Strengthening of carbon sorbents by the introduction of mineral additives
E.S. Ushakova, L.V. Solovyova, A.G. Ushakov
Section: Ecologization of industry
The existing methods of strengthening carbon sorbents are considered, the method of introducing mineral additives
is analyzed in detail. The research was carried out on carbon sorbents made on the basis of carbon-containing waste: sawdust and excess active sludge of biological treatment facilities. Mineral additives were added to the sorbent at the mixture
preparation stage, after which the mixture was granulated. Preparing granules were dried and pyrolyzed at 600–650 о
C.
Hot sorbent were cooled to 200 о
C by inert gas (CO2
) and air to room temperature. The introduction of mineral additives
in an amount of 4% by weight of the mixture, had a significant influence on the properties of sorbents: a 2-fold increase
in the ash content and the density of the sorbents, because of increasing content of mineral impurities (calcium oxide,
silica, alumina, iron and magnesium oxides), which have the relative dense lattice structure. Сompressive strength rose
from 0.40 to 1.02 kg per granule due to the content of tricalcium silicate (for cement) and kaolinite (for clay) increasing.
The moisture sorption decreased from 2.1 to 0.54 g/g for sorbent with cement and to 0.03 g/g for clay.
The introduction of cement and clay in the sorbent composition in an amount of 4% by weight of the mixture greatly
increases their strength, which can solve the problem of their destruction during water treatment, the collection of oilproducts and transportation, reduces the moisture sorption. It is necessary for collecting oil-products from water surface.
But at the same time, the oil capacity of the sorbent decreases to 2.1 g/g for sorbent with cement and to 1.55 g/g for
clay. The further research will be aimed at studying ways to increase the sorption capacity of hardened sorbents (modification with organic functional groups; demineralization with acid treatment and so on).
Article published in number 1 for 2022 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2022-1-129-133
Views: 12
Assessment of snow cover pollution in urban ecosystems of the Kola North in the zone of influence of railway branches
N.V. Saltan, Е.А. Sviatkovskaya, N.N. Trostenyuk
Section: Monitoring of natural and anthropogenically disturbed areas
The chemical composition (pH, the content of the principal cations and anions, Ni, Cu, Pb, Fe) of snow cover on the territory of railway stations in the cities of the Murmansk region (Murmansk, Olenegorsk, Apatity, Polyarnye Zori, Kandalaksha) and in the background area was first studied. The snow sampling was carried out from late March to early April 2019 at a distance of 3–6 m from the railway track. It has been revealed that the acidity of urban melt water corresponded to weakly acidic and neutral values. Compared to the melt water of background territories, the concentrations of ions such as Na+, Са2+, НСО3-, Cl- significantly were increased, especially in Murmansk and Olenegorsk. Two forms of the presence of heavy metal (dissolved and solid) in the snow were analyzed. It has been established that metals during the winter period were received to the atmosphere mainly in solid form, which indicates the technogenic origin of their sources of supply. The highest proportion of solid phase is typical for Fe (>98%). Ecological and geochemical indicators (values of the concentration coefficients, the total contamination index - Zc) of snow pollution were considered. It has been found that the total concentrations of elements of hazard classes 1(Pb) and 2 (Ni, Cu) are 3–28 times higher than background values. According to the total contamination index, railway station territories of the cities Polyarnye Zori (Zc=19), Apatity (Zc=25), Kandalaksha (Zc=28) were characterized by a low level of pollution, Murmansk (Zc=77) – medium, Olenegorsk (Zc=183) – high (due to the functioning of the iron ore concentrate production plant). It has been shown that railway transport contributes to the entry into the atmosphere of solved forms of heavy metals, mainly Fe.
Keywords: snow cover pollution, urban ecosystem, railway transport, Kola North.
