Energy and Mineral Resources for a Sustainable Future

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https://hdl.handle.net/10388/14354

As Saskatchewan and the world transition from fossil-fuel-based energy systems, innovative solutions are needed to meet energy needs in a sustainable manner that goes hand-in-hand with public policy development to ensure all communities receive equal access to affordable and secure energy sources.

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Quantified growth and possible heterochronic development of two corynexochid trilobites from the middle Cambrian (Miaolingian Series, Wuliuan Stage) Mount Cap Formation, eastern Mackenzie Mountains, northwestern Canada
(Cambridge University Press, 2024-10-21) Handkamer, Neal M.; Pratt, Brian R.
The ontogeny of two species of corynexochid trilobites from the middle Cambrian Mount Cap Formation of the eastern Mackenzie Mountains, northern Canada, is documented. Sahtuia carcajouensis (Dolichometopidae) and Mackenzieaspis parallelispinosa (Zacanthoididae) are both endemic to this formation and only known from one locality. They, along with several other corynexochid taxa, occur in a succession of mudstone with scattered carbonate interbeds, deposited in a weakly storm-agitated setting near the flank of a semi-enclosed basin. The ontogeny of both species is characterized by mainly normal cranidial development, but a unique distribution of segments in their thoraxes and pygidia. The number of trunk segments was typical for their respective families, whereas the final number of segments released into the thorax was reduced. This occurred in both species through timing modifications to segment release, indicating heterochrony. Sahtuia carcajouensis and Mackenzieaspis parallelispinosa are likely derived from two separate clades, and heterochrony probably arose separately but synchronously. The endemicity of both species probably reflects unique paleoecological conditions in this part of the basin. Preliminary results indicate that the fossil-bearing mudstone was deposited under well-oxygenated conditions that underwent high nutrient flux and possibly experienced varying salinity. These factors may have affected the organisms’ physiology, or perhaps provoked an adaptation to achieve early maturation.
Data-driven exploration of weak coordination microenvironment in solid-state electrolyte for safe and energy-dense batteries
(Springer Nature, 2025) Lao, Zhoujie; Tao, Kehao; Xiao, Xiao; Qu, Haotian; Wu, Xinru; Han, Zhiyuan; Gao, Runhua; Wang, Jian; Wu, Xian; Chen, An; Shi, Lei; Chang, Chengshuai; Song, Yanze; Wang, Xiangyu; Li, Jinjin; Zhu, Yanfei; Zhou, Guangmin
The unsatisfactory ionic conductivity of solid polymer electrolytes hinders their practical use as substitutes for liquid electrolytes to address safety concerns. Although various plasticizers have been introduced to improve lithium-ion conduction kinetics, the lack of microenvironment understanding impedes the rational design of high-performance polymer electrolytes. Here, we design a class of Hofmann complexes that offer continuous two-dimensional lithium-ion conduction channels with functional ligands, creating highly conductive electrolytes. Assisting with unsupervised learning, we use Climbing Image-Nudged Elastic Band simulations to screen lithium-ion conductors and screen out five potential candidates that elucidate the impact of lithium coordination environment on conduction behavior. By adjusting the covalency competition between Metal−O and Li−O bonds within Hofmann complexes, we can manipulate weak coordination environment of lithium-ion for rapid conduction kinetics. Li | |sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) cell using solid-state polymer electrolytes with predicted Co(dimethylformamide)2Ni(CN)4 delivers an initial discharge capacity of 1264 mAh g−1 with a capacity retention of 65% after 500 cycles at 0.2 C (335 mA g−1), at 30 °C ± 3 °C. The assembled 0.6 Ah Li | |SPAN pouch cell delivers an areal discharge capacity of 3.8 mAh cm−2 at the second cycle with a solid electrolyte areal mass loading of 18.6 mg cm−2 (mass-to-capacity ratio of 4.9).
