Sustainability Commons^™

Concept Of Cccus Technology For Co2 Recycling In Deep Unmineable Coal Seams, Liang Weiguo, Yan Jiwei, Zhu Dijie, Guo Hongguang, Gong Li, Niu Dong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background China possesses substantial resources of deep unmineable coal seams, which hold considerable potential for CO₂ sequestration. However, simply sequestrating CO₂ in deep coal seams incurs high economic costs while also wasting deep coal resources. The microbial conversion of sequestrated CO₂ into methane (CH₄) enables circular carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCCUS), which is of great significance for the sustainable development of both resources and the environment.Methods Using a range of methods, including experimental study, theoretical analysis, and engineering simulations, CCCUS in deep unmineable coal seams is designed to (1) reveal the mechanisms behind …

An Improved Model Of Trans-Critical Ch4 And Co2 Adsorption In Coals Based On Monolayer Adsorption And Adsorption Potential Theories, Song Xuemei, Zhang Kun, Sang Shuxun, Ma Mengya, Liu Huihu, Xu Hongjie

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method Adsorbed phase density represents a key parameter for determining gas adsorption capacity in coals. Using bituminous coal samples from the Huainan and Huaibei mining areas in Anhui Province, this study carried out high-pressure isothermal adsorption experiments of CO₂ and CH₄ at temperatures of 24 ℃, 36 ℃, and 48 ℃. In combination with the quantitative characterization of pore structures in coals using low-temperature liquid nitrogen adsorption (LNA) experiments and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), this study analyzed the high-pressure trans-critical CH₄ and CO₂ adsorption processes in coals. Meanwhile, based on the Gibbs excess adsorption, …

A Method Of Carbon Emission Accounting And Pathways Of Emission Reduction Through Reduction Through Ccus For Underground Coal Mines, Xu Shen, Wang Meng, Dai Xuguang, Qiu Yuxin, Tuo Jialong, Li Wenhao, Gao Jie

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective Coal production and utilization lead to substantial carbon emissions, and the carbon emissions from underground coal mines have attracted increasing attention. However, research on emission reduction pathways in coal mines remains nascent. Methods The Y Coal Mine was investigated in this study. Using methods including life cycle assessment (LCA), emission factor approach, and monitoring, this study identified the boundaries for carbon emission accounting and determined the sources, total amount, and characteristics of carbon emissions from the coal mine. Furthermore, a framework of carbon emission reduction through CCUS was established based on the principle of carbon capture, utilization, and storage …

Research Advances And Prospects Of Geologic Co2 Sequestration Models, Hu Chenlin, Dong Cheng, Sang Shuxun, Tang Yong, Li Xin, Zhang Bin, Zhao Lingfeng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background The urgent need to respond to global climate change and to achieve carbon neutrality is driving geologic CO₂ sequestration technology to be increasingly large-scale, safe, and intelligent. Since the CO₂ sequestration process involves multi-physical field coupling, the engineering feasibility and long-term safety of CO₂ sequestration heavily rely on the capacity of numerical models to perform accurate characterization of complex subsurface processes. Therefore, establishing a model system, covering the entire process consisting of injection, migration, sequestration, and monitoring, that is suitable for various geobodies for CO₂ sequestration has emerged as a foundation for the engineering application …

Distribution Characteristics And Mechanisms Of Ch4 And Co2 Adsorption In Montmorillonite Nanopores In Water-Bearing And Saline Environments, Du Kai, Rui Zhenhua, Qian Cheng, Chen Siwei

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) has emerged as a significant way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the guidance of the strategic goals of peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality. With the continuous exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbon resources such as shale oil and gas, varying water-bearing and salinity conditions exert significant impacts on the occurrence stability and seepage behavior of CO₂, thereby reducing the efficiency and safety of CO₂ storage. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the competitive behavior and distribution patterns of CO₂ and other gases in shale nanopores under varying water-bearing and …

