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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 submitted2024-07-04
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Date accepted2024-07-04
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Date published2024-07-04
Environmental safety and sustainable development: new approaches to wastewater treatment
In 2015, the UN member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Despite significant progress, billions of people – one in three people – do not have access to safe, clean drinking water. Modern wastewater treatment methods include a wide range of biological, chemical and physical processes, each having its own advantages and applications. This thematic volume considers the latest achievements in wastewater treatment technologies, wastewater purification and treatment as well as their potential applications at the local level. The problem of surface water pollution is relevant for all regions of the world. One of the largest sources of pollutants is mining and processing industry. The first stage in the development of wastewater treatment technologies is monitoring of anthropogenically modified water bodies.
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Date submitted2022-11-04
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Date accepted2023-03-03
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Date published2023-04-25
Efficiency of acid sulphate soils reclamation in coal mining areas
During the development of coal deposits, acid mine waters flowing to the surface cause the formation of acid sulphate soils. We study the effectiveness of soil reclamation by agrochemical and geochemical methods at the site of acid mine water discharge in the Kizel Coal Basin, carried out in 2005 using alkaline waste from soda production and activated sludge. A technosol with a stable phytocenosis was detected on the reclaimed site, and soddy-podzolic soil buried under the technogenic soil layer with no vegetation on the non-reclaimed site. The buried soddy-podzolic soil retains a strong acid рН concentration Н 2 О = 3. A high content of organic matter (8-1.5 %) is caused by carbonaceous particles; the presence of sulphide minerals reaches a depth of 40 cm. Technosol has a slightly acid pH reaction H 2 O = 5.5, the content of organic matter due to the use of activated sludge is 19-65 %, the presence of sulphide minerals reaches a depth of 20-40 cm. The total iron content in the upper layers of the technosol did not change (190-200 g/kg), the excess over the background reaches 15 times. There is no contamination with heavy metals and trace elements, single elevated concentrations of Li, Se, B and V are found.
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Date submitted2022-03-24
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Date accepted2022-07-21
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Date published2022-12-29
A probabilistic study on hole cleaning optimization
- Authors:
- Seyyed Shahab Tabatabaee Moradi
Hole cleaning is considered as one of the most important drilling fluid functions. An efficient hole cleaning ensures a reliable well drilling practice with minimum troublesome problems. In this study, two main steps of hole cleaning, i.e., cuttings removal from under the bit and cuttings transport to the surface are discussed based on the drilling data of a shale formation. The traditional models for optimization of each step are presented. As the models require variety of input data, which are usually subjected to some extent of errors and uncertainties, the output of the model is also an uncertain parameter. Using Monte Carlo simulation, a simple probabilistic study was conducted to quantify the certainty level of the obtained results. Based on the result of this study, it is shown that for the proposed well, a good hole cleaning is expected. However, a more reliable decision for further hole cleaning optimization should be made considering the results of uncertainty analysis.
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Date submitted2021-07-05
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Date accepted2022-07-21
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Date published2022-11-10
Fragmentation analysis using digital image processing and empirical model (KuzRam): a comparative study
The rock fragmentation reflects the degree of control of blasting. Despite the accuracy of screening analysis to determine the size distribution of blasted rocks, this technique remains complex and long because of the large volume of blasted rocks. The digital image processing method can overcome these constraints of accuracy and speed. Our method uses the empirical model of KuzRam and numerical method (Digital image processing) through two image processing software’s (WipFrag and Split-Desktop) to analyze the particle size distribution of rocks fragmented by explosives in Jebel Medjounes limestone quarry. The digital image processing is based on the photography of the pile of blasted rock analyzed using image processing techniques. The objective of this work is to evaluate and compare the results obtained for each blast from the two methods and to discuss the similarities and differences among them. Three different blasts with the same design were analyzed through the two methods. The result of the KuzRam model gave idealistic results due to the heterogeneity of the structure of the rocks; although, this model can be used for an initial evaluation of blast design. For better efficiency of the explosion, we proposed a new fragmentation indicator factor in order to compare the fragment produced to the estimated ideal size obtained from the KuzRam model by incorporating the blast design parameters and the rock factor. Both image processing gives close results with more accuracy for the Split-Desktop software. Our method can improve the efficiency and reduce crushing costs of the studied career.
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Date submitted2022-01-24
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Date accepted2022-04-26
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Date published2023-04-25
Forecast of radionuclide migration in groundwater of the zone affected by construction drainage at the Leningrad NPP-2
The distribution of natural (at the level of global background) and technogenic radionuclides in groundwater of the industrial zone in Sosnovy Bor town, where several nuclear power facilities are operating, was analyzed. The main technogenic radionuclides recorded in groundwater samples are cesium ( 137 Cs), strontium ( 90 Sr), and tritium isotopes. The first two aquifers from the surface are subject to contamination: the Quaternary and the upper zone of the Lomonosov aquifer. Based on extensive material on the engineering and geological studies of the work area, a 3D geological model and hydrodynamic and geomigration models of the industrial zone were constructed. By means of modeling, the extent and nature of changes in hydrogeological conditions of area resulting from the construction and operational drainage of the new stage of the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant (LNPP-2) were determined. The “historical” halo of radioactive contamination of groundwater forming (1970-1990) at the site adjacent to the NPP, where the storage facility of low- and medium-level radioactive waste is located, falls into the zone of influence. Interpretation of monitoring data allowed obtaining the migration parameters for predictive estimates. Modeling has shown that during the time of the LNPP-2 operation there was no intake of contaminated water by the drainage system of the new power plant.
