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Date submitted2023-07-31
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Date accepted2024-11-07
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Date published2025-02-25
Environmental assessment of biochar application for remediation of oil-contaminated soils under various economic uses
- Authors:
- Tatiana V. Minnikova
- Sergey I. Kolesnikov
Remediation is an important area of oil-contaminated soil restoration in Russia, since oil refining industry is the major one for Russia and neighbouring countries, and the issues of environmentally effective and economically profitable remediation of oil contamination have not yet been solved. Soils under various economic uses have different surface areas and degrees of soil particles envelopment with oil due to the presence or absence of cultivation, the amount of precipitation and plant litter. The introduction of various substances for remediation into oil-contaminated soils of steppes (arable land), forests, and semi-deserts, considering their differences, gives different results. Biochar is coal obtained by pyrolysis at high temperatures and in the absence of oxygen. The uniqueness of this coal lies in the combination of biostimulating and adsorbing properties. The purpose of the study is to conduct an environmental assessment of biochar application for remediation of oil-contaminated soils under various economic uses. The article compares the environmental assessments of biochar application in oil-contaminated soils with different particle size fraction. The following indicators of soil bioactivity were determined: enzymes, indicators of initial growth and development intensity of radish, microbiological indicators. We found that the most informative bioindicator correlating with residual oil content is the total bacteria count, and the most sensitive ones are the roots length (ordinary chernozem and brown forest soil) and the shoots length (brown semi-desert soil). The use of biochar on arable land and in forest soil (ordinary chernozem and brown forest soil) is less environmentally efficient than in semi-desert soil (brown semi-desert soil). The study results can serve to develop measures and managerial and technical solutions for remediation of oil-contaminated soils under various economic uses.
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Date submitted2022-11-02
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Date accepted2023-03-02
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Date published2023-04-25
Environmental damage from the storage of sulfide ore tailings
The mining industry is one of the most challenging in ensuring environmental safety. During the last century, the Karabash Copper Smelting Plant was processing sulfide ores and depositing the tailings into storage facilities that now occupy an area of more than 50 hectares. To date, abandoned tailings are a significant source of natural water, air, and soil pollution in the Karabash city district. The article comprehensively examines the environmental impact of the Karabashmed copper smelter, one of the oldest metallurgical enterprises in Russia. The effects of seepage from the two Karabashmed tailings facilities on water resources were assessed. We revealed that even outside the area of the direct impact of processing waste, the pH of natural water decreases to values 4-5. Further downstream, the infiltration water from the tailings pond No. 4 reduces the pH of river water to 3.0-3.5. The presented results of environmental engineering surveys are derived from sampling water and bottom sediments of the Ryzhiy Stream and the Sak-Elga River, sample preparation, and quantitative chemical analysis. The study revealed significant exceedances of the maximum permissible concentrations for a number of chemical elements in the impact zone of the copper ore processing tailings.
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Date submitted2022-04-08
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Date accepted2023-03-02
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Date published2023-04-25
Geochemical properties and transformation of the microelement composition of soils during the development of primary diamond deposits in Yakutia
Extraction of diamonds from primary deposits in Siberia is associated with the development of kimberlite pipes in challenging environmental conditions, accompanied by a complex impact on the environment. The article presents the results of monitoring the soil cover of the Nakyn kimberlite field in the Yakutia diamond province, which is affected by the facilities of the Nyurba Mining and Processing Division. Development of primary diamond deposits has a large-scale impact on the subsoil, topography, and soil cover: creation of the world's largest quarries, formation of dumps more than 100 m high, arrangement of extensive tailings, formation of solid and liquid industrial wastes of various chemical composition. The research is aimed at studying the spatial and temporal patterns of the technogenic impact on the soil cover, identifying the nature and level of transformation of the microelement composition of soils based on the analysis of the intra-profile and lateral distribution of mobile forms of trace elements. The study targets in 2007-2018 were zonal types of permafrost soils of northern taiga landscapes, cryozems, occupying 84 % of the total study area, which are characterized by biogenic accumulation of mobile forms of Ni, Mn, and Cd in the upper AO, A cr horizons, and Cr, Ni, Co, Mn, Cu in the suprapermafrost CR horizon. We found out that the contamination of the soil cover of the industrial site at the Nyurba Mining and Processing Division is of a multielement nature with local highly to very highly contaminated areas. Over a ten-year observation period, areas of stable soil contamination are formed, where the main pollutants are mobile forms of Mn, Zn, Ni. We suggest that against the background of a natural geochemical anomaly associated with trap and kimberlite magmatism, technogenic anomalies are formed in the surface horizons of soils. They are spatially linked to technogenically transformed landscapes. One of the sources of pollutants is the dispersion of the solid phase of dust emissions in the direction of the prevailing winds, which leads to the formation of soils with abnormally high contents of mobile forms of Mn, Zn, Ni.
