Sustainability Evaluation of the Al-Qasab Playa by Integrating Hydrogeochemical and Graphical, ArcGIS Watershed, and Thermodynamic Geochemical Modeling Approaches

Hassan E. Gomaa (), Fatma A. Gomaa, Sami M. Abdel Azeem and Abdullah A. Alotaibi ()
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Hassan E. Gomaa: Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Ad-Dawadmi 11911, Saudi Arabia
Fatma A. Gomaa: Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Ad-Dawadmi 11911, Saudi Arabia
Sami M. Abdel Azeem: Water Research Group, College of Science and Humanities at Ad-Dawadmi, Shaqra University, Ad-Dawadmi 11911, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah A. Alotaibi: Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Ad-Dawadmi 11911, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 5, 1-26

Abstract: Drawing development plans requires evaluating the available resources and assessing their sustainable and subsequent utilization-driven environmental impacts. The current work is concerned with evaluating the sustainability of the halite harvesting process from Al-Qasab Playa, Shaqra, Central Saudi Arabia. The authors integrated, conceptually and quantitatively, ArcGIS-processed SRTM-DEM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission-Digital Elevation Model) data, hydrogeochemical and thermodynamic-based geochemical modelling, and graphical approaches to achieve the ultimate aims of the study. The watershed is identified as a nonmarine closed basin with a drainage area of 1290 km 2 , with the slope controlling recharge to the Playa. The Chadha plot including the rainwater exhibits linear regression, with an R 2 value of 0.9947, confirming the rainwater origin of the Playa water. The hardness-forming ions are primarily removed in pond 3, eliminating the need for costly and power-consuming steps of softening with ion exchange resins or nanofiltration as it can be used directly as a readily available feed for the chlor-alkali process for producing NaOH, Cl 2 , and H 2 gases through electrolysis. XRD (X-ray diffraction) analysis and the SEM-EDS (Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) of the harvested halite confirmed its purity. An improved design of the current folkloric harvesting process has been proposed based on the saturation indices calculated thermodynamically to provide a readily available feed intake for the electrolysis chlor-alkali process with or without minimal pretreatment to produce higher value chemicals. The methodological aspects presented here are deemed robust and valid for applications in other study areas, including the assessment of the exploitation of the rejected brine from the desalination plants to achieve the zero liquid discharge approach, as well as other types of sabkhas, regardless of their geographical location.

Keywords: Inland Playa; salt marches; evaporation; Saudi Arabia; halite harvesting; PhreeqC; brines; watershed (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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