Engineering Commons^™

Adsorption-Type Aluminium-Based Direct Lithium Extraction: The Effect Of Heat, Salinity And Lithium Content, Yasaman Boroumand, Amir Razmjou

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Conventional lithium production through solar evaporation is considered a time-consuming procedure, taking a substantial 12 to 18 months with significant environmental impacts such as aquifer depletion and damaging the basin's complex hydrological system. Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) has emerged as a promising alternative for lithium extraction from brines, offering reduced environmental impact. Although adsorption-type DLE with aluminium-based adsorbents is the sole commercial technology of DLE, a debate persists concerning its Technology Readiness Level (TRL), which challenges the prevailing notion that adsorption-type DLE undeniably reaches a TRL of 9. Within this narrative, we propose that adsorption is capable of attaining its …

Concise Summary Of Existing Correlations With Thermophysical Properties Of Seawater With Applications: A Recent Review, Furqan Jamil, Hafiz Muhammad Ali, Mehdi Haji Khiadani

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Physical and thermal specifications of seawater are used by researchers and engineers in different fields. Accordingly, a vast array of literature has been devoted to developing different correlation equations for calculating seawater characteristics. This review presents a concise investigation of various physical and thermal specifications of seawater including: density, boiling point and vapor pressure, osmotic coefficient and pressure, surface tension, thermal conductivity, viscosity, specific enthalpy, specific entropy, specific heat capacity, isothermal compressibility, isobaric expansivity and Gibbs energy. Further to this, apsects of temperature, salinity and pressure have a significant influence on these properties, and will also be considered here. The …

Recent Updates On Ions And Nutrients Uptake By Halotolerant Freshwater And Marine Microalgae In Conditions Of High Salinity, Abdul Mannan Zafar, Muhammad Asad Javed, Ashraf Aly Hassan, Khalid Mehmood, Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Algae is an appropriate natural resource to augment the optimal use of undesired ions in water and wastewater. Increasing algal cells, the consumption of particular ions, including chloride, nitrate, phosphate, and ammonium, provides a suitable way to optimize water treatment processes. Different algal species have the capability to survive in extreme salinities by developing resistance against osmotic pressure in saline water. The current study reviews the effect of salinity on algal biomass production, algal growth rate, chlorides, nitrates, phosphates, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and ammonium ions. Mainly algae cultivated in freshwater, synthetic brackish water, seawater, and …

Managing Lake Urmia, Iran For Diverse Restoration Objectives: Moving Beyond A Uniform Target Lake Level, Somayeh Sima, David E. Rosenberg, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh, Sarah E. Null, Karin M. Kettenring

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

There is widespread interest in restoring drying saline lakes. At Iran’s hypersaline Lake Urmia, managers have sought a uniform target lake level of 1274.1 m above sea level to lower salinity below 263 g L−1 and recover Artemia to sufficient densities to support flamingos. We suggest that addressing a broader range of objectives will allow more flexibility for managing the lake. We define eight restoration objectives to lower salinity, sustain Artemia and flamingo populations, separate islands from each other and the mainland, reduce lakebed dust, maintain commercially valuable ions, and improve recreational access from resort beaches. We use 40 years …

Enhanced Oil Recovery By Hydrophilic Silica Nanofluid: Experimental Evaluation Of The Impact Of Parameters And Mechanisms On Recovery Potential, Tariq A. Chandio, Muhammad A. Manan, Khalil R. Memon, Ghulam Abbas, Ghazanfer R. Abbasi

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Nanofluids as an EOR technique are reported to enhance oil recoveries. Among all the nanomaterial silica with promising lab results, economic and environmental acceptability are an ideal material for future applications. Despite the potential to enhance recoveries, understanding the two-fold impact of parameters such as concentration, salinity, stability, injection rate, and irreproducibility of results has arisen ambiguities that have delayed field applications. This integrated study is conducted to ascertain two-fold impacts of concentration and salinity on recovery and stability and evaluates corresponding changes in the recovery mechanism with variance in the parameters. Initially, silica nanofluids’ recovery potential was evaluated by …

Reversible And Irreversible Adsorption Of Bare And Hybrid Silica Nanoparticles Onto Carbonate Surface At Reservoir Condition, Zain-Ul-Abedin Arain, Sarmad Al-Anssari, Muhammad Ali, Shoaib Memon, Masood Ahmed Bhatti, Christopher Lagat, Mohammad Sarmadivaleh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 Southwest Petroleum University Realistic implementation of nanofluids in subsurface projects including carbon geosequestration and enhanced oil recovery requires full understanding of nanoparticles (NPs) adsorption behaviour in the porous media. The physicochemical interactions between NPs and between the NP and the porous media grain surface control the adsorption behavior of NPs. This study investigates the reversible and irreversible adsorption of silica NPs onto oil-wet and water-wet carbonate surfaces at reservoir conditions. Each carbonate sample was treated with different concentrations of silica nanofluid to investigate NP adsorption in terms of nanoparticles initial size and hydrophobicity at different temperatures, and pressures. …

