Soil organic matter in temperate forest-grassland systems: A case study from the Southern Cis-Ural, Russia

Understanding the dynamics of SOM in different land use types is critical for effective land management and climate mitigation strategies. In this study, we investigated the differences in soil organic matter (SOM) content between forest and grassland landscapes in the mountainous zone of Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia. We collected soil samples from multiple locations under both land use types and analysed them for SOM content using standard laboratory techniques. The results showed that the SOM content varied from 2.2 to 15.3% under forest landscape with an average of 6.7% and was characterized by high variability (51.8%). The SOM concentrations under grassland ranged from 2.1 to 6.5% with an average of 3.2%, while the coefficient of variation was 31.8%. According to the classification, the average SOM value in forest soils was classified as “high”, while in grassland soils it was classified as “low”. Overall, the variability in SOM content within forested landscapes can be influenced by a range of factors, including topography, erosion, and redeposition of soil. These factors contributed to the complex patterns of SOM accumulation and decomposition observed in forest soils, and should be considered when evaluating the potential impacts of land use change on SOM. Our study highlights the importance of understanding the factors that influence SOM content in soils, and the need for careful management of land use systems to maintain or enhance soil fertility and productivity

Research of efficiency of natural and modified sorbents for purification of industrial sewage from heavy metal ions

The paper describes the research of efficiency of natural and modified sorbents used for purification of industrial sewage from ions of heavy metals (Fe, Cd, Zn, Cu, Cr). Sorbents of various structures are produced on the basis of waste of the mining and processing works (MPW), nonmetallic materials (montmorillonite, dolomite) and modified by humic compounds with thickness of applied layer from 50 nanometers to 100 microns. The choice of structure of the modified sorbents has been determined by the aim to use positive properties of all components as much as possible: their high sorption and regeneration properties. Besides, application of the humic compounds disengaged from peat and waste of brown coal on surface of sorbents caused significantly increased adsorptive activity due to existence of broad set of groups and fragments in structure of humates. These groups and fragments (acid, amino-acid, spirit, carbohydrate, phenolic, amino-keto-alcohol, etc.) form complexes practically with all heavy metals. Use of three main specified components as a part of sorbents resulted in synergetic effect and also allows receiving the highly effective and at the same time inexpensive, rather universal materials with high sorption properties

Research of effectiveness of natural and modified sorbents for wastewater treatment based on mica quartzite treatment waste

Results of a research of efficiency of sorbents on the basis of the waste of production and processing of micaceous quartzites (MQ), montmorillonite clays (MC) modified by humic connections (HC), received by extraction of waste brown coal are shown. Chemical composition of mica quartzite processing waste depending on the fraction size was previously investigated: element structure by method of the power-dispersive X-ray fluorescent analysis and mineral structure by method of X-ray phase analysis, for purpose of interrelation establishment between the structure of fraction and adsorptive properties of the received composite sorbents and also for the purpose of an exception as a part of MQ and, respectively, a sorbent of dangerous and toxic substances I-III of hazard classes. The efficiency of adsorption of the obtained sorbents was studied, an increase in sorption activity was found depending on composition of sorbent and method of modification (preliminary temperature processing and drawing on a surface of a sorbent of HC nano- and a microdimensional layer). It is determined that the greatest efficiency of adsorption of ions of heavy metals is observed for the sorbent which underwent temperature modification at 800о C and then HC covered with a layer up to 1% of masses. Use of waste of MQ containing 40–60% of quartz (SiO2) in composition with MC and with further modification of a surface (up to 1% of masses.) humic connections will allow receiving highly effective, universal and inexpensive sorbents for sewage treatment from heavy metals and other pollutants. The offered composite sorbents will allow to solve several ecologically important problems in a complex: to carry out effective purification of industrial sewage (machine and instrument-making, metallurgical, petrochemical and other enterprises) of heavy metals ions and to utilize waste of micaceous quartz processing of and brown coal extraction

