Brine Storage Research Articles

Efficient utilization of cold energy enabled by phase change cold storage brine gels with superior thermophysical properties towards biochemical reagent cold chain

Phase change cold storage, as an emerging cold chain method of maintaining a low-temperature environment and effectively ensuring the quality of biochemical reagents, is extensively utilized because of its benefits of high energy density, low cost, energy conservation and environmentally friendly mode. However, the low thermal conductivity of working medium affects its cold charging/discharging rate and operating efficiency. Meanwhile, the high leakage characteristic in the phase change process leads to a decrease of cold storage capacity and contamination of items. This work proposes the efficient utilization of cold energy enabled by leakage-free phase change cold storage brine gels with extraordinary high thermal conductivity towards biochemical reagent cold chain. Phase change thermal storage gel is prepared by confining brine in the sodium polyacrylate‑calcium alginate network and porous adsorption of expanded graphite. The prepared materials present leak free characteristics and almost 100% mass retention rate. Expanded graphite addition enables the thermal conductivity increase from 0.542 W m−1 K−1 to an extremely high value of 2.766 W m−1 K−1 (an increase of 510%). The enthalpy value of the cold storage brine gel is as high as 144 Jg−1, stably releasing cold at around −24 °C. By regulating the distribution of cold storage working medium, the minimum temperature difference inside the apparatus can be reduced from 6.7 °C to about 1 °C. Finally, performance-enhancing phase change cold storage materials and apparatus in the cold chain of biological reagents is fruitful, effectively providing a long-lasting and uniform low-temperature environment.

Modeling the Thermal Inactivation of Monascus ruber Ascospores Isolated from Green Olive (Arauco Cultivar) Storage Brine: An Alternative Strategy to Reduce Antifungal Chemical Agents.

Monascus ruber is an important fungus that causes spoilage in table olives, resulting in the darkening of the brine, the softening of the fruit, increased pH, and apparent mycelial growth. This study aimed to evaluate this resistance, providing a model to determine the optimal processing conditions for mitigating fungal contamination and prolonging shelf life without antifungal agents while optimizing pasteurization to reduce energy consumption. The resistance in brine (3.5% NaCl; pH 3.5) from Arauco cultivar green olives imported from Argentina was assessed. Four predictive models (log linear, log linear + shoulder, log linear + tail, log linear + shoulder + tail) estimated kinetic parameters for each survival curve. Log linear + shoulder + tail provided the best fit for 70 °C and 75 °C, with low RMSE (0.171 and 0.112) and high R2 values (0.98 and 0.99), respectively, while the log linear model was used for 80 °C. Decimal reduction times at 70, 75, and 80 °C were 24.8, 5.4, and 1.6 min, respectively, with a z-value of 8.2 °C. The current regulatory processes are insufficient to eliminate M. ruber at requisite levels, considering reduced antifungal agents.

Dynamic characteristics and evolution laws of underground brine in Mahai salt lake of Qaidam Basin during mining process

In the late stage of underground brine mining in salt lakes, the method of injecting fresh water is often used to extract the salt from the brine storage medium. This method of freshwater displacement breaks the original water–rock equilibrium and changes the evolution process of the original underground brine. To explore the mechanism of salt release in saline water-bearing media under conditions of relatively fresh lake water dissolution, this paper analyzes the changes in the chemical parameters of brine from 168 sampling points in the Mahai salt lake in the Qaidam Basin at three stages (before exploitation, during exploitation, and late exploitation) by correlation analysis, ion ratio analysis, and other methods and investigate the variations in porosity and the evolution laws of brine. The results show that the changes in the main ion content and brine mineralization during the exploitation process are small. The changes in Ca2+ content are significant due to the low solubility of calcium minerals, the precipitation of gypsum during the mixing process, and the adsorption of cations by alternating with Ca2+. Primary intergranular pore skeletons are easily corroded to form secondary pores, which increase the geological porosity. Na+ and Cl- are the dominant ions in the brine in the study area, but the concentration of Ca2 + decreased significantly under the influence of mining, by 41.7% in the middle period and 24.5% in the late period. The correlation between Ca2+ and salinity changes significantly in different mining stages, and the reason for the decrease of Ca2+ may be due to the influence of mineral dissolution, mixing, and anion-cation exchange. The porosity of the layer in the study area showed the opposite trend of Ca2+, and the porosity increased first and then decreased. The innovation of this paper lies in analyzing the reasons and mechanisms of the disturbance of artificial dissolution mining on stratum structure by comparing the hydrochemical characteristics and porosity of underground brine storage media in three different mining stages. The research in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the calculation of brine resource reserves and the sustainable development of underground brine in salt lake areas.

