Article
Engineering, Civil
Luwen Zhuang, Amir Raoof, Mojtaba G. Mahmoodlu, Sara Biekart, Riemer de Witte, Lubna Badi, Martinus Th van Genuchten, Kairong Lin
Summary: Hydrodynamic dispersion in soils is significantly influenced by soil water saturation, and there is a non-monotonic relationship between fluid saturation and solute dispersivity. The extent of non-monotonicity is more pronounced for a relatively coarse-textured sand compared to a finer sand, which helps explain some inconsistencies in the literature regarding saturation-dispersivity relationships.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Carlito Baltazar Tabelin, Asuka Uyama, Shingo Tomiyama, Mylah Villacorte-Tabelin, Theerayut Phengsaart, Marthias Silwamba, Sanghee Jeon, Ilhwan Park, Takahiko Arima, Toshifumi Igarashi
Summary: In this study, a 40-year-old tailings storage facility in Hokkaido, Japan was investigated to understand the formation of acid mine drainage (AMD) and heavy metal migration. The study utilized a geochemical audit and numerical simulation to predict AMD flow paths and heavy metal release. The results showed that the interaction between pyrite in the tailings and oxygenated groundwater led to the formation of AMD.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Riki Sarma, Santosh Kumar Singh
Summary: The demand for clean and adequate water is increasing rapidly due to population growth, requiring simulation modeling to measure the quantity and quality of water. Integrated models are crucial for groundwater resources management as they provide a more accurate modeling approach than independent models. In recent decades, modeling of contaminant transport in groundwater systems has seen widespread applications.
WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xianglong Xi, Dianji Ding, Houlang Zhou, Baikerouzi Baihetiyaer, Huimin Sun, Yongtong Cai, Nong Wang, Xianqiang Yin
Summary: The interaction of aged nanoplastics with heavy metals was investigated in this study. The results showed that aged nanopolystyrene had an enhanced adsorption capacity for heavy metals due to the increase in oxygen containing functional groups. The aged nanoplastics also promoted the transport of heavy metals more effectively than pristine nanoplastics. This study is significant in assessing the potential risk of aged nanoplastics in soil-groundwater systems.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jozef Kovacik, Lenka Husakova, Martina Piroutkova, Petr Babula
Summary: Mercury content in epiphytic lichens collected in Slovakia mountain forests ranged from 30 to 100 ng/g DW and showed species-specific variation, with Hypogymnia > Pseudevernia > Usnea > Xanthoria > Evernia prunastri. The impact of short-term exogenous Hg and its possible amelioration by nitric oxide in Evernia prunastri was studied. Nitric oxide efficiently reduced Hg-induced ROS signal and absorption of Hg by thalli of Evernia prunastri, as well as mitigated the decline of some macronutrients.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chiquan He, Anni Hu, Feifei Wang, Pu Zhang, Zhenzhen Zhao, Yanping Zhao, Xiaoyan Liu
Summary: The study investigated the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils using a new sheet PRB material, as well as the impact of citric acid and Shewanella oneidensis pretreatment on the removal efficiency of zinc and cadmium. The results showed that the CA + MR-1 group exhibited the highest removal efficiency and adsorption capacity for Zn(II) and Cd(II) during EK-PRB treatment.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eric D. Morway, Daniel T. Feinstein, Randall J. Hunt
Summary: This study applied a new method to simulate heat transport in a watershed, finding that the unsaturated zone has a filtering effect on heat pulses, temperature mixing buffers the effect of warming on the watershed, and the lateral extent of the riparian zone plays an important role in the short-term dynamics of the stream's response to heat forcing.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhuowen Meng, Shuang Huang, Jingwei Wu, Zhongbing Lin
Summary: This study investigated the competitive adsorption and immobilization of cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu) by biochar in unsaturated soils under single-, binary-, and ternary-metal systems. The results showed that the immobilization effects by the soil itself were in the order of Cu > Ni > Cd, and the adsorption capacities of freshly contaminated heavy metals by biochar were in the order of Cd > Ni > Cu in unsaturated soils. The adsorption and immobilization of Cd by biochars in soils was weakened by competition more in the ternary-metal system than that in the binary-metal system; the competition with Cu caused a more significant weakening effect than that with Ni. For Cd and Ni, nonmineral mechanisms preferentially adsorbed and immobilized Cd and Ni compared to mineral mechanisms, but the contributions of the mineral mechanisms to the adsorption gradually increased and became dominant with increasing concentrations (at average percentages of 62.59%-83.30% and 41.38%-74.29%, respectively). However, for Cu, the contributions of the nonmineral mechanisms to Cu adsorption were always dominant (average percentages of 60.92%-74.87%) and gradually increased with increasing concentrations. This study highlighted that the types of heavy metals and coexistence should be focused when remediating heavy metal contamination in soils.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Romina Ghobadi, Ali Altaee, John L. Zhou, Peter McLean, Namuun Ganbat, Donghao Li
Summary: This study integrated compost with electrokinetic (EK) remediation technology to enhance copper removal from kaolinite soil. The results showed that compost as a reusable reactive filter media (RFM) can effectively remove copper from contaminated soil.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Faisal Zulfiqar, Muhammad Ashraf
