in 2025, showcasing her contributions to environmental chemistry and electrochemical water treatment methods:
1. Zaabtia, A., Ba, M., Ben Amara, M., & Ammar, S. (2025)
Title: Application of a Box–Behnken design to the optimization of margin processing conditions by the electro-Fenton process on different anodes using solar energy
Journal: Journal of Power Sources, Volume 635, Article 236532
🔗 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2025.236532
Citations: 7 (as of May 2025)
Summary:
This study explores the use of solar-powered electro-Fenton (EF) technology for wastewater treatment, specifically addressing the degradation of “margin” waste—a challenging by-product from olive oil production. The research employed a Box–Behnken design, a response surface methodology, to optimize operational parameters such as pH, reaction time, and current intensity across different anode materials. Key findings include:
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Enhanced degradation efficiency when solar energy was coupled with EF.
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Comparative performance of anode materials like graphite, stainless steel, and boron-doped diamond (BDD).
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Identified optimal operational conditions leading to maximum COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) removal.
Significance:
The paper demonstrates a sustainable approach to industrial wastewater treatment using renewable energy and advanced electrochemical techniques, contributing to the green chemistry and waste valorization fields.
2. Zaabtia, A., Ba, M., & Ammar, S. (2025)
Title: Treatment of olive mill wastewater by coagulation–flocculation and electro-Fenton processes: application of the experimental design methodology
Journal: Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Pages 1–17
🔗 DOI: 10.1007/s10800-025-02308-y
Citations: 5 (as of May 2025)
Summary:
This research presents a hybrid method combining coagulation–flocculation (CF) and electro-Fenton processes to treat olive mill wastewater, a highly polluted industrial effluent rich in polyphenols and organic matter. Using statistical experimental design, the authors optimized treatment parameters such as coagulant dose, pH, and electrolysis time. Main outcomes:
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The CF pre-treatment significantly improved the efficiency of the subsequent EF step.
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The hybrid process achieved high removal rates of COD, turbidity, and total phenols.
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Emphasized cost-effectiveness and scalability of the treatment method.
Significance:
This article contributes a novel treatment protocol for a waste stream prevalent in Mediterranean regions, reinforcing the viability of integrated physicochemical and electrochemical processes for complex wastewater management.
Conclusion
Aida Zaabtia is a high-potential early-career researcher with a focused research trajectory in environmental chemistry and water treatment. Her publication record, technical competence, and active participation in scientific forums demonstrate that she is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award, particularly in categories for young researchers, PhD students, or emerging leaders in environmental science.