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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 submitted2018-12-25
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Date accepted2019-03-02
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Date published2019-06-25
Non-linear electrical load location identification
- Authors:
- S. Pirog
- Ya. E. Shklyarskiy
- A. N. Skamyin
The article discusses the issues of identifying the location of non-linear loads in electrical networks which makes the main contribution to the distortion of the non-sinusoidal voltage and current in the distribution network of an industrial enterprise, including mining enterprises. The existing methods for determining the location of the source of higher harmonic components in voltage and current are considered, their advantages and disadvantages are revealed. The main disadvantages of the methods used include the low accuracy and incorrectness of their use in existing enterprises. When developing a new method, the authors were faced with the task of simplicity of its use in the conditions of industrial operation of electrical equipment and the absolute correctness of the results obtained. The proposed method of identifying the source of higher harmonics is based on the variation of the parameters of the power system, in particular, the change in resistance of power transformers taking into account their transformation ratio. It is shown that by varying the transformation ratio during regulation under load, the total coefficient of the harmonic components of the voltage changes. Based on the constructed dependencies, the variation of the derivative of this function with different variations of the parameters of sources of higher harmonics is analyzed and a method is developed that allows determining the share contribution of consumers to the total harmonic component of the voltage.
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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 submitted2014-12-24
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Date accepted2015-02-17
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Date published2015-12-25
Problem of forestfund cadastral value determination
- Authors:
- V. F. Kovyazin
- A. Yu. Romanchikov
For several decades, Russian scientists cannot solve the problem of cadastral valuation of forest lands, which occupy two thirds of the country area. This evaluation is especially important in the terms of market relations for the calculation of charges for use of forest resources, a significant part of which is leased. Originally, cadastral valuation of forestland was planned to be conducted according to Faustmann’s formula, proposed by German economist in the mid-nineteenth century, but it has not found practical application due to the lack of certain data. In the modern period the issue of forestland valuation is escalated and scientists have proposed their own versions of the cadastral value of forestlands. We investigated a number of forestland cadastral evaluation reports from various regions of Russia. Different researchers propose to use a specific indicator of cadastral cost (UPCS), but the methods of calculation of this indicator are different for all the evaluators. Respectively, the UPCS values for each region are significantly different too. Years of research into this problem allowed us to propose a method of forestland cadastral evaluation. In the calculations, the shortcomings of previous research are taken into account and the value of income from harvested timber, its current growth in plantings under the age of ripeness as well as the income from the collection of food resources (mushrooms and berries) are included in the evaluation. In the calculations, lands should be differentiated between coniferous and deciduous forests, as the cost of timber and the yield of food resources are significantly different. The proposed method has allowed establishing the ratio of income of forestland from timber and food resources. Food resources can give more income to the society than the wood itself.
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Date submitted2014-11-05
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Date accepted2015-01-24
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Date published2015-10-26
Use of geoinformation technologies for otpimized distribution of stations of atmospheric air quality monitoring
- Authors:
- M. V. Volkodaeva
The article deals with possible applications of modern geographic information systems for optimized distribution of stations of atmospheric air quality monitoring. Due to the fact that estimation of atmospheric pollutant concentrations is a reason for decisions to improve air quality, costly measures to protect the atmosphere and monitoring effectiveness of these actions, atmospheric air quality indicators, and therefore the proper distribution of monitoring stations, are of great importance. Results of model calculations of atmospheric air pollution, which have been recently developed in our country, in combination with GIS solutions, should be used for optimized distribution of stations of atmospheric air quality monitoring. One of the major factors of objective estimation of urban atmospheric air quality is proper reference of industrial and transport pollutant emission sources to the city’s topographic base (both in citywide and local coordinate systems), as well as distribution of stations of atmospheric air quality monitoring and selection of high-priority pollutants for a particular city district. Some recommendations for monitoring stations distribution and pollutants selection based on the GIS analysis of spatial distribution of maximum ground level concentrations of pollutants are given.
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Date submitted2008-11-17
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Date accepted2009-01-28
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Date published2009-12-11
Rating indicators of the financial condition estimation of mining enterprise
- Authors:
- J. V. Luebeck
The method of receiving of united factor is considered to be the foundation of system development monitoring factors based on integrations of private factors of financial analysis, that is to say calculation of rating for different variants of investment activity a mining enterprise. Calculation of rating of borrower and rating of financial stability has the most importance while developing the investment strategy of development a mining enterprise. Rating analysis will allow to motivate the possibility for calculating the real investments, defining the value of rational growth of production volumes, motivating the borders of rational increase the volumes of production within the framework of investment activity.