Assessment Of Groundwater Resources In Siwa Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt, Noha H. Moghazy, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

One of the major challenges facing Egypt is limited water resources associated with rapid increase in population. In 1960s, Egyptian government started to use groundwater from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) in the Western Desert to expand agricultural sector. Siwa Oasis is the focus of this study to assess the efficiency of groundwater use and corresponding impacts from 1980 to 2012. Results show that from 1980 to 1998, withdrawal from poorly designed wells increased rapidly causing an increase in excess water about 336%. The increase of excess water with the usage of poor drainage produced lakes. Remote Sensing showed …

Preformed Partial Gel Injection Chased By Low-Salinity Waterflooding In Fractured Carbonate Cores, Ali K. Alhuraishawy, Baojun Bai, Mingzhen Wei, Abdullah Almansour

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fractures and oil-wet conditions significantly limit oil recovery in carbonate reservoirs. Gel treatment has been applied in injector wells to modify the prevailing reservoir streamlines and significantly reduce fracture permeability, whereas low-salinity waterflooding has been applied experimentally to modify rock wettability toward water-wet for improved oil recovery. However, both processes have limitations that cannot be resolved using a single method. The objective of this study was to test whether low-salinity water could enable gel particles to move deeply into fractures to efficiently increase oil recovery and control water production. A semitransparent fracture model of carbonate cores and acrylic plates was …

Assessing Seasonal Flow Dynamics At A Lagoon Saltwater–Freshwater Interface Using A Dual Tracer Approach, S. Müller, S. Jessen, C. Duque, É. Sebök, Bethany T. Neilson, P. Engesgaard

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Study region: Eastern shore of Ringkøbing Fjord, a coastal lagoon at the west coast of Denmark

Study focus: A dual tracer approach based on salinity and δ¹⁸O is used to assess seasonal dynamics at the saltwater-freshwater interface of a coastal lagoon. At the site, salinity is prone to vary on a sub-seasonal or daily frequency due to riverine freshwater inputs to the lagoon. In contrast, δ¹⁸O compositions of end-members only vary seasonally.

New hydrological insights: The dual tracer approach shows to be valuable in coastal settings where end-member concentrations vary substantially over the seasons and hence, …

Effects Of Salinity Build-Up On The Performance Of An Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Regarding Basic Water Quality Parameters And Removal Of Trace Organic Contaminants, Xiaoye Song, James A. Mcdonald, William E. Price, Stuart J. Khan, Faisal I. Hai, Hao H. Ngo, Wenshan Guo, Long D. Nghiem

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

The effects of elevated inorganic salt concentration on anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) treatment regarding basic biological performance and trace organic contaminant (TrOC) removal were investigated. A set of 33 TrOCs were selected to represent pharmaceuticals, steroids, and pesticides in municipal wastewater. Results show potential adverse effects of increase in the bioreactor salinity to 15 g/L (as NaCl) on the performance of AnMBR with respect to chemical oxygen demand removal, biogas production, and the removal of most hydrophilic TrOCs. Furthermore, a decrease in biomass production was observed as salinity in the bioreactor increased. The removal of most hydrophobic TrOCs was high …

How Do Changes To The Railroad Causeway In Utah’S Great Salt Lake Affect Water And Salt Flow?, James S. White, Sarah E. Null, David G. Tarboton

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Managing terminal lake elevation and salinity are emerging problems worldwide. We contribute to terminal lake management research by quantitatively assessing water and salt flow for Utah’s Great Salt Lake. In 1959, Union Pacific Railroad constructed a rock-filled causeway across the Great Salt Lake, separating the lake into a north and south arm. Flow between the two arms was limited to two 4.6 meter wide rectangular culverts installed during construction, an 88 meter opening (referred to locally as a breach) installed in 1984, and the semi porous material of the causeway. A salinity gradient developed between the two arms of the …

Using Swat To Simulate Crop Yields And Salinity Levels In The North Fork River Basin, Usa, Aaron R. Mittelstet, Daniel E. Storm, Art L. Stoecker

Department of Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Crop yields and salinity levels in the North Fork of the Red River (North Fork River) basin, located in southwestern Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, were analyzed based on the diverse climate in the region. Saline irrigation water is a major problem in the basin. The Elm Fork Creek flows through salt deposits, making the creek and its receiving stream, the North Fork River, too saline to use for irrigation. This greatly reduces the number of hectares that can be utilized for agricultural crops within the basin. A baseline SWAT model was setup, calibrated and validated to simulate streamflow and …