Advances In Research On The In Situ Co2 Mineral Trapping In Buried Volcanoes, He Yanxin, Tian Wei, Xian Benzhong, Liu Pingping, Wei Mingcong, Wei Qiwen, Deng Xuanyu, Liu Jianping, Gu Jiapeng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Methods Driven by the goal of carbon neutrality, geologic CO₂ storage has become a critical national priority in China. Compared to conventional reservoirs in sedimentary basins, such as saline aquifers, depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs, and unmineable coal seams, basaltic formations offer more significant advantages in geologic CO₂ storage. Specifically, basaltic formations can form stable carbonates through reactions between CO₂ and rock minerals while also exhibiting extensive distribution, considerable potential for CO₂ storage, and low risk of CO₂ leakage. The engineering feasibility of geologic CO₂ storage in basaltic formations has been validated by the …

Developing A Collaborative Tool To Foster Communication In Sustainability Research, Nina Hunter, Noëlle-Laetitia Perret, Martin Klepal

Electrical & Electronic Engineering

Climate change necessitates urgent responses based on knowledge produced by teams that transcend disciplinary boundaries, and with members whose work focuses on the generation of knowledge and on the application of knowledge, with some integrating both. Almost a third of Europe’s building stock consists of heritage buildings requiring renovation that is ideally sustainable as part of an energy transition response. The European transdisciplinary CALECHE study team with use-cases in France, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland aims to support decision-making on the sustainable renovation of heritage buildings, via research that employs co-design. However, team members are from various disciplines, with different skillsets …

Acknowledgement Of Reviewers

Journal of Sustainable Mining

No abstract provided.

A Critical Appraisal On The Injury Susceptibility Of Underground Metalliferous Mine Workers: Application Of Logistic Regression Model, Sudip Das, Falguni Sarkar, P.S. Paul, B.K. Pal

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The aim of this study is to analyze the occupational injury data of Indian underground metalliferous mines for scrutinizing the injury proneness of different groups of mine workers. In this context, injury records from 2011 to 2022 were obtained from underground metalliferous mines situated at Eastern part of India. The data were characterized and segregated based on different individual and workplace level variables. The workplace injury is categorized as ‘no injury’ and ‘all injury’. Subsequently, Frequency and Classification Based analysis (FCBA), Standardized Injury Rate (SIR) analysis and Logistic Regression Model (LRM) analysis were performed sequentially (FCBA-SIR-LRM) to predict the susceptibility …

The Impact Of Natural Cavities On Mining Feasibility In Brazil: Dilemma Between The Sustainability Of Mining Operations And The Environment, Tiago Leite, Felipe Souza, Mariana Silva, Iuri Brandi, Hernani De Lima

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Due to the legislation on natural underground cavities in Brazil, mineral reserves have been blocked, causing a great dilemma between the sustainability of the mineral activity and the preservation of cavities. This study presented an analysis of the evolution of the federal cave legislation, pointing out the main gains and contribution to the theme, in which the importance in the Brazilian scenario of the publication in 2017 of Normative Instruction N° 01, which updated the procedures for the definition of these “other forms of compensation” to the irreversible negative impact on cavities with a high degree of relevance. In this …

Multivariate Stochastic Mine Scheduling Targeting Stationary Grades Considering Risk Uncertainty And Hierarchical Variables, Augusto A. T. Toledo, Joao F. C. L. Costa, Diego M. Marques, Luciano N. Capponi

Journal of Sustainable Mining

In short-term mine planning for deposits characterized by multiple variables, sequential diglines are generated with an emphasis on maintaining consistent grade distributions across mining periods. This research integrates an array of mineral variables, including deleterious elements, to facilitate the establishment of excavation geometries that enable precise grade and volume control within operational production zones. Through the systematic application of geostatistical analysis coupled with process optimization, geological risks associated with grade uncertainties are minimized, and an optimized operational sequence for the extraction of mineral blocks is pursued. The main point of this approach is maintaining grade distributions aligned with the historical …

An Innovative Implicit Modeling Technique To 3d Deposit Modeling: A Case Study Of The Chromite Mine, Ali Can Ozdemir Ozdemir, Yavuz Tore

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The location of an orebody known to show regional variability in space is determined only through 3D geological modeling. A reliable 3D orebody model must be obtained to ensure resource efficiency and sustainability in the mining industry. In addition, 3D geological modeling has become indispensable in intelligent mining, smart mining, and mining 4.0. In previous years, explicit methods were widely used for 3D geological modeling. However, the validity of geological models produced with these methods has been debated. It has been understood that they are inadequate in modeling vein-type mineralizations with complex geometry in particular. For this reason, implicit modeling …

