Article
Water Resources
Jean Birks, John Manchuk, Yi Yi, Cynthia N. McClain, Michael C. Moncur, John J. Gibson, Clayton V. Deutsch, Emily B. Taylor, Guy Bayegnak
Summary: This study compiled and analyzed groundwater quality data from the Alberta Oil Sands Region (AOSR) in Canada, aiming to provide regional water quality information for groundwater monitoring and land use planning. The study identified variations in baseline water quality conditions among different hydrostratigraphic units (HSUs), and found that some parameters exceeded interim trigger values considered by government regulators. The study also detected significant temporal changes in water quality in certain areas during the 2000s.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohammadjavad Mohammadi, Seyed Mostafa Jafari Raad, Mohsen Zirrahi, Hassan Hassanzadeh
Summary: This study investigates the long-term fate of gases generated in situ during thermal oil recovery operations. The migration of these gases is found to be negligible in formations with continuous flow barriers, but potentially significant in formations with discontinuous flow barriers. Capillary barriers, particularly in sand layers, play a key role in controlling the upward migration of gases to prevent or reduce environmental risks. The migrated gas primarily consists of methane, free of CO2 and H2S, providing valuable insights for regulatory frameworks and risk assessments in thermal oil recovery operations.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Reza Khalkhali, Arman Peyravi, Zaher Hashisho, Phillip Choi
Summary: This study demonstrates that microwave heating is an effective method for removing cyclohexane in oil sands gangue when water is present. Microwave heating is selective and the energy is absorbed by water molecules and then transferred to cyclohexane molecules, causing them to vaporize. The research found that the efficiency of cyclohexane removal increases with increasing water content in the gangue.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. Graham Clark, Gordon B. Drewitt, Sean K. Carey
Summary: BML behaves similarly to other northern lakes in terms of lake-atmosphere energy and carbon exchange, with high CH4 fluxes in spring but reduced overall fluxes. Evaporation is influenced by hydrocarbon presence on the lake surface, necessitating more comprehensive modeling.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Stanley Zira, Eva Salomon, Magdalena Akerfeldt, Elin Roos
Summary: This study evaluated the environmental consequences of incorporating grass-clover biomass in pig diets. Results showed that using grass-clover as part of pig feed can reduce climate impact, eutrophication, energy use, and feed-food competition, but it may slightly increase acidification and land use.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Homa Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, Abdul-Sattar Nizami, Soteris A. Kalogirou, Vijai Kumar Gupta, Young-Kwon Park, Alireza Fallahi, Alawi Sulaiman, Meisam Ranjbari, Hassan Rahnama, Mortaza Aghbashlo, Wanxi Peng, Meisam Tabatabaei
Summary: This article reviews the existing literature on the life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis of waste cooking oil (WCO) biodiesel production and identifies the state-of-the-art, research gaps, and future research opportunities in this field. Although environmental assessment of biodiesel production using LCA is well-established, there are still limitations and concerns, such as neglecting waste management and inadequate data.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Krishna Sapkota, Eskinder Gemechu, Abayomi Olufemi Oni, Linwei Ma, Amit Kumar
Summary: The study developed a bottom-up life cycle assessment model to evaluate GHG emissions associated with Canadian oil sands supply to China. Results showed that pathway I, involving pipeline transportation to Westridge, has lower emissions per barrel compared to pathway II, direct shipping to China. The emissions for shipping are mainly due to fuel use in the main engine, with SCO having 15% lower emissions than dilbit.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Fan Fangfang, Avinash Alagumalai, Omid Mahian
Summary: This study focused on assessing the sustainability and environmental impact of waste cooking oil biodiesel production, as well as using artificial neural networks to predict biodiesel yield and engine characteristics. The research found that using a 1% catalyst concentration, 9:1 methanol to waste oil molar ratio, 60 minutes reaction time, and 500 rpm mixing intensity can lead to reduced waste generation and positive environmental impacts. The use of artificial neural networks was shown to be effective in simulating and predicting biodiesel yield and engine characteristics.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nesma Eltoukhy Allam, Basem S. Zakaria, Petr V. Kuznetsov, Bipro Ranjan Dhar, Ania C. Ulrich
Summary: This study examined the impact of chemical treatment and enzyme treatment (lysozyme and protease) on inhibiting methane emissions from oil sands tailings. Enzyme treatment was more effective than chemical treatment in reducing methane production. The enzymes produced toxic compounds that inhibited the microbial community. Further research is needed to determine the optimal conditions for methane inhibition.
Article
Engineering, Geological
Grytan Sarkar, Abouzar Sadrekarimi
Summary: The instability of coarse oil sands tailings (CST) was investigated in this study, and the effects of sample reconstitution method and tailings fabric on CST's instability behavior were explored. The results showed that the consolidation vertical stress and void ratio can affect the instability and post-liquefaction strength of the CST specimens.