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Date submitted2022-05-12
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Date accepted2022-11-17
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Date published2023-04-25
Microbiological remediation of oil-contaminated soils
- Authors:
- Irina D. Sozina
- Aleksandr S. Danilov
Microbiological remediation is a promising technology for the elimination of environmental contamination by oil and petroleum products, based on the use of the metabolic potential of microorganisms. The issue of environmental contamination by crude oil and its refined products is relevant in the Russian Federation since the oil industry is one of the leading sectors of the country. Mechanical and physico-chemical methods of treatment are widely used to clean oil-contaminated soils. However, the methods belonging to these groups have a number of significant drawbacks, which actualizes the development of new methods (mainly biological), since they are more environmentally friendly, cost-effective, less labor-intensive, and do not require the use of technical capacities. Various bio-based products based on strains and consortia of microorganisms have been developed that have proven effectiveness. They include certain genera of bacteria, microscopic fungi, and microalgae, substances or materials acting as sorbents of biological agents and designed to retain them in the soil and increase the efficiency of bioremediation, as well as some nutrients. Statistical data, the most effective methods, and technologies, as well as cases of using microorganisms to restore oil-contaminated soils in various climatic conditions are presented.
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Date submitted2021-10-08
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Date accepted2022-01-24
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Date published2022-04-29
Methodology for thermal desorption treatment of local soil pollution by oil products at the facilities of the mineral resource industry
- Authors:
- Mariya A. Pashkevich
- Marina V. Bykova
The analysis of the main environmental consequences of leaks and local spills of petroleum products at the enterprises of the mineral resource complex is presented. It is established that the problem of soil contamination with petroleum products at the facilities of the mineral resource complex and enterprises of other industries is caused by significant volumes of consumption of the main types of oil products. Based on the results of the author's previous field research, a series of experiments was carried out, consisting in modeling artificial soil pollution with petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, highly refined oil, motor oil, and transmission oil, followed by their purification by heat treatment at temperatures of 150, 200, and 250 °C. The 250 °C limit of the heating temperature was set due to the need to partially preserve the structure and quality of the soil after heat treatment to preserve its fertility. When the processing temperature rises to 450 °C, all humates are completely burned out and, as a result, productivity is lost. Confirmation is provided by the results of experiments to determine the humus content in uncontaminated soil and soil treated at different temperatures. It was found that at a maximum processing temperature of 250 °C, about 50 % of the initial organic carbon content is preserved. According to the results of the conducted experimental studies, the dependences of the required processing temperature on the concentration of petroleum products to reduce the concentration of petroleum products to an acceptable level have been established. The methodology of thermal desorption cleaning of soils with varying degrees of contamination at enterprises of the mineral resource complex is presented.
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Date submitted2021-09-16
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Date accepted2022-02-24
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Date published2022-04-29
Production of microfluidic chips from polydimethylsiloxane with a milled channeled surface for modeling oil recovery during porous rock waterflooding
Microfluidic chips with porous structures are used to study the flow of oil-containing emulsion in the rock. Such chips can be made from polydimethylsiloxane by casting into a master mold. At the initial stages of research, fast and cheap prototyping of a large number of different master molds is often required. It is proposed to use milling to make a channeled surface on a polymethyl methacrylate plate, from which a negative image should be taken, which is the master mold for casting positive polydimethylsiloxane chips in it. Several epoxy compositions have been tested to make this master mold. The main requirement in the search for the material was the exact replication of the geometry and sufficiently low adhesion to polymethyl methacrylate and polydimethylsiloxane for removing the product with minimal damage to the mold. It was possible to make master molds from all the materials used, but with defects and various degrees of damage. One of the epoxy compositions was found suitable for making a master mold with many elements simulating the grains of a porous medium (height to width ratio 2:3). The developed method makes it possible to use polydimethylsiloxane for prototyping chips simulating the porous structure of an oil rock.
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Date submitted2021-04-15
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Date accepted2021-07-27
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Date published2021-10-21
Analysis of the application and impact of carbon dioxide media on the corrosion state of oil and gas facilities
Products of several currently operated production facilities (Bovanenkovskoye, Urengoyskoye oil and gas condensate fields, etc.) contain an increased amount of corrosive CO 2 . Effect of CO 2 on the corrosion of steel infrastructure facilities is determined by the conditions of its use. Carbon dioxide has a potentially wide range of applications at oil and gas facilities for solving technological problems (during production, transportation, storage, etc.). Each of the aggregate states of CO 2 (gas, liquid and supercritical) is used and affects the corrosion state of oil and gas facilities. Article analyzes the results of simulation tests and evaluates the corrosion effect of CO 2 on typical steels (carbon, low-alloy and alloyed) used at field facilities. The main factors influencing the intensity of carbonic acid corrosion processes in the main conditions of hydrocarbon production with CO 2 , storage and its use for various technological purposes are revealed. Development of carbon dioxide corrosion is accompanied and characterized by the localization of corrosion and the formation of defects (pitting, pits, etc.). Even alloyed steels are not always resistant in the presence of moisture and increased partial pressures of CO 2 , especially in the presence of additional factors of corrosive influence (temperature, aggressive impurities in gas, etc.).