Enhancing drying efficiency and terpene retention of cannabis using cold plasma pretreatment
(Elsevier, 2025-02-11) Das, Pabitra Chandra; Heydari, Mohamad Mehdi; Baik, Oon-Doo; Zhang, Lifeng; Tabil, Lope
Hang-drying of cannabis at room conditions is a slow process and leads to the risk of microbial growth. This method can sometimes prevent cannabis from reaching the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) below the safe storage threshold. On the other hand, high-temperature drying techniques are faster but negatively impact the secondary metabolites. Cold plasma (CP) is a novel technique explored in this study to treat cannabis at various operational conditions of plasma jet (power: 300, 350, and 400 W, time: 20, 30, and 40 s) prior to drying at environmental conditions of 25°C and 50 % RH. The findings revealed that untreated cannabis samples reached an equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of approximately 16 % in 1260 min. In contrast, CP-pretreated samples achieved lower EMCs of 10–14 % within 690–840 min. CP pretreatment also resulted in high moisture diffusivity, lower energy consumption, and higher energy efficiency. Increasing CP power and residence time accelerated the decarboxylation of cannabinoids, leading to the formation of more tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and less tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), without significantly affecting the total THC (27.45 % untreated vs. 25.82 % - 28.36 % g/ g of dry matter in CP pretreated samples). Compared with untreated dried inflorescences, the 400 W and 30 s CP treated inflorescences resulted in the retention of 96 % of terpenes, whereas all 300 W CP treated samples retained > 90 % of terpenes. Overall, the study highlights that CP pretreatment is a promising technology for the cannabis industry in shortening the drying time and preserving the product quality, especially terpenes.
A methodology for selection of solid desiccants in energy recovery ventilators
(Elsevier, 2025-01-15) Krishnan, Easwaran N.; Ramin, Hadi; Gurubalan, A.; Muneeshwaran, M.; Li, Kai; Nawaz, Kashif; Simonson, Carey
Controlling indoor humidity levels is essential for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality in buildings. The use of energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) is an energy-efficient way to regulate indoor air humidity. Fixed-bed regenerators and rotary wheels are widely used ERVs because of their high sensible and latent effectiveness. These ERVs are made of desiccant-coated substrates, which enable them to transfer moisture between the supply and exhaust air streams. However, the moisture transfer ability of ERVs depends on the physiochemical and sorption properties of desiccants. Extensive, full-scale experiments are required to determine the best desiccant material for these systems. This paper presents a simplified method of selecting suitable desiccant materials for ERVs. The methodology involves important characterization methods, literature correlations for performance prediction, and cost-effective testing methods prior to full-scale testing, and full-scale test methods are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the performance of a few newly derived materials is evaluated and compared with that of conventional desiccants such as silica gel and molecular sieves. The highest latent effectiveness was obtained for composite of super absorbent polymer (SAP) with potassium formate (SAP-HCO2K-50 %), all-polymer porous solid desiccant (APPSD) and metal organic framework (MOF)–MIL–101 (Cr), followed by activated carbon fibre felt (ACFF) Silica sol-LiCl30, SAP, silica gel, MOF–303, and molecular sieve. Researchers and manufacturers would benefit from the proposed methodology and presented data in developing new desiccant materials for ERV applications.
Modeling a realistic integrated energy hub with growing demand for electric vehicles: The case of the province of Ontario, Canada
(Elsevier, 2025-01-28) Siroos, Ahmad; Samarghandi, Hamed
Energy hubs are multi-carrier energy management systems that efficiently distribute various forms of energy, reducing losses and environmental pollution. This paper examines Ontario, Canada, as a major energy hub, using a typical fall day pattern for energy demand. The model includes all power generation sources in Ontario: photovoltaic (PV), wind turbine (WT), nuclear, hydro, biofuel, and natural gas power plants. It also integrates the charging and discharging of electric vehicles (EVs) within the energy distribution framework. Managing the intrinsic uncertainty of the parameters is crucial for efficient operation. This study employs probabilistic functions to account for the arrival and departure hours of EVs, controlled using the Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR) method. Three methods, Information Gap Decision Theory (IGDT) with risk-seeking and risk-averse behaviors, and robust optimization, address uncertainties such as wind and solar electricity production, energy prices, and electrical, heating, and cooling demands. We compare simulation results of three scheduling scenarios for optimal energy production and dispatch. The RS-IGDT method can lead to significant losses during peak hours due to fluctuations. The robust method incurs higher costs by planning for large deviations. The RA-IGDT method balances deviations without the pessimism of the robust method, making it the recommended approach.