Article published in number 1 for 2022 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2022-1-078-083
Views: 28
The influence of modern climate warming on the water flow and major ion flux of the Northern Dvina
A.O. Danilenko, A.G. Geоrgiadi
Section: Monitoring of natural and anthropogenically disturbed areas
Modern global warming has changed the water flow in the basins of the Arctic rivers. It’s manifested in the alternation of relatively long phases of increased and decreased water flow. In turn, water runoff variations could change the
major ions flux of rivers of this region. In this regard, the goal of the work was a quantitative assessment of the modern
warming impact on the annual and seasonal water flow and ion flux of the Northern Dvina river at Ust’-Pinega vlg.
during 1947–2016 years considering the separation of this period into relatively cold (1947–1988) and relatively warm
(1989–2016). Climatic periods were determined by the cumulative deviation curves of annual and winter air temperature
in basin. The ions flux was calculated using close statistically significant relationships between observed concentration
and daily water discharges. It was shown that modern climate warming increased the annual and seasonal water flow
by 3–15%. The most noticeable increase of major ions flux was observed in winter. The scale of ion flux changes is less
noticeable than water flow changes. Statistically significant increase of ion flux was also revealed only in the winter,
which is associated with growth of the flow of relatively more mineralized waters. In general, the homeostasis of the
geochemical load on the White Sea by the Northern Dvina regardless of its water flow fluctuations, is determined by the
inverse relationship between water flow and chemical concentration.
Keywords: the Northern Dvina river, water flow, ion flux, climate warming
Section: Monitoring of natural and anthropogenically disturbed areas
The role of Cambisol soil microparticles as possible storage of heavy metals able to mass-transfer in the Azov sea – Black sea basin and the Baltic sea basin environments was studied. The physical and chemical properties of soils, content and distribution features of elements in soil profiles have been defined. The studied soils are in the mountain (Caucasian Natural Reserve) and plain (Polistovsky Natural Reserve) soil-forming conditions. In mountainous territory the higher content of trace elements Pb, As, Cu, Co, Zn, V and macroelements were set up, and enhanced microelemental values in textural horizon and parent rock were defined. The influence of parent rock and particle size distribution on elemental accumulation and allocation within the profiles of studied soils have been observed. In soils of the plain territory the lithological heterogeneity of soil profiles with the elemental value increasing in underlying deposits were indicated. In the mountain area the significance of the relief for the character of profile distribution of elements was set up. It was diagnosed more marked transformation of primary minerals in the brown forest soils of the mountainous territory, and the movement of silty particles without the mineral mass changing in ones of the plain. The obtained content of Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Cr, Mn, Co, Sr, V in the studied soil could be used to define these ingredients regional background values and levels of their emission as a result of the water and wind erosion. The clarks of concentration and clarks of dispersion of elements were calculated and the geochemical specters were constructed.
Keywords: burozems, particle size, micro- and macroelements, content, distribution
Article published in number 1 for 2022 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2022-1-070-077
Views: 23
Structure and productivity of herbaceous plant communities of the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe
N.A. Kononova
Section: Monitoring of natural and anthropogenically disturbed areas
Forest-steppes zone was often regarded as a passing zone between the forest and steppe types. However, floristic studies conducted in recent years made it possible to identify the forest-steppe as an independent type with characteristic structural features of vegetation cover. On the example of secondary by origin herbaceous plant communities of the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe (the South of Middle Siberia, left Bank of the Yenisei river, 56°35´12´´N, 93°01´20´´E), their structural organization and dynamics of accumulation of aboveground phytomass during the growing season are shown. The formation of grass stand depends on the type and intensity of anthropogenic influence. On the territory of the research, the zonal upland meadow of the Bromus inermis (Leyss) Holub + heteroherbae association was identified as the leading plant community. On the southern slopes, the meadow-steppe Stipa pennata L. + heteroherbae association is noted. The analysis of the species composition of the study area showed that almost the whole territory belongs to long-fallow lands of the late recovery stage. It is indicated by the dominance of the terminal species of meadow steppes Bromus inermis, as well as the absence of weed species among the dominants. At the beginning of September, due to active development of high grasses in the upland meadow, the maximum productivity of green and dry mass for the season is formed, which is 224.8 and 111.9 g/m2, respectively. In the feather grass meadow steppe, the maximum productivity 338 g/m2 was recorded in June. The structure of phytomass is simple. The predominant botanical groups are cereals and various grasses. Introduction of forest species (Anemone sylvestris L.) and shrubs (Rosa acicularis Lindl.) indicates the restoration of zonal vegetation, as by decrease of the anthropogenic pressure, conditions for formation of productive meadow communities, and for further reforestation, occur.