A Review Study Of The Relationship Between Coal Fly Ash Characteristics And The Presence Of Rare Earth Metals From Steam Power Plants In Indonesia, Muhammad F. Shafiyurrahman, Shofa Rijalul Haq, Nurkhamim Nurkhamim, Ade Kurniawan, Rofa D Bulopa, Rizki Khoiriah Nasution

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The establishment of a coal mining downstream ecosystem focused on a sustainable and environmentally friendly economy is an important goal for many countries. One strategic step in achieving this goal is the utilization of coal fly ash (CFA) waste as a secondary source of rare earth elements (REE). The use of CFA provides a solution to the environmental and health challenges resulting from mining primary sources. Prior to developing REE extraction technology, CFA characterization must be conducted. Therefore, this study addresses the relationship between CFA characteristics and the presence of REE. Based on the ASTM C618-12 standard, CFA in Indonesia …

Integrated Optimization Of Underground Mine Ventilation Using Hardy Cross, Monte Carlo Simulations, And Machine Learning Techniques: A Step Toward Sustainable Mining, Hussein A. Saleem

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Underground mine ventilation is crucial for ensuring worker safety, air quality, and operational efficiency. Effective optimization of ventilation systems reduces energy consumption, enhances airflow distribution, and minimizes risks associated with harmful gases and fire hazards. This study proposed an integrated framework combining the Hardy Cross (HC) method, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, and machine learning (ML) techniques to optimize the ventilation system at the Jabal Sayid mine in Saudi Arabia. The HC method was employed to provide deterministic baseline airflow calculations, while the MC simulations accounted for uncertainties in resistance values and environmental conditions, generating probabilistic distributions of key parameters. Among …

Study On Visualization Simulation And System Dynamic Optimization Of The Ore Drawing Process In Mine Chutes, Liang Juan, Zhu Quanjie, Hao Yingnan, Quan Zhongxue, Zhang Zhiwu, Liu Xiaohuic, Ouyang Zhihua

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The ore release process in metal mine chutes is a critical part of the mining operation. Based on the urgent demand for intelligent mining construction, this paper proposes a visualization simulation and dynamic optimization method for the mine chute ore release process using the open-source programs Python and Blender. The main research content includes: designing the simulation method and model for the ore release process, including the main control program, process subprograms, etc.; proposing a visualization simulation method for the mine chute ore release process based on Blender, studying the impact of ore shape and size on ore release efficiency, …

Assessment Of Heavy Metal Contamination In Surface Water Near Tailings Dam, Gera Techane Mengistu, Tesema Kebede, Enatfenta Melaku, Engdasew Temere

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Elevated levels of heavy metals in surface water can lead to the degradation of water quality, especially in mining areas where tailing dams are sources of heavy metal pollution. This study focuses on evaluating the concentrations of heavy metals in surface water near the Legadembi tailings dams. The mean concentrations (in µg/L) of various heavy metals including: arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), thallium (Tl), uranium (U), vanadium (V), tungsten (W), zinc (Zn), and zirconium (Zr) were determined: 79.7, 0.15, 162.3, 0.66, 18.1, 0.01, …

Intrinsically Safe Pneumatic Seismic Source For Controlled Rock Mass ,Monitoring And Imaging In Underground Mining, Przemysław Sierodzki, Leszek Remiorz, Mateusz Ćwiękała, Krzysztof Krawiec

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This article explores the technical principles of pneumatic seismic sources, focusing on their application in underground mining operations, including environments prone to fire hazards. It introduces an intrinsically safe pneumatic seismic source as a cost-effective solution for quasi-continuous seismic excitation, useful for detecting stress concentrations in mining settings. These stress concentrations are identified through anomalies in seismic wave velocity, which may indicate potentially hazardous deformations in the rock mass. The developed system enables fully remote operation from the surface and integrates with a seismic monitoring system to capture high-resolution waveforms. The study provides an overview of the pneumatic system’s technical …

Investigating Frozen Paste Surface Disposal As A Climate Change Adaptation Strategy: Case Study Of Mont-Wright Mine, Khalil Hashem, Agus P. Sasmito, Laxmi Sushama, Ferri Hassani, Mehrdad Kermani