Summary: Arsenic is a highly toxic contaminant in the environment that adversely affects plant growth. Exposure to arsenic can cause oxidative stress, disrupting normal plant functions. Plants have natural defense mechanisms and antioxidants to counteract arsenic stress.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Saqib Rashid, Guijian Liu, Balal Yousaf, Yasir Hamid, Abdul Rehman, Mehr Ahmed Mujtaba Munir, Muhammad Arif, Rafay Ahmed, Yu Song
Summary: The study demonstrates the potential of sewage sludge (SS) and derived-biochar (SSB) amendments in reducing the potential mobility of heavy metals and increasing their residual fraction in polluted soils. The amendments play a significant role in transforming heavy metals into less available forms and promoting plant growth and biomass production.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Rozita Soltani Tehrani, Luc Hornstra, Jos van Dam, Dirk Gijsbert Cirkel
Summary: At managed artificial recharge sites in the Netherlands, recontamination of infiltrated water with fecal indicator bacteria has been observed. The results of this study suggest that the unsaturated zone is an important barrier between microbial contamination at the soil surface and groundwater. However, bacteria that accumulate in the unsaturated zone can multiply and be released into the saturated zone during heavy rainfall or a rise in groundwater level.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shui-Wen Chang Chien, Yi-Pei Li, Cheng-Chung Liu
Summary: The permeable reactive barrier constructed with wine-processing waste sludge effectively prevented the dispersal of some toxic metals in a simulated aquifer, but was less effective in blocking the diffusion of other metals.
WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Stephanie Muller, Arnault Lassin, Frederic Lai, Dominique Thiery, Sylvain Guignot
Summary: This paper combines geochemical modeling with life cycle assessment to quantify tailings releases and their associated environmental impacts. The reactive transport model used in this study shows smaller quantities released at both short-term and long-term timeframes compared to the ecoinvent approach, resulting in differences in impacts of ecotoxicological and toxicological categories by two to eight orders of magnitude.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Romina Ghobadi, Ali Altaee, John L. Zhou, Elika Karbassiyazdi, Namuun Ganbat
Summary: The research aims to develop an enhanced EK treatment method by incorporating a compost-based RFM with advantages of low-cost and strong affinity for heavy metals, to test and improve the treatment efficiency for multiple heavy metals in natural soil. Experimental results show that the electric current and treatment time have a significant positive impact on the removal of Zn, Cd, and Mn ions, while changing the amount of RFM has an insignificant effect on heavy metals removal efficiency.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Dirk Mallants, Rebecca Doble, Yousef Beiraghdar
Summary: The study developed a framework to estimate the chemical dilution associated with accidental leakage of chemicals used for shale and tight gas extraction in Australia. By taking into account key landscape parameters, the study aims to improve the efficiency of quantitative impact assessments of risks to water and the environment.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dirk Mallants, Jason Kirby, Lisa Golding, Simon Apte, Mike Williams
Summary: The study explored the natural attenuation potential of formation-derived compounds in flowback water from shale gas operations in deep unsaturated zones and groundwater. Results showed that except for salinity and radium-228 in one well, the risk quotient for all other chemicals was less than 1, indicating no concern for ecosystem health.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mehdi Rahmati, Borja Latorre, David Moret-Fernandez, Laurent Lassabatere, Nima Talebian, Dane Miller, Renato Morbidelli, Massimo Iovino, Vincenzo Bagarello, Mohammad Reza Neyshabouri, Ying Zhao, Jan Vanderborght, Lutz Weihermuller, Rafael Angulo Jaramillo, Dani Or, Martinus Th. van Genuchten, Harry Vereecken
Summary: This article introduces the concept of gravity time, t(grav), and its application in describing the infiltration process. By reformulating t(grav) and comparing it with the classical t(grav,Philip), the results show that the reformulated t(grav) is a better indicator of time domain validity. Neither the reformulated t(grav) nor the classical t(grav,Philip) is suitable for fine-textured soils.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
T. Boas, D. Mallants
Summary: This study estimated groundwater recharge in data sparse regions under arid climate using a multi-model approach. The results showed that only rainfall events of more than 150-200 mm resulted in groundwater recharge, which was linked to extreme rainfall associated with monsoonal cyclones. The average recharge for the savanna-type vegetation was 4.6 mm/year, while the bare soil had an average recharge of 29.5 mm/year.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Anna Varzina, Quoc Tri Phung, Janez Perko, Diederik Jacques, Norbert Maes, Ozlem Cizer
Summary: This paper investigates the synergistic interaction between carbonation and microcracks in hardened cement pastes. The results show that cracks facilitate the carbonation process and cracks with apertures below 50 mu m increase the carbonation depth by at least two times. The increase in crack openings slows down as the calcium loss occurs near the crack surface.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Maira C. O. Lima, Elizabeth M. Pontedeiro, Mateus G. Ramirez, Julia Favoreto, Helisson N. dos Santos, Martinus Th van Genuchten, Leonardo Borghi, Paulo Couto, Amir Raoof
Summary: Due to their extreme heterogeneity, carbonate rocks pose a significant challenge for studying and managing oil reservoirs. Depositional processes and diagenetic alterations can create complex pore structures and variable fluid properties. Mineralogy plays a crucial role in the pore system, as carbonate minerals are susceptible to diagenesis.
