Archive

Current issues:

Online version of the journal

Select viewing options

Aerobic hydrocarbon degradation in cold acidic soils: genomic profiling of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria

A.D. Moshkin, O.V. Ohlopkova, L.S. Adamenko, A.V. Glushkov, A.Yu. Alekseev, R. Abdinov, A.A. Gadzhiev, A.M. Shestopalov

Section: Remediation and rehabilitation

The objective of this work is to conduct a comprehensive study of the microflora of northern soils in permafrost regions, select psychrophilic and acidophilic strains that degrade petroleum products, and perform whole-genome sequencing of the isolated bacteria to identify the key genetic determinants of their biodegradation activity. The whole-genome sequences of six strains (Glutamicibacter creatinolyticus GAV-1, Lysinibacillus capsici 5a-1, Serratia fonticola 16a-1/24-1/DEST-2, Sporosarcina psychrophila 5b-1) isolated from oil-contaminated soils (6 samples). Phylogenetic positioning based on 16S rRNA confirmed the classification of the isolates into known species and the absence of significant taxonomic novelty. Comparison of proteomes with the HADEG database using Proteinortho/DIAMOND revealed a sharp stratification of oil-oxidizing potential: three S. fonticola strains were found to have 19 HADEG genes per genome (alkane, aromatic, and biosurfactant modules), while G. creatinolyticus GAV-1 had 17 genes related only to aromatic catabolism; S. psychrophila 5b-1 had 4 aromatic genes; L. capsici 5a-1 had 1 aromatic gene. The ortho pathway (7 genes) dominated the aromatic profile of GAV-1, with additional subpathways (phenylacetic acid, homoprotocatechuate, catechol, toluene). Even within phylogenetically “normal” taxa, significantly different oil-oxidizing functions are formed; S. fonticola are candidates for the role of “universal” destructors, while G. creatinolyticus is likely specialized in the processing of aromatic intermediate metabolites, and S. psychrophila and L. capsici may perform auxiliary functions in cold acidic soil consortia.

Keywords: bioremediation, oil-contaminated soils, whole-genome sequencing, 16S rRNA, aerobic degradation of hydrocarbons, Hydrocarbon Aerobic Degradation Database (HADEG)

Article published in number 3 for 2026
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2026-3-164-172

Environmental and economic efficiency of small-scale methanol production based on syngas generators

A.M. Kuzmin, E.M. Gashevskiy

Section: Ecologization of industry

The paper addresses the problem of methanol supply to remote oil and gas fields. It is shown that the traditional transportation scheme involves high environmental risks due to potential spills and pollution. As an alternative, the development of mobile small-scale methanol production units based on non-catalytic partial oxidation of methane in a syngas generator (SGG) is proposed. The results of numerical simulation of in-chamber processes for methanol capacity of 5000 t/year are presented. It is established that optimization of the mixing head allows achieving methane combustion efficiency of 99.2 % without soot formation and with minimal residual methane. Based on life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, the carbon footprint was calculated. It is shown that on-site methanol production reduces specific green house gas emissions by 40–58 % compared with centralized production and transportation over a distance of 2000–5000 km. The results of a techno-economic assessment for capacities of 2500–10000 t/year are presented, including CAPEX, OPEX, production cost, IRR, NPV and payback period. A systematic analysis of environmental and technological risks of SGG implementation, including fire and explosion hazards, with justification of mitigation measures, has been performed. It is concluded that the implementation of SGG-based units significantly reduces the environmental pressure in remote areas by eliminating long-distance hazardous cargo transportation and decreasing green house gas emissions.

Keywords: syngas, methanol, small-scale production, gas generator, partial oxidation, environmental risks, numerical simulation, emissions, associated petroleum gas, carbon footprint, scaling

Article published in number 3 for 2026
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2026-3-141-153

Development of a method for the simultaneous determination of fatty and phenolic acids – valuable secondary metabolites of rowan berries (Sorbus L.)