Keywords: forest-steppe; productivity; species composition; phytomass structure
Article published in number 1 for 2022 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2022-1-091-096
Views: 18
The use of carbonate sludge for cleaning karst Lake Bol’shoye Goluboye
L.A. Nikolaeva, R.Ya. Iskhakova
Section: Problems of environmental protection
The technology for cleaning lake Bol’shoye Goluboe (Russian Federation, Republic of Tatarstan) with carbonate sludge, a waste of water treatment generated at thermal power plants is proposed. Inadequate water works, that are held on Bol’shoye Goluboe lake had a strong anthropogenic impact. The destruction of habitats and representatives of aquatic vegetation and benthic organisms themselves, as well as a change in the chemical composition of water are the consequences of the negative impact. The article presents experimental results of Bol’shoye Goluboe lake’s waters in the values changings of total hardness, permanganate oxidizability, concentration of sulfates, iron, pH value, biological oxygen demand five days (BOD5) over 20 years. The surface introduction of carbonate sludge into the lake’s water will allow changing the chemical composition of the water by neutralizing the acidified waters of the lake. It will entail the restoration of the natural flora and fauna of the lake’s waters. The sorption capacity of the sludge with respect to various impurities was also established. It allows to increase the efficiency of the natural biological treatment and the adsorption cleaning of the lake from various impurities.
The article presents a toxicological assessment of waters containing carbonate sludge on the basis of water quality express control for acute lethal toxicity of the fish species Poecillia reticulata Pet. and crustaceans Daphnia magna Str. Based on the results of the conducted biotesting, it was found that the water extract of the sludge does not have an acute toxic effect on fish and crustaceans of these species. The sludge is proposed to be introduced into the lake by surface application using two-disc spreaders. According to the results of the studies, the prevented environmental damage to the reservoir of Bol’shoye Goluboe lake will amount to 390.6 thousand rubles / year.
Keywords: purification of natural waters, carbonate sludge, alkalization of waters, sorption material, calcareous material.
Article published in number 1 for 2022 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2022-1-109-114
Views: 12
Climate modeling of the potential distribution area of Pulsatilla turczaninovii Kryl. et Serg. (Ranunculaceae) in Eurasia
V.F. Zaykov, V.Vaganov, A.I. Shmakov
Section: Population ecology
Pulsatilla turczaninovii Kryl. et Serg. is an early flowering, ornamental plant species collected actively by people. Due to the medicinal properties of the species, the raw material is used in traditional medicine. In this regard, P. turczaninovii is rare and is listed in some regional Red Data Books of the Russian Federation. A study of the funds of the leading Eurasian Herbaria (LE, MW, B, VLA, NS (NSK), ALTB, PE), special literary sources and personal observations of the authors in nature made it possible to detail the current distribution area of the species. P. turczaninovii occupies the territory of Western and Eastern Siberia, the Far East, China and Mongolia, without going beyond the borders of North Asia. The potential area of P. turczaninovii was obtained using the climate modeling method based on the data of the modern distribution of the species and eight bioclimatic variables (screening of correlating variables was done in the SDMtoolbox application) in the MaxEnt program. According to the AUC index of the test sample, the predictive model showed high quality of the result interpretation. The AUC value was 0.879 ± 0.016. The permutation test revealed the factors with the greatest influence on the distribution of P. turczaninovii. The most important factors were: BIO1 (32.5 %) – an average annual temperature, BIO12 (21.9 %) – an average annual precipitation, BIO15 (16.1 %) – a precipitation seasonality, BIO19 (11.5 %) – a precipitation of the coldest quarter, the lowest factor was BIO8 (0.4 %) – an average temperature of the wettest quarter.
