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{"title":"Evaluating the Effects of Parameter Uncertainty on River Water Quality Predictions","authors":"André Fonseca, C. Botelho, R. Boaventura, V. J. Vilar","doi":"10.3390/resources13080106","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13080106","url":null,"abstract":"Due to the high uncertainty of model predictions, it is often challenging to draw definitive conclusions when evaluating river water quality in the context of management options. The major aim of this study is to present a statistical evaluation of the Hydrologic Simulation Program FORTRAN (HSPF), which is a water quality modeling system, and how this modeling system can be used as a valuable tool to enhance monitoring planning and reduce uncertainty in water quality predictions. The authors’ findings regarding the sensitivity analysis of the HSPF model in relation to water quality predictions are presented. The application of the computer model was focused on the Ave River watershed in Portugal. Calibration of the hydrology was performed at two stations over five years, starting from January 1990 and ending in December 1994. Following the calibration, the hydrology model was then validated for another five-year period, from January 1995 to December 1999. A comprehensive evaluation framework is proposed, which includes a two-step statistical evaluation based on commonly used hydrology criteria for model calibration and validation. To thoroughly assess model uncertainty and parameter sensitivity, a Monte Carlo method uncertainty evaluation approach is integrated, along with multi-parametric sensitivity analyses. The Monte Carlo simulation considers the probability distributions of fourteen HSPF water quality parameters, which are used as input factors. The parameters that had the greatest impact on the simulated in-stream fecal coliform concentrations were those that represented the first-order decay rate and the surface runoff mechanism, which effectively removed 90 percent of the fecal coliform from the pervious land surface. These parameters had a more significant influence compared to the accumulation and maximum storage rates. When it comes to the oxygen governing process, the parameters that showed the highest sensitivity were benthal oxygen demand and nitrification/denitrification rate. The insights that can be derived from this study play a critical role in the development of robust water management strategies, and their significance lies in their potential to contribute to the advancement of predictive models in the field of water resources.","PeriodicalId":509483,"journal":{"name":"Resources","volume":"46 51","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141799765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of Beech Wood Pellets as Low-Emission Solid Biofuel for Residential Heating in Serbia","authors":"Vasilije Matijašević, Zdeněk Beňo, Viktor Tekáč, Van Minh Duong","doi":"10.3390/resources13080104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13080104","url":null,"abstract":"This study evaluated the suitability of two types of beech wood pellets as renewable, low-emission biofuel sources in order to combat the energy mix and poor air quality in Serbia. Key solid biofuel characteristics, including the heating values (18.5–18.7 MJ/kg), moisture content (5.54–7.16%), and volatile matter (82.4–84.4%) were assessed according to established standards. The elemental composition (mass fractions of 48.26–48.53% carbon, 6% hydrogen, 0.12–0.2% nitrogen, 0.02% sulfur, non-detected chlorine) and ash content (0.46–1.2%) demonstrated that the analyzed beech pellets met the criteria for high-quality classification, aligning with the ENplus A1 and ENplus A2 standards. The emissions of O2, CO2, CO, NOx, SO2, and TOC were quantified in the flue gas of an automatic residential pellet stove and compared with the existing literature. While combustion of the beech pellets yielded low emissions of SO2 (6 mg/m3) and NOx (188 mg/m3), the fluctuating CO (1456–2064 mg/m3) and TOC (26.75–61.46 mg/m3) levels were influenced by the appliance performance. These findings underscore the potential of beech wood pellets as a premium solid biofuel option for Serbian households, offering implications for both end-users and policymakers.","PeriodicalId":509483,"journal":{"name":"Resources","volume":"43 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141805428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Environmental Pollution and Risks Associated with Tailing Dams in a Historical Gold Mining Area of Ecuador","authors":"Bryan Salgado-Almeida, Arián Briones-Escalante, Daniel A. Falquez-Torres, Karla Filián-Haz, Fredy Guzmán-Martínez, K. Escobar-Segovia, Elizabeth Peña-Carpio, Samantha Jiménez-Oyola","doi":"10.3390/resources13080105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13080105","url":null,"abstract":"Tailings are a significant concern due to their potential release of toxic elements into the environment, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Therefore, understanding their polluting potential is crucial for effective mitigation strategies. This study evaluates the contaminating potential of eight tailing dams in the upper basin of the Puyango River in southern Ecuador. A physicochemical and mineralogical characterization of the tailings was conducted. The contents of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, V, and Zn were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The contamination index (IC) and the risk (RI) to the environment and population were evaluated. As a result, it was found that