N.E. Veber, I.V. Gruzdev, O.G. Shevchenko, O.V. Skrotskaya

Section: Methodology and research methods. Models and forecasts

Rowanberry fruits (Sorbus L.) are well known for their nutritional and medicinal properties, some of which are directly related to their high content of organic acids. The antioxidant activity of rowan fruits is associated with phenolic carboxylic acids, while the biological value of their lipid complex is determined by the presence of essential ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids. An extraction-chromatographic method was developed to separate the higher carboxylic and phenolic acids in plant raw material. This method allows complete separation of these two classes of organic acids during the analytical cycle. The acids identification and quantification are performed using gas chromatography with a mass-selective or flame-ionization detector (GC-MS/FID). The method was tested on the fruits of Sorbus various species and cultivars, which are widely represented in the scientific collection of the Botanical Garden of the Institute of Biology at the Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Using GC-MS, 18 fatty acids and 7 phenolic acids were identified in the extracts of rowan fruits. A comparative assessment of the antioxidant activity of extracts from rowan fruits of different species and cultivars was carried out. We identify samples (S. aucuparia subsp. pohuashanensis) that combine high content of ferulic and caffeic acids with pronounced antioxidant activity. The developed method for determining organic acids in plant raw material can be recommended for supporting the breeding process and targeted selection of plants for phytopharmaceuticals and dietary supplements production.

Keywords: fatty acids, phenolic acids, Sorbus L., gas chromatography, antioxidant activity

Article published in number 3 for 2026
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2026-3-065-078

Stripping voltammetric deterction of antioxidants by the degree of reduction in the peak area of hydrogen peroxide

A.I. Fokina, M.A. Zaitsev, S.S. Kozachok, M.Yu. Kukhno

Section: Methodology and research methods. Models and forecasts

Currently the oxidative stress theory is a key to explaining the mechanisms of negative environmental impacts on human health. This led to growing interest in studying the antioxidant properties of various food products, dietary supplements, and pharmaceuticals. Plant-based materials and products are of particular focus. Plants that have long established themselves as sources of valuable biologically active compounds, including those with antioxidant properties, grow on the territory of the Kirov Oblast. Such plants include various species of conifers and Hippophae rhamnoides L. Electrochemical methods, particularly stripping voltammetry deserve priority attention as they allow simulation of conditions close to those in a living organism. The aim of this work was to study the possibility of detecting antioxidants (AOs) in a phosphate buffer solution (pH = 6.8) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide using a rotating disk electrode. The metrological characteristics of the method for AOs detecting in ethanol solutions were established by the standard addition method based on the degree of reduction of the hydrogen peroxide peak on the voltammogram after AOs addition. The obtained data and proposed methodological approaches can be useful in environmental studies of the antioxidant activity of various plant objects and in the interpretation of results, since they allow to assess both the value of the raw material as a source of AOs and various factors affecting the plants state.

Keywords: antioxidants, polyphenols, stripping voltammetry, extracts, coniferous plants, Hippophae rhamnoides L.

Article published in number 3 for 2026
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2026-3-048-053

On the application of artificial intelligence and large language models in soil and environmental research: a review

N.A. Bokov, I.G. Shirokikh

Section: Theoretical problems of ecology

In recent years, scientific research has seen the rapid development of methods based on artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs), which are capable of processing and interpreting significant volumes of text and structured information, including tables, numerical and categorical data, and sensor data and other heterogeneous information, using specialized and multimodal AI systems. Soil ecology, as a field characterized by the rapid accumulation of heterogeneous data, including the results of metagenomic analyses of soil microbiomes, can potentially benefit significantly from the application of such tools. The aim of this review is to identify, analyze, and summarize current approaches to the use of AI and LLM technologies in soil and environmental research. The review examines the main areas of AI application, including scientific literature search and analysis, semantic search for relevant publications, citation mapping, text summarization, and the use of generative AI assistants. Particular attention is paid to the application of AI methods in the analysis of soil microbiomes and to the potential use of metagenomic data for predicting soil fertility and agricultural productivity. The challenges associated with adapting AI methods originally developed for biomedical research to the specific characteristics of soil and environmental datasets are also considered. The key advantages of these approaches, their limitations, and potential methodological risks, including those related to data quality and the reliability of AI-generated information, are discussed. Despite the need for further improvement and optimization of currently available AI and LLM technologies, the literature review demonstrates their significant potential for advancing soil and environmental research and supporting practical applications in agriculture.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, neural networks, machine learning, large language models, microbial ecology, soil microbiome, metagenomics, agricultural production

Article published in number 3 for 2026
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2026-3-017-030