Thickness of the stratigraphic record of Britain: How the fidelity of geological and fossil data is unrelated to rock quantity
(Earth-Science Reviews, 2025-01) Craig, James A.; Battle, Ralph J.; Veenma, Yorick P.; McMahon, William J.; Slater, Ben J.; Shillito, Anthony; Davies, Neil S.
The sedimentary-stratigraphic record is the principal repository of empirical historic evidence for evolution and deep time environments. However, the record has a temporal incompleteness and inconsistency to its extensive quantity, driven by the spatial heterogeneity of deposition and erosion. This is argued to bias intensive fossil records, with correlations apparent between fossil diversity and mapped rock area from different intervals. However, mapped rock area is a poor proxy for strata accessible for fossil studies because most is concealed. Additionally, spatially diminutive older rocks commonly sample a greater stratigraphic transect per unit exposure area than widespread younger rocks because the tectonic forces that drive recycling additionally result in tilting. We calculate observable vertical stratigraphic thickness throughout geologic history for southern Britain and show that potential sample availability increases with age, in contrast to general models of rock survivorship. Using this subsample of the sedimentary-stratigraphic record as a calibration sample for the global record, we find no correlation between available stratigraphic thickness and palaeobiodiversity, except in flat-lying strata. We demonstrate instances where the first occurrences of fossil genera appear robust because there is high availability of suitable host rock pre-dating them. Our work suggests that preservation biases induced by variability in rock quantity have been significantly overstated and that local tectonic history renders different regions as stratigraphic hotspots for specific intervals, in which intensive high-veracity fossil records have exceptional value for elucidating global trends and timing in evolutionary history. The British non-marine Palaeozoic record is highlighted as such an example, with high-fidelity palynological records of plant evolution and ichnological records of animal terrestrialization.
Time, space and synoptic topography: how to read outcrops as a granular record of Earth history
(Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2025-01) Davies, Neil; Veenma, Yorick P.; Craig, James A.; Allport, Hamilton A.; McMahon, William J.; Shillito, Anthony
Siliciclastic strata commonly preserve chronostratigraphic surfaces that record the ancient interface of sediment and water/air, in the form of true substrates on bedding planes and sampled topography in stratigraphic profiles. Such surfaces are commonly a reflection of sedimentary stasis, a sedimentation state where neither deposition or erosion was occurring. Sedimentary stasis may be instantaneous, temporary or prolonged, and may also be considered to occur when the constituent grains of a substrate remain in motion as the surface active layer, when the elevation of the lithic surface does not change. The preservation of patches of synoptic topography requires only that sedimentation states of deposition, erosion and stasis fluctuate, but is more common in lower energy parts of a depositional environment. Certain sedimentary features associated with true substrates and sampled topography can, through modern analogy, be used to determine the likely duration of sedimentary stasis. Here we use original case studies to show how the duration of this stasis can be variable depending on facies and stratal age, but that at outcrop scale it is always a very short interval relative to the longevity of a depositional environment. With examples from several siliciclastic facies and geological periods, we show that stratigraphic time preserved at outcrop scale can be very short, indicating that the total stratigraphic record is built brick by brick of many lower hierarchy snapshots. This understanding shifts perspectives on the stratigraphic record as an archive, with implications for the meaning of sedimentary signatures at outcrop and the construction of narratives to understand Earth history.