Using Swat To Simulate Crop Yields And Salinity Levels In The North Fork River Basin, Usa, Aaron R. Mittelstet, Daniel E. Storm, Art L. Stoecker

Department of Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Crop yields and salinity levels in the North Fork of the Red River (North Fork River) basin, located in southwestern Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, were analyzed based on the diverse climate in the region. Saline irrigation water is a major problem in the basin. The Elm Fork Creek flows through salt deposits, making the creek and its receiving stream, the North Fork River, too saline to use for irrigation. This greatly reduces the number of hectares that can be utilized for agricultural crops within the basin. A baseline SWAT model was setup, calibrated and validated to simulate streamflow and …

Effects Of Salinity And Sand Content On Liquid Limit And Hydraulic Conductivity, Behzad Fatahi, Mohammad Hadi Khabbaz, Sudip Basack

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Soil conditions of construction sites have become worse than ever due to the overpopulation in the metropolitan areas throughout the world. Likewise, the prevention of environmental risks due to individual activities is one of the most important subjects in the geo-environmental problems. Saline soils may induce several problems in geotechnical engineering projects such as infrastructure embankments, road construction and clay liners. Effect of the various concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) on several different soils including bentonite, kaolinite and fine sand mixtures has been evaluated. In addition, influence of salinity and the period of submergence on the hydraulic conductivity of soil …

Slides: Delta Overview, Leo Winternitz

Western Water Law, Policy and Management: Ripples, Currents, and New Channels for Inquiry (Martz Summer Conference, June 3-5)

Presenter: Leo Winternitz, The Nature Conservancy, California Water Program, Sacramento, CA

17 slides

Sheep Updates 2007 - Part 4, Dean Thomas, Dominique Blache, Dean Revell, Hayley Norman, Phil Vercoe, Zoey Durmic, Serina Digby, Di Mayberry, Megan Chadwick, Martin Sillence, David Masters, R. Silberstein, F. Byrne, P. G. H. Nichols, J. Young, L. Aitkins, M. G. Wilmot, A. J. Rintoul, T. Lambert, D. R. Mcclements, P. Raper, P. Ward, C. Walton, T. York, David Pethick, David Hopkins, Malcolm Mcphee, D. B. Savage, J. V. Nolan, I. R. Godwin, A. Aoetpah, T. Nguyen, N. Baillie, C. Lawler, Ken Geenty, John Smith, Darryl Smith, Tim Dyall, Grant Uphill, John Young, Michael Paton, John Dorrian

Sheep Updates

This session covers eight papers from different authors:

GRAZING

1. The impact of high dietary salt and its implications for the management of livestock grazing saline land, Dean Thomas, Dominique Blache, Dean Revell, Hayley Norman, Phil Vercoe, Zoey Durmic, Serina Digby, Di Mayberry, Megan Chadwick, Martin Sillence and David Masters, CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity, Faculty of Natural & Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, WA.

2. Sustainable Grazing on Saline Lands - outcomes from the WA1 research project, H.C. Norman^1,2, D.G. Masters^1,2, R. Silberstein^1,2, F. Byrne^2,3, P.G.H. Nichols …

Dynamics Of A Salinity-Prone Agricultural Catchment Driven By Markets, Farmers' Attitudes And Climate Change, S Asseng, A Dray, Pascal Perez, X Su, J P. Muller

SMART Infrastructure Facility - Papers

An agent-based simulation model has been developed with CORMAS combining simplified bio-physical processes of land cover, dry-land salinity changes, rainfall, farm profitability and farmer decisions on land uses in a dry-land agricultural catchment (no irrigation). Simulated farmers formulate individual decisions dealing with land use changes based on the combined performance of their past land cover productivity and market returns. The willingness to adapt to market drivers and the ability to maximize returns varies across farmers. In addition, farmers in the model can demonstrate various attitudes towards salinity mitigation as a consequence of experiencing and perceiving salinity on their farm, in …

Leaching Of Accumulated Soil Salinity Under Drip Irrigation, Charles M. Burt, Brett Isbell

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Conducted a reclamation leaching experiment in a drip-irrigated pistachio orchard south of Huron, California, during the winter of 2002-2003. The study was conducted to quantify the leaching water required to remove salts from the effective root zone of trees. This experiment tested a new reclamation leaching technique: multiple lines of low-flow drip tape were used to apply water to the area of salinity accumulation along a tree row. This new technique allows water to be applied where there is salt accumulation along the tree row, as opposed to putting water on the entire area of the field. Since reclamation leaching …

Slides: Interstate Marketing And Similar Economic Approaches, Jim Booker

Hard Times on the Colorado River: Drought, Growth and the Future of the Compact (Summer Conference, June 8-10)

Presenter: Jim Booker, Siena College.

27 slides.

