Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences

Thermodynamic Models of the Fluid H2O-CO2-NaCl-CaCl2 and Its Ternary Subsystems for Temperatures of 150–350 °C and Pressures of 0.2–1.4 kbar

Mikhail V. Ivanov — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Numerical thermodynamic models are proposed for the quaternary fluid system H₂O-CO₂-NaCl-CaCl₂ and its ternary subsystems H₂O-NaCl-CaCl₂, H₂O-CO₂-NaCl, and H₂O-CO₂-CaCl₂. The models are valid for temperatures from 150 °C to 350 °C, pressures from 0.2 to 1.4 kbar, and for arbitrary concentrations of salts. The latter feature is inherited from the earlier developed models of binary systems H₂O-NaCl and H₂O-CaCl₂. All the models are formulated in terms of the Gibbs free energy. The entropy term in the equation for the Gibbs free energy of mixing is introduced in a general form, based on the number of different ways of arranging particles in the system that lead to the same total energy. The parameters of the energy terms corresponding to the interactions of particles in binary and ternary subsystems are obtained by fitting published experimental data. The concentrations of salts in the gas phase are simulated based on the salt evaporation free energy. Our model, also available as a computer code, makes it possible to predict the physicochemical properties of fluids involved in hydrothermal processes in the upper crust: the phase state of the system (homogeneous or two-phase fluid), activities of the components, densities, and compositions of the (coexisting) fluid phases. The model offers a numerical tool for analyzing fluid inclusion data and better understanding of metamorphic and metasomatic processes in the upper crust. Fluids at studied P-T conditions play a decisive role in the formation of hydrothermal ore deposits, including most of the world's gold deposits.

Examining Resource Dependency and Socioeconomic Disparities: A Case Study of Sustaining Rural Livelihoods in India

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Rural communities in developing countries often struggle with resource dependency, economic challenges, and poor infrastructure, and villages in Uttarakhand, India, are no exception. This study aims to examine the socioeconomic factors influencing forest conservation, assess livelihood dependency on forest resources, and evaluate how socioeconomic status shapes sustainable forest management in Shishambara and Buddhi villages in Dehradun. The study employed purposive and random sampling covering 10% of households, using structured surveys, interviews, field observations, market surveys, and focus group discussions. The survey reveals an agriculture-dominated livelihood, engaging 60% in Buddhi and 65% in Shishambara, alongside private-sector jobs and daily wage labour. Literacy rates differ significantly, with Buddhi at 72% and Shishambara at 58%. Despite accessibility to LPG connections, traditional cooking fuels like fuelwood and cow dung remain predominant, utilized by 70% of households in Buddhi and 75% in Shishambara. Most homes are Pakka, yet only 18.8% in Buddhi and 22% in Shishambara have toilets. Public transport is scarce, leaving villagers reliant on private vehicles. These findings underscore the need for policies that address resource management, improve basic services, and support sustainable development, offering a road map for uplifting rural livelihoods and bridging infrastructure gaps.

Response Surface Methodology and Deep Learning Modelling for the Removal of Pb2+ ions from Wastewater Using Apple Pomace

Great C. Chazuza, Felicia O. Afolabi, Paul Musonge — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Recent studies have demonstrated a growing global interest in utilising agricultural waste to remediate wastewater. This stems from growing apprehensions about high levels of heavy metals, especially Pb²⁺ ions, in wastewater produced by industrial processes such as mining, paint production, oil refining, smelting, and electroplating. This study examined apple pomace's Pb²⁺ ions adsorption from wastewater. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed, utilising the central composite face-centred design (CCFD) with three variables: initial concentration (1–50 mg/L), adsorbent dosage (0.1–1 g), and particle size (75–425 µm) to formulate a mathematical model for the biosorption of Pb²⁺ ions on apple pomace. An artificial neural network (ANN) was developed using data generated from the RSM design. The CCFD and ANN models showed considerable efficacy in the adsorption process, exhibiting correlation coefficient values of 0.9921 and 0.9999, respectively. The isotherm and kinetic studies were performed, and the Freundlich Isotherm model best fitted the equilibrium data, with a correlation coefficient of 0.972 and a q_e of 5.145 mg/g. Additionally, the pseudo-second-order model proved to be the most appropriate for the kinetic data, with an R² of 0.9996. These results confirm that apple pomace functions as an effective, low-cost, and environmentally and sustainably biosorbent for the removal of Pb²⁺ ions from wastewater. Both RSM and ANN models exhibited high predictive capability for the biosorption process. While ANN provides more flexibility in modelling complex non-linear relationships, it is prone to overfitting, particularly with limited datasets, and this was addressed through a 5-fold cross-validation technique.

Critique of the "Carbon Assessment of the Everglades Agricultural Area" by Winrock International

Gene McAvoy — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0800

In March 2022, Winrock International released the Carbon Assessment of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) in collaboration with the Everglades Foundation. The report estimated annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sugarcane production in the EAA at 7.36 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (t CO2e), attributing emissions primarily to peat oxidation, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), cultivation practices, transportation, and canal methane emissions. While the report seeks to frame EAA agriculture as a major contributor to regional GHG emissions, a critical review reveals that it departs significantly from accepted greenhouse gas inventory methodologies, omits crucial historical and hydrological context, and relies on oversimplified assumptions and generalized data that overestimate emissions. This article systematically examines the Winrock Report’s methodology, identifies its shortcomings, and highlights the need for more robust, context-specific, and transparent approaches to carbon accounting in the Everglades Agricultural Area.