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The mining industry faces evolving challenges in adapting to the impacts of climate change. Among these challenges is the management of tailings. This study focuses on investigating surface disposal of non-cemented paste tailings, particularly the effect of water content, freeze-thaw cycles (FTC, defined as freezing the sample to –20°C and thawing it to +20°C), and ambient temperature on the mechanical characteristics and thermophysical properties of paste tailings. The potential for maintaining non-cemented tailings in a frozen state year-round is also investigated through field-scale numerical simulations. Experiment results of thermophysical properties of tailings with water content, freeze-thaw cycles and ambient temperatures …

Triangulating Primary Sources, Professional Judgement, And Llm-Generated Summaries: Educating Nurses In An Ai-First World, Sarah Oerther, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Policies And Incentives For The Successful Implementation Of Hydrogen-Fueled Medium-Duty And Heavy-Duty Vehicles In Humboldt County, California, Alka Verma

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The 21st century has seen a significant rise in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with the transportation sector contributing 23% of these emissions. Medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles (MD/HD) are particularly impactful, accounting for over a quarter of transport-related emissions. In Humboldt County, California, transportation represents 53% of total emissions, with MD/HD vehicles being a major contributor. As light-duty vehicles shift to zero-emission alternatives, the MD/HD sector faces unique challenges. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer a promising solution, providing longer range, higher energy density, and quicker refueling compared to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). These features make hydrogen an attractive option for …

A Transdisciplinary Approach To Advancing Water Security And Public Health: The “Nurse + Engineer” Model For Achieving Sustainability In Wash Systems Using Community-Based Participatory Research, Daniel B. Oerther, Sarah Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Human health is linked to the health of the environment, a concept referred to as planetary health. As environmental challenges become increasingly complex, single-disciplinary approaches are insufficient to achieve sustainable solutions. This article presents a transdisciplinary framework, termed the "Nurse + Engineer" model, as a novel methodology for addressing complex problems at the nexus of environmental engineering and public health. The model integrates the technical design and systems-level thinking of environmental engineering with the community-based, patient-centered care of nursing. This work details the key lessons learned from the retrospective application of this framework to a series of multi-year, community-based participatory …

Environmental Engineers Develop Solutions To Problems Of Planetary Health: The Legacy Of Professor P. Aarne Vesilind, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The principal ethical obligation of the engineering profession, to "hold paramount the health, safety, and welfare of the public," has been challenged for decades. Professor P. Aarne Vesilind identified two primary deficiencies: an anthropocentric bias that values nature only instrumentally and the use of non-mandatory, aspirational language for environmental protection, which resulted in the exclusion of enforceable environmental canons. This paper argues that two recent developments provide a comprehensive response to Vesilind's recommendations for engineering ethics. First, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has redefined environmental engineering as "developing solutions to problems of planetary health." Second, Oerther proposed a …

Powering The Machine, Draining The Planet: Whether U.S. Environmental Law Is Equipped To Regulate The Energy And Water Demands Of Ai Data Centers, Michael Marcu

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Artificial intelligence (AI) data centers have become one of the United States' fastest-growing and least-regulated sources of environmental stress. In 2024 alone, U.S. data centers consumed 183 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity more than the entire nation of Pakistan and consumed an estimated 17 billion gallons of water (IEA, 2025; Berkeley Lab, 2024). By 2030, electricity demand from these facilities is projected to reach 426 TWh, a 133% increase in six years (Pew Research Center, 2025). This paper examines whether the existing U.S. environmental regulatory framework put by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), and the …

Analyzing A Benchtop Model Of Combined Heat Power To An Industrial Scale, Chase Steven Carlton, Ashley Leach, Andrew Martin-Biggs, Tessa Wilker

UNH URC Open (2026 and after)

Analyzing a Benchtop Model of Combined Heat Power to an Industrial Scale

De Novo Protein Binding To Zinc Oxide Through Biomineralization Pathways, Jean-Mark A. Francis