TRANSPORT IN POROUS MEDIA
(2022)
Review
Geochemistry & Geophysics
C. Wilske, A. Suckow, C. Gerber, A. Deslandes, P. Crane, D. Mallants
Summary: Noble gases are commonly used to study fluid inclusions in minerals for understanding rock formation processes. Heating and crushing are the main methods for extracting noble gases from fluid inclusions. This review focuses on different ultravacuum crushing techniques for noble gas analysis, including technical details, operational conditions, and sample preparation methods.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Rebecca Doble, Dirk Mallants, Cameron Huddlestone-Holmes, Luk J. M. Peeters, James Kear, Chris Turnadge, Bailin Wu, Saskia Noorduijn, Elaheh Arjomand
Summary: This study evaluated the potential impact of integrity failure in gas wells, water bores, and exploration drillholes on groundwater resources. The results showed that high flow leaky gas wells are unlikely to have a significant effect on hydrogeology, while repurposing abandoned coal exploration drillholes or petroleum bores as water bores may deplete or contaminate connected aquifers. However, current regulations in Australia make this scenario highly unlikely. Further research is needed to determine the failure rates of gas wells, water bores, and exploration drillholes in Australian conditions to better understand the potential risks associated with leaking infrastructure.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Julien Bourdet, Claudio Delle Piane, Cornelia Wilske, Dirk Mallants, Axel Suckow, Danielle Questiaux, Christoph Gerber, Punjehl Crane, Alec Deslandes, Laure Martin, Matvei Aleshin
Summary: Natural hydrogen has the potential to be an important low-carbon fuel and energy source. However, our understanding of its generation, migration, and accumulation in the subsurface is still limited. Recent evidence suggests that natural hydrogen is widely present in various geological settings, making them potential targets for exploration.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Nasrin Azad, Javad Behmanesh, Vahid Rezaverdinejad, Habib Khodaverdiloo, Sally E. Thompson, Dirk Mallants, Tiago B. Ramos, Hailong He
Summary: This study assessed the performance of convolutional neural networks in modeling nitrate uptake by maize and estimating nitrate losses in surface drip irrigation. The results showed that CNN can be widely used in optimization of fertigation management.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Andre Peters, Tobias L. L. Hohenbrink, Sascha C. C. Iden, Martinus Th. van Genuchten, Wolfgang Durner
Summary: For modeling flow and transport processes in the soil-plant-atmosphere system, predicting the hydraulic conductivity function accurately is crucial. However, the classical approach of scaling the predicted relative conductivity with the measured saturated conductivity often leads to poor predictions due to uncertain and biased measurements of Ks. In this paper, a reformulation of the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity function is proposed, replacing soil-specific Ks with a universally applicable effective saturated tortuosity parameter ts. Testing with independent data showed that the new prediction scheme significantly improves accuracy, with a mean error of less than half an order of magnitude.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Katsutoshi Seki, Nobuo Toride, Martinus Th. Van Genuchten
Summary: The objective of this study is to demonstrate the practical usefulness of the proposed equations for water retention and hydraulic conductivity in porous media. Three models were evaluated and showed good agreement with measured data for a wide range of pressure heads. The study highlights the simplicity and consistency of the proposed equations for practical applications.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY AND HYDROMECHANICS
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Ruan G. S. Gomes, Guilherme J. C. Gomes, Euripedes A. Vargas, Martinus Th. van Genuchten, Joao T. M. G. Pinto, Felipe A. Rosa
Summary: Field tests were conducted to estimate the effective unsaturated soil hydraulic properties of layered residual soils in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These data are important for understanding rainstorm-induced soil landslides, which occur frequently in Rio de Janeiro and other areas with similar geological and climate conditions.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY AND HYDROMECHANICS
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
Thais M. Silveira, Fernanda Hoerlle, Adriano S. Rocha, Maira C. O. Lima, Mateus G. Ramirez, Elizabeth M. Pontedeiro, Martinus Th. van Genuchten, Daniel O. A. Cruz, Paulo Couto
Summary: CO2 injection is a well-known technique for enhancing oil recovery, but understanding its effects on petrophysical properties is crucial. This study evaluated the impact of CO2 injection on coquina samples from the Morro do Chaves Formation in Brazil and found a significant decrease in absolute permeability, but little change in porosity and no wormhole formation.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY AND HYDROMECHANICS
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
David Rassam, J. Sreekanth, Dirk Mallants, Dennis Gonzalez, Rebecca Doble, Trevor Pickett
Summary: This study proposes a stochastic numerical-analytical hybrid model to assess the risks associated with onshore gas drilling in the Otway Basin. The model couples HYDRUS-1D with an analytical solution to simulate contaminant transport in the aquifer. The results show that only a small portion of the chemicals reached the environmental receptors, with concentrations below 1% of the source.
FRONTIERS IN WATER
(2022)