Comprehensive assessment of drinking water quality at water intake sites

T.V. Shevkunova, S.S. Katin, E.N. Patova

Section: Chemistry of natural environments and objects

The aim of this work is a comprehensive assessment of the Vychegda River water quality at the sites of Syktyvkar water intake facilities (Station 1 – Krasnaya Gora and Station 2 – Ezhvinskiy District). The study is based on data from a two-year (2022–2023) monthly monitoring program conducted at two stations located in the areas of active water intakes. The main hydrochemical (pH, color, turbidity, total dissolved solids, hardness, BOD₅, COD, total Fe, Mn, Zn, As, Al, Pb, pesticides, phenols, formaldehyde, Cl^–, SO₄^2–, F^–) and microbiological (total coliform bacteria, TCB) parameters were analyzed. The river’s hydrochemical regime has pronounced seasonal dynamics, with peak values of color, turbidity, and organic indicators (COD) during the spring flood period. The river water is classified as low-mineralized. A key finding is the identification of consistent exceedance of hygienic standards (maximum permissible concentrations, MPC) for total Fe (up to 2.7 mg/dm³) and Mn (up to 0.9 mg/dm³) throughout the studied section at both stations, as well as periodic significant exceedance for color (up to 160°), COD (up to 58 mgO₂/dm³), and microbiological indicators (TCB up to 700 CFU/100 cm³). The obtained data indicate that the main deterioration in water quality is due to natural factors (humic runoff, metal leaching); however, the identified spatial differences point to the presence of localized anthropogenic impacts. It is concluded that a differentiated approach to water treatment at the intakes is necessary, with mandatory removal of Fe, Mn, and organic compounds, as well as enhanced control during the flood period.

Keywords: water quality, drinking water supply, surface water, hydrochemical parameters, MPC exceedance, water monitoring

<a href="./../upload/1002_1_tabl.pdf " target="_blank">View additional file</a>

Article published in number 3 for 2026
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2026-3-105-112

Resorcinol adsorption onsapropel-based sorbents

I.V. Zykova, V.A. Isakov, N.M. Mishina, Ya.N. Manurikov

Section: Chemistry of natural environments and objects

Comprehensive wastewater treatment from various pollutants is an urgent problem, and the development of new sorbents is of great scientific and practical importance. Sorbents based on sapropel were obtained: thermally oxidized sapropel, humic acids isolated from sapropel, thermally oxidized sapropel modified with humic acids, organomineral composite material based on thermally oxidized sapropel and bentonite. Resorcinol adsorption from model solutions with concentrations from 1 · 10^-5 to 1 · 10^-2mol/dm³ onsapropel-based sorbents was carried out under static conditions at a ratio of 1 g of sorbent per 200 cm3 of solution. It is shown that the limiting stage of resorcinol adsorption onsapropel-based sorbents is mixed diffusion. The adsorption theories of Langmuir, Freundlich, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and Dubinin–Radradkevich are applicable to describe the resorcinol adsorption onsapropel-based sorbents. Taking into account the values of the activation energy and thermodynamic parameters of resorcinol adsorption, the obtained sapropel-based sorbents can be considered as the mechanism of resorcinol adsorption on the surface and physical adsorption due to volumetric filling of micro- and mesopores, as well as cavities. Resorcinol can also form covalent and hydrogen bonds with silicate and aluminosilicate groups, and hydrogen bonds with amino groups with sapropel-based sorbents. Therefore, it is quite difficult to separate the contribution of physical adsorption and possible chemical interactions of functional groups of sapropel-based sorbents with resorcinol. Limiting values of resorcinol adsorption onsapropel-based sorbents calculated by the BET equation (0.25–1.00 mmol/ g) and the Dubinin–Radushkevich equation (0.52–2.60 mmol/g), comparable to other developed sorbents.

Keywords: adsorption, thermally oxidized sapropel, humic acids, bentonite clay, modified sorbent, resorcinol

Article published in number 3 for 2026
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2026-3-113-122

Copper toxicity to Ceriodaphnia dubia Richard, 1894 under increased mineralization and high organic matter content

A.M. Sheromov, R.A. Lozhkina, A.S. Olkova

Section: Ecotoxicology

The variability in toxicity of the same hazardous substance across different environments due to the influence of additional factors is a key challenge in bioassay. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of water mineralization and organic matter content on copper toxicity to the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia Richard, 1894. Test organisms were exposed to waters amended with CuSO₄·5H₂O (0.005, 0.01 and 0.025 mg/L Cu2+). Sodium chloride (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/L) and potassium humate (0.5, 1.0 and 2.5 %) were added to the above solutions to assess the effect of mineralization and organic matter. The effect of mineralization on copper toxicity was twofold. A moderate increase in mineralization (0.5 g/L NaCl) significantly reduced copper toxicity, as evidenced by decreased ^{C. dubia} mortality at 0.005 and 0.025 mg/L Cu²⁺ (p < 0.05). Conversely, high mineralization (2.0 g/L NaCl) combined with a high copper content (0.025 mg/L) resulted in 100 % mortality. Furthermore, C. dubia fertility showed a consistent negative correlation with increasing mineralization. Organic matter addition reduces mortality and enhances reproductive output in C. dubia. This effect was most pronounced at the highest Cu²⁺ concentration (0.025 mg/L). Specifically, Ceriodaphnia brood size in treatments supplemented with 0.5 %, 1 % and 2.5 % potassium humate was 6.9, 6.7 and 3.2 times higher than in the corresponding control, respectively.