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Date submitted2020-05-07
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Date accepted2020-05-24
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Date published2020-06-30
Study of the technogenesis of the Degtyarsky mine by audio-magnetotelluric express sounding
- Authors:
- Vadim A. Davydov
The audio-magnetotelluric express sounding was performed at four sections crossing the mine field of the currently not functioning Degtyarsky mine. Field measurements were carried out by a universal broadband receiver “OMAR-2m” with active electromagnetic field sensors developed at the Institute of Geophysics UB RAS. Based on the obtained data, deep sections of the electrophysical parameters of the medium – apparent resistivity and effective longitudinal conductivity – are drawn. The nature of the geoelectric structure of the section allows mapping of the major lithochemical contamination plume and identifying the tectonic disturbance zones that drain aggressive mine waters. The mine waters of the Degtyarsky mine are a source of dangerous technogenic pollution. Despite the neutralization of surface runoff, underground routes of acidic water migration occur along tectonic cracks, primarily in the zone of the regional Serovsko-Mauksky fault. Tectonic zones in the mine area contain contaminated fissure-vein water, which is transited at a depth of 70 to over 200 m. Discharging ascending springs of such waters can be located at a great distance from controlled hydrological objects and pollute sources of drinking and household water supply. Urban development in the western and eastern parts of Degtyarsk does not fall within the distribution zone of polluted water. The southern part of the city is located beyond the watershed of the mine water flow area, but a danger of local contamination by tectonic disturbance zones remains possible. The worst environmental situation is observed in the northern outskirts of Degtyarsk, which falls into the area of heavy pollution of underground and surface waters. Besides, acidic fumes from the flooded Kolchedanny quarry can affect the health of city residents when emitted to the atmosphere.
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Date submitted2020-01-10
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Date accepted2020-01-14
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Date published2020-02-25
Biogeochemical assessment of soils and plants in industrial, residential and recreational areas of Saint Petersburg
Soils and plants of Saint Petersburg are under the constant technogenic stress caused by human activity in industrial, residential, and recreational landscapes of the city. To assess the transformed landscapes of various functional zones, we studied utility, housing, and park districts with a total area of over 7,000 hectares in the southern part of the city during the summer seasons of 2016-2018. Throughout the fieldwork period, 796 individual pairs of soil and plant samples were collected.A complex of consequent laboratory studies performed in an accredited laboratory allowed the characterization of key biogeochemical patterns of urban regolith specimens and herbage samples of various grasses. Chemical analyses provided information on the concentrations of polluting metals in soils and plants of different land use zones.Data interpretation and calculation of element accumulation factors revealed areas with the most unfavorable environmental conditions. We believe that a high pollution level in southern city districts has led to a significant degree of physical, chemical, and biological degradation of the soil and vegetation cover. As of today, approximately 10 % of the Technosols in the study area have completely lost the ability to biological self-revitalization, which results in ecosystem malfunction and the urgent need for land remediation.
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Date submitted2015-08-17
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Date accepted2015-10-25
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Date published2016-04-22
Ecological aspects of vehicle tunnels ventilation in the conditions of megalopolises
- Authors:
- S. G. Gendler
The characteristic of Russia and foreign vehicle tunnels are provided in paper and advantages of their placement in the conditions of the city are noted. It is shown that one of the main factors defining negative impact on environment in the period of tunnels driving is mine equipment, and at operation – vehicles. The analysis of essential differences of features of pollution of atmospheric air at construction of tunnels from its pollution at construction of buildings on a surface is given. The examples illustrating levels of negative impact of the upcast ventilation shaft airflow on atmospheric air are given and the ventilation schemes reducing this influence are offered. It is shown that during operation of road tunnels of pollution of the air environment can extend on considerable distances from tunnel portals. Numerical calculations of concentration of carbon oxides and nitrogen during removal of the upcast ventilation shaft airflow through portals and through the mines built near them are executed. Technical solutions on purifications of tunnel air by means of electrostatic filters are described.
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Date submitted2015-08-09
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Date accepted2015-10-05
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Date published2016-04-22
Inorganic and organic vitreous foam materials and prospect of environmental cleaning from oil and oil products pollutions
- Authors:
- V. E. Kogan
The analysis of own experimental materials which are part of the new scientific direction – complex research of physical and chemical regularities of novel inorganic and organic vitreous sorbents and investigation of the oil and oil products absorption processes by that sorbents developed on department of the General and Physical Chemistry of National Mineral Resources University (Mining University) under the leadership of the author of this paper is provided. In particular, specifics of kinetic curves of oil absorption for sorbents with a vitreous surface are experimentally established and theoretically proved by the conducted researches.
