European Journal of Environment and Earth Sciences

Mineralogy and Geotechnical Properties of Fine-Grained Sediments from Swali Community

2024-06-18T17:29:49-04:00

The mineralogical and geotechnical properties of fine grained deposits from Swali community, in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) for the qualitative analysis of the mineral composition and the Atterberg limit using ASTM D 4318 standard for the geotechnical properties. Four representative samples that were analyzed using XRD show the deposit is composed of quartz, albite, orthoclase and muscovite with average values of 59.25%, 16.45%, 13.25% and 11% respectively. No typical clay mineral was observed in the analysis. The mineral suite indicates an acid igneous rock source and long distance and time of travel. Ten samples were analyzed for the geotechnical properties, and the Atterberg limits derived are: Liquid limit ranging from 29.7% – 50.4%, Plastic limit ranging from 22.9% – 36.1% and the Plastic Index ranging from 11.4 – 26.1. Four of the samples were non plastic and only six show a measure of plasticity. The deposits are classified as inorganic lean clay in locations SW6 and SW10 designated as CL as they fall above the A – Line and have Plasticity Index > 7, and those from SW2, SW3, SW4 and SW8 are classified as silty clay with designation ML because they fall below the A – Line on the plot of Liquid limit versus Plastic Index but have Plasticity Index > 4. All the deposits have low plasticity because they fall below the Liquid limit separator line of 50% with only one on the borderline. Therefore, the deposit range from inorganic lean clay to silty clay with low plasticity derived from an acid igneous rock with long distance and time of travel.

Petrography and Geochemistry of the Farchana-Hadjerhadid Granitoids (Ouaddaï Massif, Eastern Chad)

2024-06-04T06:41:20-04:00

Work in the Farchana-Hadjerhadid sector is focused on petrography, with the main aim of mapping the geological formations of the eastern Ouaddaï Massif in order to identify petrographic types and gain an understanding of the geodynamic history of this area. The fieldwork showed that the Farchana-Hadjerhadid granitoids consist mainly of granites and diorites and are intersected by numerous pegmatite veins. Microscopic observation shows that the diorite is made up of plagioclase, amphibole, biotite, and quartz. The granite is composed of alkali feldspar, quartz, amphibole, plagioclase, and biotite. The granitoids in the study area are moderately differentiated (SiO2 = 55.62% to 71.67%) and belong to the medium to highly potassic calc-alkaline series. They are ferriferous type I metaluminous granitoids (A/CNK < 1.1). The parent magma was derived from the partial melting of the metabasalts, and the petrographic types evolved by assimilation and fractional crystallization.

Effect of Specified pH Conditions on Leaching of Environmentally Important Major and Trace Elements from Fly Ash-Marl Mixtures: A Case Study of the Lignite Center of W. Macedonia

2024-05-20T06:18:39-04:00

Significant environmental issues concerning the risk of soil, surface, and groundwater pollution are indicated by the presence of dissolved elements in the leachates. In the Lignite Center of Western Macedonia, the current study investigates the leaching behavior of main and trace elements from fly ash-marl mixtures, focusing on the effect of pH conditions on environmental impacts. Five mixtures of fly ash-marl were prepared in different percentage ratios by weight, simulating the possible deposition conditions to investigate the leaching of their contents in specified pH conditions. Initial fly ash is enriched in CaO, SO₃, P₂O₅, and MgO, exceeding continental crust average composition in U, Br, Sb, Ni, Cd, W, and Mo. In contrast, the original marl is enriched in CaO and Ni but depleted in other major elements. The pH significantly affects leaching, with high concentrations of Ca²⁺ both in fly ash and in mixtures with high concentrations of fly ash, particularly at pH 8. Significant leaching of Cr and Ni is observed, with Cr mainly from fly ash at pH 10–12 and Ni increasing in marl at pH 6. The findings highlight the significant role of fly ash in the environmental element release and the importance of effective management.

Characterisation and Recovery of Solid Waste from Hotels in the Town of Zuenoula (Central West of Côte d’Ivoire)

2024-04-08T17:19:14-04:00

The town of Zuenoula, located in central west of Côte d’Ivoire, lacks socio- cultural activities that could have a positive impact on the accommodation sector. It has a small number of hotel establishments. Despite this, hotels benefit from stays for ceremonies, seminars, and funerals. This frequentation of hotel establishments generates waste, which is difficult to manage properly. They dispose of their waste in the same way as ordinary household waste. To reduce waste, some is recycled and then recovered. The aim of this study is to show how waste from hotels in the town of Zuenoula is recycled. To achieve this, the chosen methodology is based on documentary research and field surveys supported by questionnaires and direct observation. For the selection of the sample, the reasoned choice method was used, supported by the snowball method, for greater efficiency. The results revealed that hotel establishments produce various types of solid waste, of which the recovered waste (25%) is water bottles, unusable sheets and towels, faulty appliances, and leftover food. As for no recycled hotel waste (75%), 13% is collected by municipal services, 62% is disposed of on the streets, 13% on empty lots, and 12% around wetlands. All the hotel establishments surveyed had no infrastructure for collecting the waste produced on a daily basis, which degraded the population’s living environment.

Negative Health and Environmental Effects of Oil Exploitation in Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

2024-04-08T15:09:28-04:00

This research delves into the effects of oil extraction on the ecosystem in Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. It specifically examines the degree of degradation, identifies pollutants, and evaluates biodiversity. The water and soil samples taken from the impacted areas have significant pollution, according to the results. According to soil analysis, heavy metal and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations are high and above legal limits. Elevated TPH levels in water bodies present hazards to both human health and aquatic life. The loss of mangroves and the damage caused by oil spill fires to the vegetation worsen ecological degradation. Air pollution and contaminated water supplies are the main causes of the widespread negative effects on public health, which include respiratory conditions and waterborne infections. The report emphasises how urgently environmental degradation must be stopped, biodiversity must be preserved, and public health must be protected in oil-producing areas like Southern Ijaw.