The Study on the Genesis of Underground Brine in Laizhou Bay Based on Hydrochemical Data

The Laizhou Bay area contains a large amount of Quaternary brine resources, which have been gradually depleted by long-term high-intensity mining. The local brine genesis is still controversial, and the dominant theory of the evaporation of brine formation limits the exploration of brine resources to the land area, while the confirmation of freezing brine formation would greatly expand the brine storage range. In this research paper, the genesis of underground brines was analyzed based on the major ion concentrations of 62 samples of underground brines at different depths at 24 stations along the south coast of Laizhou Bay. The results show that the underground brines originated from seawater; however, their chemical components were changed during the evolution process after formation. The hydrogeochemical modeling results show that the mixing of seawater and fresh groundwater also affects the chemical composition of brines. The large-scale exploitation of brine resources in recent decades has also led to significant changes in the chemical composition of the underground brine in Laizhou Bay compared with the earlier period. The special geographic environment and the development of the brine chemical industry have led to the evolution of underground brines in Laizhou Bay being affected by a variety of factors, which makes the traditional analysis of brine genesis in this region not applicable. Furthermore, although evaporation and concentration are the dominant factors in the formation of brine, there is still a lack of evidence to rule out the existence of the freezing pathway.

Brine-Processed Caulerpa lentillifera Macroalgal Stability: Physicochemical, Nutritional and Microbiological Properties.

Caulerpa lentillifera is a type of green macroalga that is commonly consumed as fresh seaweed, particularly in Southeast Asia. The effects of different salt types and concentrations on C. lentillifera during brine processing were investigated using table, sea and flower salt at 10-30% levels. The colour and texture of C. lentillifera varied across different treatments. After storage in brine for 12 weeks, lightness (L*) decreased, greenness (a*) decreased and yellowness (b*) increased while firmness increased in all treatments compared to fresh algae. The nutritional composition did not change significantly over time. To ensure the safety and quality of seaweed for consumption, the optimal salt level for brine processing should not exceed 30% table salt. The morphology and elements contained in different types of salt were also observed, and the microbiological safety of seaweed was evaluated. The popularity of Caulerpa macroalgae is rapidly increasing among consumers, leading to a growing demand for ready-to-eat Caulerpa products. However, food safety and security standards must be maintained.

Innovative Device for Automated Monitoring of Table Olive Fermentation Parameters: First Experimental Results

The table olive sector is highly important to the Italian agri-food industry. To produce quality table olives without defects in appearance, flavors, or aroma and to meet consumer expectations, special precautions must be taken to limit side effects associated with transformation and storage processes. During these processes, essential to debitter and stabilize the final product, drupes may undergo undesirable fermentations due to changes in the olive-to-brine ratio, temperature changes, and alteration of the brine’s chemico–physical parameters, thus decreasing their commercial and nutritional value. An innovative user-friendly system, equipped with low-cost digital and sensorized devices, has been engineered and realized for step-by-step batch monitoring of table olive storage brines. The main fermentation parameters (i.e., temperature, pH, salinity, free acidity, volatile acidity, and residual sodium hydroxide) of virgin, compliant, and altered brines were analyzed with both the automated prototype and Official reference methods, with the aim of testing the functionality of the prototype device and verifying the reliability and repeatability of the measurements. Good linearity was observed for all parameters examined, with a relatively low mean deviation between the two approaches. It is therefore possible to constantly monitor brine conformity automatically during the processing stages, benefiting product quality and environmental, energy, and economic sustainability.

Effects of Mild Thermal Processing and Storage Conditions on the Quality Attributes and Shelf Life of Truffles (Terfezia claveryi).

This study investigated the effects of two mild thermal processing (MTP) (63 °C, 40 °C, 3 min) methods, in a brine storage medium (7-16% (w/v) NaCl) and a vinegar solution (5% vinegar, 1% salt, and 0.5% sugar), on some physicochemical properties of truffles (Terfezia claveryi). Weight loss, phenolic compounds, firmness, ascorbic acid and microbial loads were evaluated during 160 days of storage. It was demonstrated that a 5% vinegar treatment with 63 °C MTP was effective to reduce the weight loss, microbial spoilage and increased firmness and of truffles during storage. However, phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid content were decreased by heating. Both MTPs inhibited the microbial load, but the 63 °C, 3 min MTP was most effective and resulted in an immediate (3.05-3.2 log CFU/g) reduction in the total aerobic bacteria (TAB) and remained at an acceptable level during storage, while the 40 °C, 3 min MTP reduced (1.12-2 log CFU/g) of the TAB. The results of this study suggest that the 63 °C MTP and immersion in 5% vinegar increased the shelf life of the truffles without perceptible losses in quality attributes.