SOIL DYNAMICS AND EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Xiuyu Wang, Chuanying Zhang, Guorui Sun
Summary: This study investigates the swelling characteristics of natural oil sands and artificial clay samples under different conditions, as well as the impact of temperature, pressure, and solution type on the swelling rate. It also examines the mineral composition and transformation of clay particles at high temperatures, and simulates the particle migration effect during clay swelling on oil production.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Duo Wang, Chenyu Qiao, Ziqian Zhao, Wenshuai Yang, Hongyun Chen, Taiheng Yin, Zhiling Yan, Meng Wu, Xiaohui Mao, Camila Santander, Qi Liu, Qingxia Liu, Petr A. Nikrityuk, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng
Summary: This study systematically characterized the properties of bitumen froth from an oil sands operation in Northern Alberta and found that a high content of organics adsorbed on solid surfaces resulted in biwettable solids, which hindered bitumen separation and recovery. The organically-coated coarse solids precipitated to the bottom, reducing overall bitumen recovery.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Taslima Khanam, Faisal Khalid, Wajiha Manzoor, Ahmad Rashedi, Rana Hadi, Faizan Ullah, Fariha Rehman, Andleeb Akhtar, N. B. Karthik Babu, Majid Hussain
Summary: According to IPCC AR-5, environmental impact assessment is recommended before large-scale commercialization of any product prototype, although no such analysis has been done for biodiesel prototypes in Pakistan. This study conducted a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA), water footprint, and cumulative energy demand of biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas L. seeds oil in Pakistan. Results showed that crude oil extraction accounted for the highest emissions in environmental impact categories, followed by oil conversion and JC cultivation stages, with a major contribution to ecotoxicity and fossil fuels impact. Recommended use of renewable energy instead of fossil energy for lower environmental footprint and potential plantation of Jatropha curcas for multiple benefits in Pakistan.
Article
Environmental Studies
Abdulrasheed Zakari, Irfan Khan, Vincent Tawiah, Rafael Alvarado, Guo Li
Summary: This paper examines the impact of crude oil production and domestic oil consumption on environmental quality in Africa. The study finds that crude oil production improves long-term and short-term environmental quality, while domestic oil consumption has a negative short-term impact on the environment. The research also highlights the significant influence of environmental treaties on the relationship between oil production/consumption and environmental quality, suggesting the promotion of renewable energy investment.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fuquan Yang, Abdulla Al Mamun, Irene Cheng, Xin Qiu, Leiming Zhang
Summary: Model sensitivity tests were conducted to investigate the contributions of emission sources from oil sands activities and other sources to the ambient concentrations and deposition of 29 particulate elements in the Athabasca oil sands region of Canada. The results showed that the majority of element concentrations were linked to the oil sands source sector, which accounted for 78% and 68% of the sum of ambient concentrations in PM2.5 and PM2.5-10, respectively. The risks associated with inhalation exposure to airborne elements were below the recommended threshold levels.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Letter
Biology
Willis Jenkins, Paolo D'Odorico
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lorenzo Rosa, Paolo Gabrielli
Summary: The Haber-Bosch process, which synthetically produces nitrogen fertilizers from ammonia, has been sustaining humanity for over a century. However, the current production heavily relies on fossil fuels, resulting in high energy consumption and carbon emissions. This poses a challenge to climate goals and creates a dependency on fossil fuels for agricultural production. The study reveals that a significant number of people, approximately 1.78 billion, rely on imported nitrogen fertilizers or natural gas for food production, exposing the vulnerability of global food production to supply and energy shocks. Alternative routes to achieve net-zero emissions in NH3 production, such as carbon capture and storage, electrification, and biomass, offer potential solutions to climate and food security concerns, but these routes require additional land, energy, and water resources.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Davide Danilo Chiarelli, Mattia Galizzi, Daniele Bocchiola, Renzo Rosso, Maria Cristina Rulli
Summary: This study developed a simple but powerful model that mimics the triggering mechanism of shallow landslides, taking various factors such as rainfall and snowmelt into consideration. Applying the model to the case study of the Tartano basin, the results showed that approximately 26% of the slopes in the area displayed unstable conditions. The study suggests that emergency plans should consider the potential for shallow landslides caused by rapid snowmelt in spring.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chengyi Tu, Paolo D'Odorico, Zhe Li, Samir Suweis
Summary: Self-governing institutions and shared goals promote cooperation and sustainable governance of common-pool resources, as demonstrated by experiments using an online game platform. The findings suggest that users who share common objectives are more likely to engage in collective action and achieve long-term resource sustainability. This study highlights the importance of cooperation and self-organization in addressing environmental challenges.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Lorenzo Rosa, Paolo Gabrielli