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Date submitted2015-07-14
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Date accepted2015-09-09
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Date published2016-02-24
Engineering and geomechanical forecast for waste disposal in underground caverns including earthquake-prone zones
- Authors:
- O. V. Kovalev
The article aims at obtaining representative scientifically based data to determine parameters of a necessary-safe condition of the rock massif (RM) in underground waste diposal caverns zones, including earthquake-prone zones. The main requirements for underground caverns for hazardous waste disposal and for their construction technology are described. The subject of the research is underground solution caverns in halogen rocks. Data for justification of safe waste disposal conditions in underground salt caverns and its stages are presented. A complex approach to the solution of the research problem is described. The main aspects of dynamic influence of seismic waves on underground caverns stability are considered. Taking into account seismic-risk zoning data on the research region some significant parameters of a possible seismic impact on the experimental cavern are calculated. The article points out the necessity of superincumbent rock and surface displacement assessment for the experimental site zone using the suggested complex approach and including the analysis of surveying data and results of rock mass geomechanical modeling.
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Date submitted2013-07-18
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Date accepted2013-09-14
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Date published2014-03-17
Analysis of impact of gas field water bodies
- Authors:
- T. A. Petrova
Surface and ground water are one of the most environmentally vulnerable elements of the environment. This explains the high rate of migration of chemical elements in the subsurface hydrosphere. Sources of impact on the water environment in the vicinity of the gas field are numerous areal and linear features primary and secondary process, as well as objects related infra-structure.
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Date submitted2013-07-28
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Date accepted2013-09-07
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Date published2014-03-17
Application of the method of x-ray fluorescence for carrying out monitoring of the soil and vegetable cover
- Authors:
- M. A. Kulikova
For preservation of soil-vegetable cover quality, the prevention and decrease of negative technogenic impact it is necessary to exercise systematic control of land resources condition. Monitoring as a system of regular supervision over a state of environment for the identification purpose of anthropogenous effects and consequences and acceptance of the appropriate nature protection measures differs a wide set of various options of its realization depending on specific objectives, situations, terms, scales, intensity of influence.
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Date submitted2013-07-06
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Date accepted2013-09-18
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Date published2014-03-17
Comparative analysis of methods of waste disposal biological treatment of the fuel and energy complex
- Authors:
- A. E. Isakov
For the treatment of domestic and industrial waste water in Russia and abroad widespread biological treatment method. With his undoubted merits it has a significant drawback – the formation of a large amount of excess sludge. In the case of waste water containing high levels of heavy metals, its processing by traditional methods can be hazardous to the environment.
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Date submitted2013-07-13
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Date accepted2013-09-21
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Date published2014-03-17
Modern technology of consumption waste management in the mining agglomeration
- Authors:
- M. Sh. Barkan
- A. B. Makhovikov
- E. I. Kabanov
Any industrial agglomeration is a territory, not only with a high concentration of industrial facilities, but also with high population density. This, in turn, is an essential prerequisite to problems associated with the large volume of waste consumption. To solve these problems it is necessary not only to improve the technology for processing different kinds of waste, but also to establish a system by their rapid collection and transport.
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Date submitted2008-11-23
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Date accepted2009-01-30
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Date published2009-12-11
The estimate of the utilization’s efficiency of the production waste products, which appeared as a result of the preservation of the environment measures
- Authors:
- E. M. Pronin
Nowadays the problems of the stable growth of mineral and source of raw materials and fuel and energy complex industries are attached great importance to, since it influences the country social-economic condition. In its turn the development of the mining industry requires opening up new lands, which are especially vulnerable to different kinds of anthropogenous and technogenous factors. The changes in the state of economic system have excluded the lowering expenditure by the economy of the production scale. The typical features of a new economy became the progress of free competition and intensive demonopolization. At the same time for the mining industry it is significant that large-scale enterprises should be the foundation of many cities economies of the Russian Federation. For the way out of a system crisis it is necessary to change the strategy – to alter not only the condition of the system, but its management. The formation of the mining complexes permits to use sources of raw materials of the exploited deposits in the proper way, to process waste products of the basic production into the commodity output, to raise the efficiency and cut costs of the preservation of the environment measures from concentration waste products, exhaust solutions, gases, warm water harmful influence on the environment. The practical use of the production waste products of the mining complexes is unprofitable and makes sense only because of its opportunity partially compensating the aggregate investments for the preservation of the environment. The estimate of the utilization s efficiency of the production waste products has made.