Isotope composition of groundwater and surface waters in the area of the Dombrovsky quarry of Kalush-Golinsk deposit of potassium salts

Enrichment of heavy isotopes of hydrogen (D, 3H) and oxygen (18О) is observed in water samples collected from open brine storage of Kalush-Golinsky deposit. The brine storage facilities were formed during the operation of the Kalush-Golynsky deposit of potassium salts and after its decommissioning. Enrichment of isotopes is also observed in groundwater samples, collected from wells located along with downstream groundwater from brine storage facilities. The analysis of levels of influence of possible sources of chemical pollution of groundwater (waters of the Dombrovsky quarry, tailings and sludge storage, salt dumps, saline soils) and correlation relationships between isotopes and groundwater mineralization have been determined by statistical processing of geochemical data.

Research on Three-Phase Saturation Distribution Based on Microfluidic Visualization Experiment: A Case Study of Ling Xin Mining Area

Flow characteristics and phase distribution of concentrated brine storage in mining area have been core factors linking to the leakage risk assessment and ecological evaluation. Notably, saturation plays a crucial role in impacting the flow characteristics and distribution of brine, while the existence of oil left by mining machines and original reservoir and gas produced from coal bed gas and air has complicated the issue. In this work, we conducted the microfluidic visualization experiments to reveal the saturation distribution during brine storage in mining area. We applied machine learning model to extract saturation data from experimental images with over 95% accuracy. Eventually, we found that the existence of gas significantly impacts on the saturation distribution in micropores accounting for more than 80% contribution. We clarified that the gas production rate of median 200 μL/min impacts the least on saturation variation. Results in this research are of significance for deeper comprehension on three-phase saturation characteristics of concentrated brine storage in mining area.

Applying the wavelet neural network to estimate hydrogen dissolution in underground sodium chloride solutions

It is possible to store large-scale hydrogen in underground sodium chloride solutions. Accurate knowledge of hydrogen-brine phase equilibrium is necessary for fully benefiting from this process and successful hydrogen storage in the underground brine. Hence, it is essential to develop a reliable method for accurately monitoring the hydrogen dissolution in brine. This study utilizes the wavelet neural network (WNN) to relate the hydrogen storage ability of brine to its main influential variables, i.e., pressure, temperature, and NaCl molality. Akaike information criterion demonstrates that a single hidden layer WNN with thirteen neurons is the most efficient topology for the given purpose. This model accurately monitors hydrogen-brine phase equilibrium with the mean squared error of 2.65 × 10−5 and regression coefficient of 0.99915. Relevancy analysis shows that temperature and pressure increase, and NaCl concertation decreases brine hydrogen storage capacity. The leverage method distinguishes 257 valid measurements and six outliers in the gathered databank.

Study on the Migration Pattern of Concentrated Brine in Underground Concentrated Brine Storage Reservoir: A Case Study in Ling Xin Mining Area

The discharge of mine water from underground coal mines in arid areas is leading to extensive water loss and secondary pollution. To eliminate the water loss and environmental pollution, sealing the concentrated brine after the mine water treatment in the underground storage and pumping the clean water to the surface for recycling are effective methods. In this study, focusing on the Ling Xin mining area, China, a coupled model of concentrated brine flow and solute transport in underground reservoir was established. The migration patterns of concentrated brine under two simulation scenarios of long-term penetration and sudden leakage were analyzed. At the same time, it also initially revealed the essence of the environmental pollution caused by the penetration and leakage of the concentrated brine in the underground concentrated brine storage reservoir. Results show that the concentrated brine would penetrate the bottom aquifer in about 60 years in long-term penetration while approximately 40 days in sudden leakage. In addition, the storage time, reservoir permeability, and groundwater head difference were important factors affecting the migration of concentrated brine, where the influence of permeability varieties was the most significant. The results of this study provide technical options for the subsequent study of the environmental risk of underground concentrated brine reservoirs and have important technical significance for the study and engineering application of underground reservoirs in arid areas.

Energy and CO2 Emissions Penalty Ranges for Geologic Carbon Storage Brine Management.