Soil Salinity Accumulation In Orchards With Drip And Micro-Spray Irrigation In Arid Areas Of California, Charles M. Burt, Brett Isbell

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

A soil salinity accumulation study was conducted by ITRC during the summer of 2002 to examine the long-term impact of drip and micro irrigation on salinity build-up in orchards, focusing on the salinity concentration pattern across a soil profile. This study assessed the current level of salinity accumulation in orchards irrigated with drip/micro systems and provided information to support recommendations on the most effective and efficient leaching techniques.

There is a concern that soil salinity accumulation in orchards, which comprise large acreages in the Central Valley of California, will eventually require reclamation leaching. Not only would this consume large quantities …

Reclamation Leaching For Salinity Buildup Under Drip/Micro Irrigation Of Trees, Charles M. Burt, Brett Isbell

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

ITRC conducted a reclamation leaching experiment in a pistachio orchard in order to quantify the leaching water required to remove salts from the effective root zone of trees. This experiment tested a new reclamation leaching technique - multiple lines of low-flow drip tape were used to apply water to the area of salinity accumulation along a tree row.

Salinity Patterns: On Row Crops Under Subsurface Drip Irrigation (Sdi) On The Westside Of The San Joaquin Valley Of California, Charles M. Burt, Othman Al-Amoudi, Alejandro Paolini

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The objectives of this study were to identify if there was detrimental salinity buildup in the upper layers of soil caused by the usage of SDI on row crops, identify the extent of any detrimental salinity buildup, and identify successful and/or essential practices used by farmers who use SDI.

Soil Salinity Accumalation In Orchards With Drip And Micro-Spray Irrigation In Arid Areas Of California, Charles M. Burt, Brett Isbell

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

A soil salinity accumulation study was conducted to examine the long-term impact of drip and micro irrigation on salinity build-up in orchards, focusing on the salinity concentration pattern across a soil profile. The study assessed the current level of salinity accumulation in orchards irrigated with drip/micro systems and provided information to support recommendations on the most effective and efficient leaching techniques.

Long-Term Salinity Buildup On Drip/Micro Irrigated Trees In California, Charles M. Burt, Brett Isbell, Lisa Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) of Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, hypothesized that there is salinity accumulation in the root zone of tree crops that have been irrigated with drip or micro-spray irrigation systems, located in arid and semi-arid regions. Therefore, a study was conducted by ITRC during the summer of 2002 to examine the long-term impact of drip and micro irrigation on salinity accumulation in orchards, focusing on the salinity concentration pattern across a soil profile. The project also provided information to support recommendations on the most effective and efficient leaching techniques.

During the …

An Overview Of Cbm Exploration And Production, Steve De Albuquerque

Coalbed Methane Development in the Intermountain West (April 4-5)

9 pages (includes color illustrations and maps).

The Homestake Project & Water Quality Issues, Tad Foster

Water as a Public Resource: Emerging Rights and Obligations (Summer Conference, June 1-3)

5 pages (includes 1 map).

Conflicts Between Water Rights Administration And Water Quality Protection, Jan D. Laitos

Water as a Public Resource: Emerging Rights and Obligations (Summer Conference, June 1-3)

43 pages.

Scientific Perspectives On Integrated Aquatic Resources Management Of The Colorado River, Larry J. Paulson

Publications (WR)

When management requires water quality standards, we should establish standards in a scientific and logical manner to serve the long-term needs of the users. It was this very process that led to enactment of the Reclamation Act of 1902 and the Boulder Canyon Project Act of 1928 - legislation that still serves the needs of users in the Colorado River Basin. This process can work again if we can make the "tradeoffs" that are so vital in management of a multi-purpose river.

In order to do this, however, we must first be able to identify "tradeoffs." This requires good scientific …

The Effects Of Impoundments On Salinity In The Colorado River, Larry J. Paulson, John R. Baker

Publications (WR)

The increase in salinity of our western rivers has been identified as one of the most serious water quality problems in the nation. This is of special concern in the Colorado River where salinity has increased from pristine levels estimated at 380 mg/1 to present-day levels of 825 mg/1 at Imperial Dam. Flow depletions, associated with decreased runoff and increased evaporation and diversions, coupled with high salt loading from natural and man-created sources are considered the primary causes for rising salinity in the river. The urban and agricultural development projected to occur in the basin through this century could deplete …

Lake Mead And Lake Powell Salinity Reports, Cathy Lee, Steve Gazafy

Publications (WR)

The enclosed reports were compiled for the Colorado River Water Quality Office based on salinity data for Lake Mead and Lake Powell. According to the regional director of the office, the reports are not considered "polished" documents for public distribution. However, he considers them to be "interesting, rough appraisals of general trends that may be very important In our understanding the hydro-salinity system in the Colorado River."