Keywords: copper, sodium chloride, potassium humate, mineralization, organic matter, combined effect of substances, bioassay, aquatic environment, Ceriodaphnia dubia

Article published in number 3 for 2026
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2026-3-184-190

Evaluation of environment-forming functions of wetland ecosystems in the Altai State Nature Biosphere Reserve

E.P. Chertkova, D.G. Zamolodchikov

Section: Monitoring of natural and anthropogenically disturbed areas

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems, providing a wide range of regulating services, among which the water purification function plays a key role in maintaining the hydrological regime of territories. However, the economic value of these services for protected areas remains insufficiently studied. The aim of this work is to determine the economic value of the water purification function of the mire ecosystems in the Altai State Natural Biosphere Reserve (ASNBR). The work is based on a comparative assessment of the ecological and economic efficiency of natural and technological water treatment systems. The object of the study is the mire ecosystems of the ASNBR, covering a total area of 3,299 hectares. During the 2024 field season, in situ hydrochemical studies were conducted to determine the quality of water entering the mire systems and formed after filtration through them. The closed-cycle treatment plant “Veksa-20-M” was selected as a technological analogue, ensuring water purification to fishery reservoir standards, which corresponds to the target water quality at the outlet of the mire ecosystems. Cost calculations for the technological system were performed considering the full life cycle of the equipment (capital costs, depreciation, operating expenses). The filtration volume of the mires was determined based on their area, specific filtration capacity (685 m3/ha/day), and the duration of the frost-free period (121 days). Hydrochemical studies confirmed that the water quality at the outlet of the mire systems meets fishery standards: suspended solids content is 2–6 mg/L, nitrate concentration is 0.2–2.1 mg/L. The total annual volume of water filtered by the ASNBR mire ecosystems reached 273.4 million m³. The unit cost of water treatment using the technological analogue, considering its full life cycle, was determined to be 1.35 rubles/m³. The economic equivalent of the mires’ water purification function is estimated at 369 million rubles/year. Comparative analysis revealed that, with comparable final treatment quality, the natural system is 430 times more productive than the technological one, requires no capital investment, is energy-independent, and, unlike the industrial plant, generates no toxic waste. For the first time, a quantitative assessment of the water purification function has been performed for the mire ecosystems of the ASNBR, based on a comparison with a technological analogue considering its full

Keywords: ecosystem services, filtering capacity, wetlands, specially protected areas, economic valuation, natural capital, water purification functions

Link

Article published in number 3 for 2026
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2026-3-095-104

Greenhouse gases fluxes from (sub) tropical blue carbon ecosystems: a review

G.D. Vatutin, E.A. Filimonenko

Section: Theoretical problems of ecology

Blue carbon ecosystems are crucial for global carbon cycle. Fluxes of methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) from subtropical and tropical coastal wetlands revealed that these ecosystems act as net sources, with mean emission rates of 187 ± 19 mg CO₂/m²/h, 7.6 ± 1.0 mg CH4/m²/h, and 0.13 ± 0.05 mg N₂O/m²/h. Greenhouse gas emission rates decrease with increasing water salinity and soil pH shifts towards acidic or alkaline values. In subtropical coastal wetlands, lower both soil temperatures and organic matter content during the winter decrease emission rates of carbon dioxide and methane. In subtropical coastal wetlands lower both soil temperatures and organic matter content during the winter decrease emission rates of carbon dioxide and methane. In the tropical zone, high emission of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide are observed during the dry season, whereas methane emissions peak during the wet season. Coastal wetlands located in tropical monsoon climates exhibit significantly higher carbon dioxide and methane emissions compared to those in tropical rainforest (constantly humid) and tropical savanna (seasonally humid) climate types. Among coastal wetland ecosystems in the tropics and subtropics, freshwater marshes and coastal swamps are characterized by the highest emission rates of climatically active gases.

Keywords: climate-active gases, coastal wetlands, tropics, subtropics

Article published in number 3 for 2026
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2026-3-006-016

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 next