Safe and cost-effective geologic carbon storage will require active CO2 reservoir management, including brine extraction to minimize subsurface pressure accumulation. While past simulation and experimental efforts have estimated brine extraction volumes, carbon management policies must also assess the energy or emissions penalties of managing and disposing of this brine. We estimate energy and CO2 emission penalties of extracted brine management on a per tonne of CO2 stored basis by spatially integrating CO2 emissions from U.S. coal-fired electric generating units, CO2 storage reservoirs, and brine salinity data sets under several carbon and water management scenarios. We estimate a median energy penalty of 4.4-35 kWh/tonne CO2 stored, suggesting that brine management will be the largest post capture and compression energy sink in the carbon storage process. These estimates of energy demand for brine management are useful for evaluating end-uses for treated brine, assessing the cost of CO2 storage at the reservoir level, and optimizing national CO2 transport and storage infrastructure.

Hydrochemical characteristics and functions of groundwater in southern Laizhou Bay based on the multivariate statistical analysis approach

Influenced by paleoclimate, paleogeography and hydrogeology, groundwater with different total dissolved solids (TDS) levels, such as freshwater, brackish water, saline water and brine, widely occurs across southern Laizhou Bay (SLB) . Due to groundwater overexploitation, several groundwater depression cones have gradually formed since the 1970s, resulting in saline water intrusion. In this study, the multivariate statistical analysis (MSA) approach was adopted to identify the hydrochemical characteristics of shallow groundwater (SG) and deep groundwater (DG) in the SLB. Moreover, we applied Gibbs diagrams, hydrochemical facies evolution diagrams (HFE-Diagram) and ion proportion relations to analyze the factors influencing the hydrochemical characteristics. The results showed that hydrochemical zonation of the various water types (ranging from Ca-HCO3 to Na-Cl) from south to north was mainly controlled by migration and mixing of saline water with regional groundwater. Based on the MSA results and hydrochemical characteristics, SG functional areas were divided into the groundwater flow zone, intense groundwater mixing zone and groundwater-seawater interaction zone, and DG functional areas were divided into the groundwater flow zone, groundwater mixing zone and underground brine storage zone. Finally, SG and DG groundwater flow evolution models were developed . The comprehensive method proposed in this study combines the MSA approach with regional geological characteristics and provides a reference for the evaluation of complex multiaquifer systems and analysis of the groundwater evolution characteristics in other regions.

Effects of Salt/Sugar Brine Storage Solutions on Shelf Life of the Salted Atlantic Bonito

In this study, Atlantic bonito was prepared as a salted traditional fish product known as Lakerda using the combined techniques of dry salting and brine salting. The product was preserved in brine containing 15% salt according to the traditional method and was analysed by comparison with 6.5% salt (Group A) and 6.5% salt-5% sugar (Group B) containing brine in cold storage. According to sensory analysis findings, Group A could be safely consumed from cold storage for 7 weeks and Group B for 9 weeks. The international acceptable limit values for analysis findings were not exceeded in both groups. However, the chemical and microbiological analysis results of the samples stored in the salt-sugar containing brine were found to be statistically lower than the salt-containing brine. It is concluded that the application of salt-sugar brine with acceptable results in terms of product safety and sensory properties can be recommended in the preservation of lakerda.

Vibrio communities along a salinity gradient within a marine saltern hypersaline environment (Saline di Tarquinia, Italy).

Vibrio species are ubiquitous in a number of different aquatic environments and promptly adapting to environmental changes due to high genome plasticity. The presence of these bacteria in marine salterns, in relation to a salinity gradient has been not investigated yet. Moreover, it is not clear if these hypersaline environments could represent a reservoir for Vibrio spp. This work investigated, through a metagenetic approach, the distribution of Vibrio (over 2 years) in different ponds along the salinity gradient within the 'Saline di Tarquinia' salterns, considering also the adjacent coastal waters and an isolated brine storage basin (BSB). Vibrio occurrence was higher in the sea than in the ponds and BSB, where it usually represented a rare taxon (abundance <1%). In the sea, it showed abundances in-between 1%-2.6% in 8 months out of 24. Four OTUs were assigned to the Vibrio genus; except for one that was more abundant in BSB, the others were much higher in the sea. Redundancy analysis (RDA) suggested a different distribution of the OTUs in relation to water temperature and salinity. Vibrio was found, even with low abundances, at the highest salinities also, suggesting the salterns as a possible reservoir for the bacterium.

Study on the Brine Storage Design During the Engine Running in the Climatic Facility

The engine will consume a large amount of air in the climatic environment facility when the engine is running in the test. The pressure in the chamber may decrease and the temperature in the chamber will change. In order to ensure the continuity and safety of the climatic test, the jet engine make-up air unit (JMAU) will compensate the cold/heat to guarantee the continuous and effective performance of the engine start-up test. Therefore, we should design the brine storage to ensure the supply of the brine.