As, Cu, Pb, Se, and Zn exceeded the maximum permissible limits in all the samples according to Ecuadorian regulations. Six of the eight tailing dams presented very high pollution levels (21.28 < IC < 298.61), indicating a severe contamination risk. As, Sb, and Se were the most significant contributors to the index, with 29%, 31%, and 20% contribution to the overall IC, respectively. However, the risk assessment indicated a low risk (RI < 5) to both the population and the natural environment, mainly due to the distance between the tailing dams and the potential receptors. While the present risk associated with the studied tailing dams is low, there exists potential for long-term escalation.","PeriodicalId":509483,"journal":{"name":"Resources","volume":"55 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141803917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spray-Dried Jaboticaba Powder as Food Resource","authors":"N. C. Silva, Gabriela B. Andrade, M. Barrozo","doi":"10.3390/resources13080102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13080102","url":null,"abstract":"Jaboticaba, a popular Brazilian fruit, has recently garnered scientific interest due to its nutritional properties and high levels of bioactive compounds. However, this fruit is highly perishable due to its high moisture content and physical–chemical structure. Therefore, it is imperative to employ methods for preserving it and explore its potential as a food resource. This study investigates the use of a spray drying method to dehydrate whole jaboticaba fruits. The effects of air temperature (T) ranging from 67.9 to 132.1 °C, air flow rate (AF) from 1.54 to 1.86 m3/min, maltodextrin concentration (M) from 8.9 to 41.1%, and feed flow rate (FF) from 0.36 to 0.84 L/h on the moisture content, drying yield, and bioactive compounds (total phenolic, total flavonoid, citric acid, and ascorbic acid contents) were quantified. The results indicate that spray drying can produce a powder with reduced moisture content levels, a satisfactory drying yield, and high levels of bioactive compounds if performed under specific conditions. An optimization study using desirability analysis shows that having T, AF, M, and FF at 132.1 °C, 1.86 m3/min, 15.0%, and 0.4549 L/h, respectively, is the optimal condition for the studied variables. Spray drying has proven to be a very promising alternative for jaboticaba processing, enabling better applications as a food resource.","PeriodicalId":509483,"journal":{"name":"Resources","volume":"79 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141810183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanical Performance of Bentonite Plugs in Abandonment Operations of Petroleum Wells","authors":"Laura Rafaela Cavalcanti de Oliveira, Mário César de Siqueira Lima, W. R. P. D. Costa, R. L. D. N. Gonçalves, A. C. A. Costa, K. C. Nóbrega, E. Souza, L. V. Amorim","doi":"10.3390/resources13080103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13080103","url":null,"abstract":"This study aims to evaluate how the operational procedure adopted for pellet placement and the exposure to subsurface conditions influence the mechanical integrity of bentonite plugs used as barrier elements in the abandonment of petroleum wells. To this end, the plugs were formed by hydrating the pellets directly in water, simulating the onshore procedure, while the offshore plugs were obtained from pellets hydrated in deionized water after immersion in diesel or olefin, which are suggested as displacement fluids. The plugs obtained were tested by compression and adhesion tests. These mechanical tests were also carried out for specimens obtained from plugs exposed to four formulations of synthetic formation waters. The results obtained demonstrated that, in the offshore procedure, the previous contact with olefin may adversely affects the mechanical stability of bentonite plugs, while plugs formed from pellets immersed in diesel presented satisfactory mechanical properties. However, the contact with formation water evidenced that the onshore plug presents superior resistance than the offshore plug previously immersed in diesel. The highly successful performance of the onshore plug was attested by the maintenance of the compressive strength, which exhibited a maximum reduction of 13%, even after exposure to the most saline formation waters.","PeriodicalId":509483,"journal":{"name":"Resources","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141813540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of Yield and Physico-Chemical Parameters of Selected Wild Indigenous Fruits in Rwanda","authors":"Gaudence Nishimwe, Suzana Augustino, A. S. Dahlin, Fidèle Niyitanga","doi":"10.3390/resources13070101","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13070101","url":null,"abstract":"A study was carried out to assess the physico-chemical characteristics of wild fruits: Myrianthus holstii and Garcinia buchananii, consumed by rural communities in Rwanda. Although the species have been prioritized for domestication in the country, very little information has been documented on their yield potential, morphological traits, and nutritional compositions. Data were collected from nine fruiting trees for each species in the Bugesera and Nyamagabe districts. All fruits per tree were counted and 10 fruits were harvested for characterization. The proximate composition, vitamins, and minerals were analyzed using Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) methods. Analyses of inferential statistics were performed to detect differences in means among the fruits from different populations. The highest