Keywords: climate, distribution area, Herbarium, rare species
Article published in number 1 for 2022 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2022-1-140-144
Views: 18
Ecological aspects of contamination of recreational areas with animal excrement
I.N. Lykov, S.A. Kusacheva, V.K. Ilyin
Section: Social ecology
The accumulation of dog feces on city streets and recreation due to the habit of dog owners not to clean dog excrement
can be a serious environmental problem and adversely affect public health. Dog feces contain intestinal nematodes and
microorganisms that are pathogenic to humans and animals. In an urban environment, favorable conditions are created
for the infection of people and animals in contact with contaminated soil and sand in sandboxes. The purpose of this study
was to assess the extent of parasitic and microbial contamination of soils and sandboxes located in residential areas of the
city of Kaluga (Russia). Over the past 19 years, there has been an increase in the number of cats (by 15,060 individuals)
and dogs (by 26,550 individuals) in the city of Kaluga, which are carriers of Toxocara. We have studied 180 soil and sand
samples in various areas of the city. The pollution of soil and sand with Toxocara eggs has been reported in areas with high
population density, including playgrounds and kindergarten areas. The percentage of soil pollution of the boulevards by
Toxocara eggs is 4.9 times higher than the pollution of sandboxes and 1.9 times higher than the pollution of lawns. Most
often, mold fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor, Fusarium, Cladosporium, Candida, Alternaria, and Rhizopus
were sown from the soils of lawns and boulevards. Bacterial microflora is represented by Clostridium, Enterococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella and Micrococcus. The average number of microorganisms isolated from soil and sand samples
varied in the range from 1.5 to 3.0 million CFU per 1 g. The presence of micrococci and spores of the cladosporium fungi
characteristic of canine feces microbiome was revealed in the atmosphere of various districts of the city. This may be due to
contamination of the city territory with feces of dogs, which are one of the sources of bacterial pollution of the atmosphere.
Section: Chemistry of natural environments and objects
The subject of the article is to improve the method for determining the content of dissolved organic carbon (DOC)
in seawater by high-temperature catalytic oxidation. The studies were carried out with the help of an elemental analyzer
with infrared C-NDIR detector. The model solutions and samples of Barents sea water were used as objects of study.
We proposed NaCl water solution as a blank sample in order to determine the dissolved organic carbon content in the
seawater with mass concentration range equal to 10–250 mgC/dm3
. The salinity of NaCl solution is equal to the salinity
of the analyzed sample. We proposed to use the standard solutions with fixed salinity in order to build the calibration
dependency for determination of dissolved carbon with concentration up to 10 mg/dm3
. The application of this approach
reduces the error of determination of dissolved carbon in seawater from 20 to 7%. The proposed modification of the
technique allows to determine the content of DOC with a salinity of 35 g/dm3
with a relative measurement error up to
7%. A series of seawater samples from the Barents Sea was analyzed. The obtained values of the organic carbon content
were from 1.60 to 4.20 mg/dm3
. Low concentrations of dissolved organic carbon are observed in places corresponding
to the occurrence of less warm Atlantic water masses or Arctic and Barents Sea waters. In the southern part of Barents
Sea, the maximum carbon concentrations are mainly due to the high productivity of the coastal waters coming from the
continental drain and flowing from the Norwegian Sea with the coastal current along the coast of Norway.
Keywords: total organic carbon, sea water, elemental analysis, catalytic oxidation
Article published in number 1 for 2022 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2022-1-097-101
Views: 16
Purification of model waters from aluminum ions by wastewater from the soda pulping of cellulose from the shells of cereals
S.V. Stepanova, A.A. Alekseeva
Section: Ecologization of industry
Aluminum ions contained in water do not belong to substances with a pronounced toxic effect. Solutions of aluminum salts
are highly stable, but with gradual accumulation in human and animal organisms have a harmful effect, especially in the presence of dysfunctions of the excretory system. Therefore, the problem of industrial wastewater treatment and water treatment for
technical and drinking purposes is becoming more and more important every year. The authors have studied the possibility of
using alkaline wastewater formed while obtaining cellulose from agricultural waste (shells of wheat, oats, and barley) by the natron
method as flocculant reagents for wastewater treatment from contamination with aluminum ions. The pH values at which the
most complete deposition of aluminum hydroxocomplexes occurs are determined: when using alkaline wastewater, the pH is 6.0,
and for a NaOH solution, the pH is 5.0. An increase in the precipitation rate of particles formed during the purification of model
waters from aluminum ions with alkaline reagents from waste cereals and the enlargement of the resulting floccules by 35% is
shown. It was determined that the efficiency of removing aluminum ions from the model water from the proposed reagents is not
inferior to traditional alkaline wastewater from the production of cellulose from oat husks (at low concentrations of aluminum
ions it is 20% higher). Water purification occurs due to the interaction of Al3+ ions with the functional groups of lignin and cellulose, pentosans, and other polysaccharides, as well as unreacted NaOH, which gives alkalinity to reagents from waste cereals.