The diffusion of CO2-brine storage based on stochastic partial differential equations

The migration of CO2 is stochastic in heterogeneous porous media. This paper considers the CO2 diffusion with the case of steady flow in heterogeneous porous media. The partial differential equations of CO2 diffusion in random velocity field are established based on the mass conservation equations of CO2- brine two-phase flow with the change of time scale and spatial scale under the influence of heterogeneity such as permeability and porosity. The random travel process of CO2 is quantified by joint probability distributions and joint statistical moments (mean and variance), and the diffusion model of CO2 particle in random velocity field is established under the condition of non-linear and immiscibility in heterogeneous porous media. The micro mechanism of diffusion in heterogeneous porous media is revealed by numerical simulation. The general conclusion of steady state flow of CO2 diffusion in heterogeneous porous media was verified by simulating Sleipner CO2-brine storage in Norway.

Potential for brine storage near the gas storage facility at Lille Torup, northern Jylland, Denmark

This study is based on a feasibility study for the Danish Energinet. dk to identify potential formations for brine storage near the gas storage facility at Lille Torup, northern Jylland, Denmark (Fig. 1; Hjuler et al. 2017). Located on top of a salt structure, the gas storage facility comprises seven caverns, which have been washed out by circulating water in the salt dome. One cavern contains c. 520.000 m3 of intrusive brine that must be disposed of in order to increase the storage volume for gas. One option is to inject the brine into the subsurface if a target with appropriate storage properties can be identified, but it is a prerequisite that the stored brine does not compromise freshwater reservoirs. Due to cost considerations, the brine storage should be situated within a radius of 50 km of the gas storage facility and at a depth not exceeding 2000 m. Based on the national geothermal research conducted during the last decade, a number of sandy formations are considered potential storage reservoirs (Fig. 2; e.g. Mathiesen et al. 2009; Vosgerau et al. 2016). Around Lille Torup, these include the Bunter Sandstone/Skagerrak, Gassum, Haldager Sand and Frederikshavn formations where the two former formations are discarded due to present-day burial depths exceeding 2000 m. In addition, the Chalk Group is considered a potential storage formation due to its importance as a hydrocarbon reservoir in the North Sea, however, due to risk of leakage to the younger sediments and risk of environmental issues, the chalk was discarded as potential storage zone.

Porosity Distribution Characteristics and Geological Analysis of Brine Storage Medium in the Qaidam Basin, Western China

Underground brine is an unusual water resource that contains abundant mineral resources. It is distributed widely in the Qaidam Basin, western China, a hyperarid inland basin located in the northern Tibetan Plateau. Pores in the brine storage medium act as storage space and transmission channels of underground brine. Therefore, the porosity of brine storage medium determines its ability to store brine. In this study, Mahai Salt Lake was used as the research area as a modern saline lake located in the north area of the Qaidam Basin. A total of 100 porosity samples were collected from eight sampling points in two profiles of the research area at sampling depths of 1.30–314.78 m. The porosity distribution characteristics and influencing factors in brine storage medium were analysed according to the measured porosity data. Based on analysis of the pore structure characteristics, the brine storage medium contains intercrystalline pores, unlike conventional freshwater storage mediums. Moreover, the primary salt rock is susceptible to dissolution by lighter brine, facilitating the formation of secondary porosity. Due to the formation of secondary pores, a porosity greater than 20% remains even at buried depths greater than 100 m. Based on the geological statistical analysis, due to the geographic location, salt formation time, and depositional environment, the porosity values of Mahai Salt Lake do not exhibit a wider distribution, but also show more extreme values than a nearby salt lake. Based on the porosity characteristics by depth, due to the presence of secondary pores, flooding, stratigraphic static pressure, and other factors, porosity shows fluctuations with increasing depth.

Potassium-rich brine deposit in Lop Nor basin, Xinjiang, China

Lop Nor potash deposit is the largest sulfate-type liquid potassium salt deposit in China, consisting of three areas: Xinqing platform, Luobei depression, and Tenglong platform. In this study, the geological background, basin structure, and fracture system of the deposit, along with the brine storage size of the three ore bodies are introduced in detail, using underground brine elevation models of the mining areas. We collected 91 samples of brine from long-term observation boreholes in the Lop Nor ore district, and analyzed their ion contents. The KCl content of the brine varies from 1% to 1.45% and that of B2O3 varies from 1900 to 4500 mg/L, which are higher than the cut-off for Chinese industrial mining grades. The spatial distributions of KCl and B2O3 contents in different ore beds were plotted, and the distributions of different grades of K+ and B3+ were revealed.