yield (279 kg/tree) for M. holstii was recorded in the Musebeya population while the highest (15.12 kg/tree) for G. buchananii was recorded in the Juru populations. The quantities of vitamins A and C in M. holstii fruits ranged from 0.92 mg/100 g to 0.93 mg/100 g and from 19.22 mg/100 g to 19.94 mg/100 g, respectively. The quantities of vitamins A and C in G. buchananii fruits ranged from 0.56 mg/100 g to 0.95 mg/100 g and 33.82 mg/100 g to 34.84 mg/100 g, respectively. The most abundant mineral element recorded in this study was iron (15.95 mg/100 g) found in the M. holstii species and contributing 159.5% of the recommended daily allowance. The results obtained in this work suggest the potential value of G. buchananii and M. holstii for the development of novel products in the food industry. The findings also offer opportunities for tree selection to support their domestication and to reduce pressure on the remaining population in the wild.","PeriodicalId":509483,"journal":{"name":"Resources","volume":"19 15","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141817449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Valorization of Fine-Fraction CDW in Binary Pozzolanic CDW/Bamboo Leaf Ash Mixtures for the Elaboration of New Ternary Low-Carbon Cement","authors":"Javier Villar-Hernández, E. Villar-Cociña, H. Savastano, Moisés Frías Rojas","doi":"10.3390/resources13070100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13070100","url":null,"abstract":"This paper presents the characterization of a binary mixture of construction and demolition waste (CDW) and bamboo leaf ash (BLAsh) calcined at 600 °C (novel mixture) and the study of its pozzolanic behavior. Different dosages in a pozzolan/Ca(OH)2 system were employed. The aim is the valorization of fine-fraction CDW that achieves a more reactive binary mixture and allows an adequate use of CDW as waste, as CDW is a material of limited use due to its low pozzolanic activity. The pozzolanic behavior of the mixture was analyzed using the conductometric method, which measures the electrical conductivity in the CDW + BLAsh/CH solution versus reaction time. With the application of a kinetic–diffusive mathematical model, the kinetic parameters of the pozzolanic reaction were quantified. This allowed a quantitative evaluation of the pozzolanic activity based on the values of these parameters. To validate these results, other experimental techniques were used: X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and scanning electron microscopy. Also, mechanical compressive strength assays were carried out. The results show an increase in the pozzolanic activity of binary mixes of CDW + BLAsh for all the dosages used in comparison to the pozzolanic activity of CDW alone. The quantitative assessment (kinetic parameters) shows that the binary mixture CDW50 + BLAsh50 is the most reactive (reaction rate constant of 7.88 × 10−1 h−1) and is superior to the mixtures CDW60 + BLAsh40 and CDW70 + BLAs30. Compressive strength tests show higher strength values for the ternary mixes (OPC + CDW + BLAsh) compared to the binary mixes (OPC + CDW). In view of the results, the binary blend of pozzolans CDW + BLAsh is suitable for the manufacture of future low-carbon ternary cements.","PeriodicalId":509483,"journal":{"name":"Resources","volume":"118 21","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141821144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Navigating the Past through an Interactive Geovisualisation-Driven Methodology: Locating a 15th–19th Century Paddy Field as a Source of Agro-Ecological Knowledge (Thessaly, Greece)","authors":"D. Goussios, I. Faraslis","doi":"10.3390/resources13070099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13070099","url":null,"abstract":"The interconnection between the objectives of territorial development and those of the agro-ecological transition highlights the value of past knowledge in the sustainable management of resources and agro-ecological systems. However, the lack of data creates difficulties for retrospection in rural areas. This paper contributes to the search for such knowledge from the past by developing an interactive methodology capable of combining heterogeneous information sources with the activation of local collective memory. Its effectiveness is based on ensuring the interoperability of information and communication in an environment simultaneously shaped by geoinformatics and 3D geovisualisations. This virtual environment fostered participation and interactivity, supported by representations of the paleo-landscape (Ottoman period). Furthermore, synergies were achieved between information sources, which were integrated into local spatial systems. The application example involved identifying a rice field that existed between the 15th and 19th centuries in Thessaly, Greece. It is an interesting case because the research results indicated that the location and organisation of the crop, combined with the spatio-temporal coordination required, ensured the sustainable use of natural resources. The interplay between information and communication facilitated community participation and the activation of its collective memory as an information source that enriched the search itself and local intelligence.","PeriodicalId":509483,"journal":{"name":"Resources","volume":" 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141831574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phytoremediation Characterization of Heavy Metals by Some Native Plants at Anthropogenic Polluted Sites