Theses and Dissertations

De novo proteins are structurally distinct from proteins found in nature and thus capable of having their amino acid sequence modified to accomplish tasks such as increasing protein-nanoparticle binding without unfolding or decomposing. Zinc Oxide nanoparticles are functionally distinct from their bulk counterparts and are widely used as semiconductors in a variety of fields such as medicine and agriculture. With demand for these nanoparticles increasing, environmentally sustainable methods of Zinc Oxide nanoparticle synthesis are being investigated as an eco-friendly alternative to currently utilized but environmentally hazardous chemical and physical techniques. This research investigates the binding characteristics between Zinc Oxide nanoparticles …

Nanostructured Cathode Catalysts For Aem Electrolysis: From Catalyst Design To Degradation And Hydrogen Dynamics, Yamini Kumaran

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) presents a promising pathway toward cost-effective and sustainable hydrogen production by integrating the chemical robustness of alkaline systems with the compact, zero-gap design of proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. However, the widespread implementation of AEMWE is limited by the availability of highly active and durable platinum-group-metal (PGM)-free catalysts and by an incomplete understanding of their degradation behavior under realistic operating conditions.

This dissertation focuses on the development, characterization, and mechanistic investigation of nanostructured MoNi₄–MoO₂-based electrodes for efficient and stable hydrogen generation under alkaline and membrane-integrated environments. MoNi₄–MoO₂ nanorods …

Bio-Papcz: Corn Starch-Based Composite Bioplastic Reinforced With Pineapple Leaf Fiber (Palf), Zinc Oxide (Zno), And Polyvinyl Alcohol (Pva), Marvin C. Caya, Shervin Austin C. Huang, Jovar Khalel J. Maghari, Ruel M. Levida

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Plastic pollution poses a serious global threat, as petroleum-based plastics persist for centuries, and their surging production of over 450 million tons overwhelms ecosystems (Ritchie et al., 2023). Using a quantitative experimental research design, the study examined the effects of varying concentrations of cornstarch-based bioplastic reinforced with pineapple leaf fiber (PALF), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and zinc oxide (ZnO) on the bioplastic’s tensile strength and soil degradability. Sample C2 (ZnO 3.0 %w/w; PVA 9.0 %w/w) demonstrated the optimal tensile properties with a tensile strength of 0.76 MPa and an elongation at break of 6.40%, which was attributed to the addition of …

Table Of Contents, The Editors

Coal Geology & Exploration

No abstract provided.

A Method For Advance Detection Of Underground Concealed Water Hazards In Coal Mines Based On Borehole Transient Electromagnetic Method And Vector Synthesis, Fan Tao, Hao Yue, Li Ping, Zhao Rui, Liu Zaibin, Ma Liang, Li Peng, Yan Junsheng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background The advance detection of underground concealed water hazards in coal mines is crucial to ensuring the safe and efficient roadway tunneling. The borehole transient electromagnetic (TEM) method allows for long-distance advance detection. However, due to the limitation of the spatial structure of boreholes, currently available techniques can only effectively identify low-resistivity anomalies (e.g., water-bearing structures) in the radial direction, leaving blind areas in the primary tunneling direction (i.e., the axial direction of boreholes). Objective and Method To address this challenge, this study proposed a method for the advance detection of concealed water hazards in the axial direction of boreholes …

Logging-While-Drilling Azimuthal Electromagnetic Measurements For High-Resistivity Coal Seams, Zhao Weina, Zheng Dongfang, Ai Weiping, Xie Xia

Coal Geology & Exploration

Objective and Method To determine the boundary detection capability of logging-while-drilling (LWD) electromagnetic azimuthal measurements for high-resistivity coal mines, this study simulated geosignal responses under varying operating frequencies, transmitter-receiver coil spacing conditions, and formation resistivity values. Then, key parameters for boundary detection for high-resistivity coal seams were optimized. Accordingly, this study proposed design schemes for LWD instruments with short (< 80 inches) and long (approximately 240 inches) transmitter-receiver coil spacing for short-distance (2.032 m) and long-distance (6.096 m) detection, respectively. Results and Conclusions LWD electromagnetic azimuthal measurements exhibit a significantly decreased depth of detection (DOD) in high-resistivity coal seams compared to that in low-resistivity hydrocarbon reservoirs. Consequently, the existing methods for selecting the operating frequency and transmitter-receiver coil spacing are …