Summary: Agriculture contributes 12% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through non-CO2 emissions. This study reviews technologies and innovations for reducing GHG emissions in agriculture, including on-farm energy decarbonization, nitrogen fertilizers management, alternative rice cultivation methods, and strategies for reducing enteric methane. These measures can reduce agricultural GHG emissions by up to 45%, but additional carbon dioxide removal technologies are needed to achieve net-zero emissions. Research and development are required to make these technologies more affordable and scalable, and to understand their wider impacts. Transitioning agriculture from a significant emitter to a carbon sink is possible with support and incentives.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wei Xie, Anfeng Zhu, Tariq Ali, Zhengtao Zhang, Xiaoguang Chen, Feng Wu, Jikun Huang, Kyle Frankel Davis
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wei Xie, Anfeng Zhu, Tariq Ali, Zhengtao Zhang, Xiaoguang Chen, Feng Wu, Jikun Huang, Kyle Frankel Davis
Summary: In China, increasing crop production has compromised sustainability. This study examines whether crop switching can achieve more sustainable cropping systems and the need for coordinated action. Through spatial optimizations, it is found that coordinated crop switching can lead to environmental-impact reductions and increased farmer incomes, contributing to China's sustainable development targets.
Editorial Material
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Fabio Florindo, Valerio Acocella, Ann Marie Carlton, Paolo D'Odorico, Qingyun Duan, Andrew Gettelman, Jasper Halekas, Ruth Harris, Gesine Mollenhauer, Alan Robock, Claudine Stirling, Yusuke Yokoyama
Summary: Reviews of Geophysics is an AGU journal that publishes comprehensive review articles across various disciplines within the Earth and Space Sciences. It is a highly ranked journal in the fields of Geochemistry and Geophysics, with a high Journal Impact Factor (JIF). The journal's review papers provide crucial context for current work, establishing a framework for comprehensive understanding of research progress and interconnections between different communities.
REVIEWS OF GEOPHYSICS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jampel Dell'Angelo, Maria Cristina Rulli, Paolo D'Odorico
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruth DeFries, Shefang Liang, Ashwini Chhatre, Kyle Frankel Davis, Subimal Ghosh, Narasimha D. Rao, Deepti Singh
Summary: India is the second largest producer of wheat in the world, but increasing temperatures are affecting wheat production. Traditionally-grown sorghum is less sensitive to heat and requires less water. However, sorghum yields need to increase to be more profitable for farmers and to efficiently utilize land resources.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Dongyang Wei, Jessica A. Gephart, Toshichika Iizumi, Navin Ramankutty, Kyle Frankel Davis
Summary: Food production stability is important for food security and is affected by variations in planted area, harvested area, and yield. This study finds that shocks in planted area and harvestable fraction co-occur with a large percentage of production shocks for different crops in the United States. Additionally, climatic variables explain a significant portion of the variance in planted area, harvestable fraction, and yield.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nikolas Galli, Davide Danilo Chiarelli, Livia Ricciardi, Maria Cristina Rulli
Summary: This study proposes a framework for designing land-use and crop-use changes to prevent local and downstream water scarcity. By simulating the impacts of coffee plantation expansion on water resources, the method can identify sustainable expansion areas. This method is effective in preserving water availability and can be replicated for planning agricultural development.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Davide Tonelli, Lorenzo Rosa, Paolo Gabrielli, Ken Caldeira, Alessandro Parente, Francesco Contino
Summary: Proposals for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 include scaling-up electrolytic hydrogen production. However, there are technical, economic, and environmental challenges to overcome. This study analyzes the land and water availability compared to the hydrogen demand in 2050, identifying countries that may face limitations in achieving self-sufficiency in hydrogen supply and countries that have the potential to become hydrogen exporters.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sinafekesh Girma Wolde, Paolo D'Odorico, Maria Cristina Rulli
Summary: Technical Summary
Intra-African environmental migration is a bleak reality, with warming trends, aridification, and extreme climate events driving millions of people to move within sub-Saharan Africa. This meta-analysis examines 87 case studies to investigate the relationship between environmental changes and migration in the region. The study uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze the data and offers insights into the complex web of environmental drivers and the role of non-environmental factors in vulnerability and resilience to environmental change.
GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Liyin He, Lorenzo Rosa
Summary: Rain-fed agricultural systems are crucial for global food production, but are vulnerable to climate change-induced green water scarcity. If adaptation strategies are implemented, such as improving green water management, food production loss can be reduced, enhancing global food security.