in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia","authors":"S. Alghamdi, M. El-Zohri","doi":"10.3390/resources13070098","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13070098","url":null,"abstract":"Many anthropogenic activities have lately resulted in soil adulteration by heavy metals (HMs). The assessment of native plant species that grow in the polluted environments is of great importance for using these plants in phytoremediation techniques. This study was conducted in three industrial regions in Jeddah city, Wadi Marik, Bahra, and Khumrah, to assess the HM contamination level in them. This study also evaluated the phytoremediation ability of nine plant species collected from the studied regions. Soil physicochemical properties of the studied sites were investigated. Nine HMs, aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), and barium (Ba), have been evaluated in the collected soil, plant shoots, and root samples. Total thiol concentration in the plant shoots and roots was determined. The phytoremediation indexes, such as bioaccumulation factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF), were estimated. The results show that the soil of all the explored sites was sandy and slightly alkaline. It was found that Ni, Pb, and Cr were above the international permissible limit in all soil samples. The Wadi Marik region recorded the highest HM concentration compared to the other sites. In the Bahra region, Fe, Zn, Co, and Mn in all collected soil samples were below internationally permissible levels. In Khumrah, the highest concentration of Zn was found in the soil sample collected around F. indica plants, while Fe, Co, and Mn in all collected soil samples were below the international permissible limit. Depending on the BCF calculations, most of the investigated species showed phytostabilization ability for most of the studied HMs. Of them, E. indica, T. nubica, and P. divisum recorded the highest BCF values that ranged from 16.1 to 3.4. The BCF values of the studied HMs reduced in the order of Cr > Zn > Mn > Co > Ba > Fe > Al > Pb. Phytoextration of Co and Cr could be achieved by P. oleracea and F. indica, which showed TF values that reached 6.7 and 6.1, respectively. These plants showed high potential for phytoremediation and can be suggested as protective belts close to the contaminated regions of Jeddah.","PeriodicalId":509483,"journal":{"name":"Resources","volume":"72 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141642980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Critical Raw Materials Supply: Challenges and Potentialities to Exploit Rare Earth Elements from Siliceous Stones and Extractive Waste","authors":"Xinyuan Zhao, Faten Khelifi, Marco Casale, Alessandro Cavallo, E. Padoan, Ke Yang, G. Dino","doi":"10.3390/resources13070097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13070097","url":null,"abstract":"Critical raw materials (CRMs) supply is a challenge that EU countries have to face, with many thinking about domestic procurement from natural ore deposits and anthropogenic deposits (landfills and extractive waste facilities). The present research focuses on the possibilities linked to the supply of CRMs and the potential for exploiting rare earth elements (REEs), investigating a large variety of extractive waste and siliceous rocks in the Piedmont region (Northern Italy). Indeed, the recovery of REEs from the extractive waste (EW) of siliceous quarries and other siliceous ore deposits can be a valuable way to reduce supply chain risks. Starting with a review of the literature on mining activities in Piedmont and continuing with the sampling and geochemical, mineralogical, petrographic, and environmental characterization of EW facilities connected to siliceous dimension stones, of kaolinitic gneiss ore deposits, and of soils present near the investigated areas, this study shows that the degree of REEs enrichment differs depending on the sampling area (soil or EW) and lithology. The concentration of REEs in the EW at some sampling sites fulfils the indicators of industrial-grade and industrial recovery; the high cumulative production and potential market values of EW and the positive recovery effects through proven methodologies indicate a viable prospect of REE recovery from EW. However, REE recovery industrialization faces challenges such as the difficulty in achieving efficient large-scale recovery due to large regional differences in REE abundance, the mismatch between potential market value and waste annual production, etc. Nonetheless, in the future, EW from dimension stone quarries could be differentially studied and reused based on the enrichment and distribution characteristics of trace elements. The present paper shows investigation procedures undertaken to determine both CRMs potentialities and environmental issues (on the basis of literature data employed to select the more-promising areas and on sampling and characterization activities in the selected areas), together with procedures to determine the waste quantities and tentative economic values of REEs present in the investigated areas. This approach, tested on a large area (Piedmont region), is replicable and applicable to other similar case studies (at EU and non-EU levels) and offers decision makers the possibility to acquire a general overview of the potential available resources in order to decide whether and where to concentrate efforts (including economic ones) in a more detailed study to evaluate the exploitable anthropogenic deposits.","PeriodicalId":509483,"journal":{"name":"Resources","volume":"18 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141648568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}