Exploring the significance of true substrates in a Pennsylvanian fluvio-estuarine tidal flat
(Geological Society Special Publications, 2025-01-25) Buatois, Luis; Mángano, M. Gabriela; Maples, Christopher G.
The Pennsylvanian Tonganoxie Sandstone of Kansas contains examples of true substrates in tidal rhythmites formed in a tidal flat at the fluvio-estuarine transition of a macrotidal valley. These surfaces are characterized by an impressive preservation of biogenic and physical sedimentary structures, indicative of the coexistence of low-energy tidal currents and freshwater conditions together with brief periods of subaerial exposure. Biogenic activity corresponds to a time of stasis during or immediately after accumulation of ebb-phase clay followed by low tide. Deposition-stasis-deposition (D-S-D) was involved in the formation and preservation of these true substrates, with only a few instances of deposition-stasis-erosiondeposition (D-S-E-D). Crosscutting relationships among biogenic structures and of these with physical sedimentary structures suggest a tidally controlled taphonomic pathway, which indicates that these true substrates represent short-term time-averaged surfaces at the scale of a few hours, rather than snapshots. True substrates preserved in tidal rhythmites are widespread in other late Palaeozoic tide-dominated estuarine deposits of the North American Midcontinent. The likelihood and quality of preservation seem to show spatial and temporal trends at various scales that ultimately reflect a complex interplay of abiotic factors (e.g. sedimentary dynamics) and biotic factors (e.g. secular changes in intensity and depth of bioturbation).
Trophic magnification rates of eighteen trace elements in freshwater food webs
(Science of The Total Environment, 2024-12) Pelletier, Alexander R.; Villamarin, Francisco; Campos-Silva, João V.; Scabin, Andressa B.; Doig, Lorne E.; Jardine, Timothy D.
Trace elements play diverse roles in animal physiology ranging from essential micronutrients to potent toxicants. Despite animals accumulating many trace elements through their diets, relationships between trophic positions and biological concentrations of most trace elements remain poorly described. We report trophic transfer rates of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, Ti, Tl, U, V, and Zn from 31 freshwaters located in distinct biogeographic regions. Elemental concentrations and stable nitrogen isotope ratios (proxies for trophic position) were determined in zooplankton, molluscs, insects, and fishes from all sites. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) were calculated as the mean fraction of each element that transferred from prey to predators at each site. TMFs >1 indicate biomagnification and TMFs <1 indicate biodilution. Mercury was the only biomagnifying element (median TMF = 3.77), and selenium neither biomagnified nor biodiluted (median TMF = 1.01). All 16 remaining elements biodiluted, with median TMFs ranging from 0.07 (uranium) to 0.60 (thallium). We used a model selection procedure to determine whether intrinsic physical and chemical elemental properties explained differences in TMFs among elements. Elements with high covalent bonding indices (Q) had marginally greater TMFs than elements with low Q values. Based on their high Q values, we recommend investigation into the trophic transfer rates of ten additional trace elements, some of which may biomagnify through some aquatic food webs. The high variability in TMFs within elements suggests that ecological factors are likely more important than intrinsic elemental properties at determining elemental TMFs.
Thorium speciation in titania slag: Implications for environmental remediation and valorisation
(Mineralogical Magazine, 2024-11) Chadirji-Martinez, K; Hudon, G; Chernikov, R; Heredia, E; Feng, Renfei; Crawford, A; Pan, Yuanming
Titania slag, produced from smelting placer ilmenite concentrates and used as a feedstock for TiO2 pigment production, contains low levels of radioactivity due to thorium and uranium. This study investigated the distribution and speciation of thorium in Rio Tinto Chloride Slag (RTCS), which contains an average of 170 ppm Th and 16 ppm U, using a variety of analytical methods from powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD) analysis to bulk and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS), electron microprobe analysis (EMPA), quantitative evaluation of materials by scanning electron microscopy (QEMSCAN), Raman spectroscopy, microbeam synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (µsXRF) mapping, synchrotron Laue X-ray diffraction (LXRD) and synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Our data demonstrate that ~99.4% of Th in the RTCS is hosted by a chevkinite-like Th-REE-Ti aluminosilicate containing an average of 8.05±0.64 wt.% ThO2. The Th-REE-Ti aluminosilicate occurs as acicular (~0.3x12 µm) or tabular (~5x15 µm) crystals in association with a Th-bearing aluminosilicate glass (0.41±0.35 wt.% ThO2) as infillings either in interstitials or along the fractures of the main Ti-Fe oxides of the sassite-ferropseudobrookite solid-solution series. The Th-REE-Ti aluminosilicate and associated Th-bearing aluminosilicate glass formed probably during the quenching stage of the titania slag production. LA-ICP-MS analyses and µsXRF mapping show that the main Ti-Fe oxides in the RTCS contain only an average of 0.32±0.60ppm Th. Future pyrometallurgy operations that utilize Th- and U-bearing heavy mineral sands must consider their environmental effects and mitigate radioactivity. Also, preferential acid dissolution of the Th-REE-Ti aluminosilicate in RTCS and other titania slags may be used to recover Th and REE for dual environmental and economic benefits.
Exploring energy transition narratives through mayoral insights using artificial intelligence
(Elsevier, 2024-12-21) Ahmed, Fatma; Ahmed, Rwan; Poelzer, Greg; Poelzer, Gregory; Söderberg, Charlotta; Zapata, Oscar; Guilmette, Elaina
This paper explores energy transition dynamics in three Arctic cities: Luleå (Sweden), Fairbanks (Alaska), and Yellowknife (Canada), with a focus on sustainable urban development. Semi-structured interviews with the mayors of these cities provide insights into their decision-making processes and strategies regarding energy transitions. Using Natural Language Processing (NLP) for semantic analysis, the study uncovers implicit priorities, challenges, and aspirations from the qualitative data. The analysis is guided by the theory of planned behavior, which helps to explain the underlying motivations, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control that influence policy decisions. Results reveal common themes such as balancing environmental goals with economic and social concerns, while also highlighting context-specific challenges in each city. This research contributes to the understanding the role of municipal leadership in energy transitions and demonstrates the effectiveness of NLP techniques in extracting meaningful insights from interviews. The findings aim to inform policymakers and urban planners on fostering sustainable energy transitions in Arctic regions.
Stabilization of Oil-in-Water Pickering Emulsions by Surface-Functionalized Cellulose Hydrogel
(Gels, 2024-10) Udoetok, Inimfon; Mohamed, Mohamed H.; Wilson, Lee
An amphiphilic cellulose (CLH) hydrogel was synthesized via grafting of quaternary ammonium groups onto cellulose. The structural properties of CLH were characterized via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)/13C solid-state NMR spectroscopy, elemental (CHN) analysis, particle size distribution (PSD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and wettability was assessed through contact angle measurements. Pickering emulsions of apolar oils in water were prepared using variable weights of the CLH hydrogel as the stabilizing agent, along with different methods of agitation (mechanical shaking and sonication). The characterization results for CLH provide support for the successful grafting of quaternary ammonium groups onto cellulose to produce hydrogels. Different methods of agitation of an oil/water mixture revealed the formation of an oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsion that was stable to coalescence for over 14 days. The resulting emulsions showed variable droplet sizes and stability according to the dosage of CLH in the emulsion and the agitation method, where the emulsion droplet size is related to the particle size of CLH. The addition of methyl orange (MO), a probe to evaluate the phase partitioning of the dye, had minor effects on the emulsion droplet size, and the emulsion prepared with 0.8 wt.% of CLH and agitated via sonication exhibited the smallest droplet size and greatest stability. This study is anticipated to catalyze further research and the development of low-cost and sustainable biopolymer hydrogels as stabilizers for tunable Pickering emulsion. Grafted cellulose materials of this type represent versatile stabilizing agents for foods, agrochemicals, and pharmaceutical products and technologies.
Hybrid Chitosan Biosorbents: Tunable Adsorption at Surface and Micropore Domains
(Biomimetics, 2024-11) Udoetok, Inimfon; Mohamed, Mohamed H.; Wilson, Lee
Herein, we report a study that provides new insight on the knowledge gaps that relate to the role of biopolymer structure and adsorption properties for chitosan adsorbents that are cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. The systematic modification of chitosan cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (CG) and its quaternized forms (QCG) was studied in relation to the reaction conditions: mole ratios of reactants and pH conditions. Complementary adsorbent characterization employed 13C NMR/FTIR spectroscopy, TGA and DSC, point-zero-charge (PZC), solvent swelling, and sorption studies using selected dye probes. The spectral and thermal techniques provide complementary evidence that affirm the key role of cross-linker content and quaternization on variation of the physicochemical properties of chitosan. The PZC results reveal a neutral surface charge for the modified materials between pH 6.0 to 6.3 ± 0.3, as compared with pH 8.7 ± 0.4 for pristine chitosan. Solvent swelling in water decreased with greater cross-linking, while the QCG materials had greater swelling over CG materials due to enhanced hydration. The adsorption results reveal variable dye uptake properties according to the cross-linker content. Similarly, surface versus micropore adsorption was demonstrated, according to the nature and ionization state of the dye for the modified adsorbents, where the CG and QCG materials had tunable sorption properties that exceeded that of unmodified chitosan. A key step in tuning the structure and surface chemical properties of cross-linked chitosan involves pH control during synthesis. The facile tunability of the physicochemical properties of the modified biopolymers reported herein means that they possess features of biomimetics that are relevant to advanced drug delivery, antimicrobial materials for wound healing, biosensors, and biosorbents for biomedical applications.
Low adsorption affinity of athabasca oil sands naphthenic acid fraction compounds to a peat-mineral mixture
(Elsevier, 2024-04-24) Meulen, Ian J. Vander; Steiger, Bernd G.K.; Asadi, Mohsen; Peru, Kerry M.; Degenhardt, Dani; McMartin, Dena W.; McPhedran, Kerry M.; Wilson, Lee D.; Headley, John V.
Much of the toxicity in oil sands process-affected water in Athabasca oil sands tailings has been attributed to naphthenic acids (NAs) and associated naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs). Previous work has characterized the environmental behaviour and fate of these compounds, particularly in the context of constructed treatment wetlands. There is evidence that wetlands can attenuate NAFCs in natural and engineered contexts, but relative contributions of chemical, biotic, and physical adsorption with sequestration require deconvolution. In this work, the objective was to evaluate the extent to which prospective wetland substrate material may adsorb NAFCs using a peat-mineral mix (PMM) sourced from the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR). The PMM and NAFCs were first mixed and then equilibrated across a range of NAFC concentrations (5–500 mg/L) with moderate ionic strength and hardness (∼200 ppm combined Ca2+ and Mg2+) that approximate wetland water chemistry. Under these experimental conditions, low sorption of NAFCs to PMM was observed, where sorbed concentrations of NAFCs were approximately zero mg/kg at equilibrium. When NAFCs and PMM were mixed and equilibrated together at environmentally relevant concentrations, formula diversity increased more than could be explained by combining constituent spectra. The TOC present in this PMM was largely cellulose-derived, with low levels of thermally recalcitrant carbon (e.g., lignin, black carbon). The apparent enhancement of the concentration and diversity of components in PMM/NAFCs mixtures are likely related to aqueous solubility of some PMM-derived organic materials, as post-hoc combination of dissolved components from PMM and NAFCs cannot replicate enhanced complexity observed when the two components are agitated and equilibrated together.

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