Development of technology of disinfectants based on soda production waste

The main requirements for the development of fundamentally new disinfectants with a high level of efficiency are to reduce toxicity by increasing the technical and economic indicators in the technology of their application. In this paper, an innovative composition of a disinfectant based on iodine monochloride in the complex of waste production of soda and polyvinylpyrrolidone is proposed. The dependence of stability and antibacterial activity of the developed disinfectant is studied. High indicators of stability (3 years) and antibacterial activity were obtained on the example of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Enterococcus fecalis (E. fecalis), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aerginosa), Bacillus subtilus (B. Subtilis No. 12) at the concentration 0.027-0.055, DS versus commercial drug Zhavilar. The antibacterial activity of the disinfectant DS, DS-1 is maintained up to 0.0044-0.0088 for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli and exceeds the efficiency of the commercial drug Betadine by 8-28 times. Thus, the developed formulations are highly effective, while low-toxic and safe for the environment and humans

Problems of placement of industrial wastes in landfills in the industrial city

The article shows that the anthropogenic transformation of the environment increases when production wastes and consumption are placed in landfills. Hygienic condition of the areas with high population density and developed industry is determined by the increased amount of household and industrial waste, mainly deposited in the numerous landfills. This situation is studied on the example of landfills used for industrial wastes produced by the enterprises JSC «Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat», JSC «Salavatsteklo», located in the city of Salavat of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The sources of industrial pollution in Salavat have been analyzed. One should note that the city-forming enterprise is the JSC «Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat» which share of the total amount of wastes generated in the city per year is 80%. Another company which contributes significantly to this process is the JSC «Salavatsteklo». To study the possible migration of contaminants to the aquifer an observation well has been made at the landfill site. The research of the water obtained from the observation well at the polygon identified maximum allowable concentrations for chemical oxygen demand (COD), phenol and oil products. The groundwater occurrence modes have been studied. The migration of the chemicals contained in the body of the landfill, to groundwater, has been revealed. That leads to contamination of surface water. Laboratory studies of water objects in the zone of influence of industrial waste landfill in Romodanovskomu career have been performed. It was determined that excess of maximum permissible concentration of benzene, and the presence of toluene, lead, phenol indicates the pollution of groundwater by substances stored in landfills Romanovskogo career, both by infiltration and subsequent migration to groundwater of adjacent aquifers and through surface runoff and infiltration from snowmelt and rainwater

Soil organic matter in temperate forest-grassland systems: A case study from the Southern Cis-Ural, Russia

Understanding the dynamics of SOM in different land use types is critical for effective land management and climate mitigation strategies. In this study, we investigated the differences in soil organic matter (SOM) content between forest and grassland landscapes in the mountainous zone of Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia. We collected soil samples from multiple locations under both land use types and analysed them for SOM content using standard laboratory techniques. The results showed that the SOM content varied from 2.2 to 15.3% under forest landscape with an average of 6.7% and was characterized by high variability (51.8%). The SOM concentrations under grassland ranged from 2.1 to 6.5% with an average of 3.2%, while the coefficient of variation was 31.8%. According to the classification, the average SOM value in forest soils was classified as “high”, while in grassland soils it was classified as “low”. Overall, the variability in SOM content within forested landscapes can be influenced by a range of factors, including topography, erosion, and redeposition of soil. These factors contributed to the complex patterns of SOM accumulation and decomposition observed in forest soils, and should be considered when evaluating the potential impacts of land use change on SOM. Our study highlights the importance of understanding the factors that influence SOM content in soils, and the need for careful management of land use systems to maintain or enhance soil fertility and productivity

Research of formation of deposits in technological devices and corrosion of contact devices from stainless steel

The paper shows that for majority of technological plants used to process hydrocarbon raw materials when operating a problem of formation of deposits in still-head pipes after the rectifying and stabilization columns, furnaces and other technology devices in oil processing is still of great importance. The structure of still-head deposits of furnace coils and rectifying columns has been studied by the example of small technological plant (STP) of JSC Kondensat (Aksay, the Republic of Kazakhstan). It was determined that key components of these deposits are sulfides of iron and copper as well as elementary sulfur. It is shown that the surface of contact devices of STP – grids made of stainless steel of brand 12X18H10T, is substantially subject to corrosion. These samples are the structures which are still keeping geometry of initial grids, but lost their functional properties and characteristics. When mechanical influence is applied such samples easily transform into gray high-disperse powder. During operation period of STP various corrosion inhibitors and deemulgators (for example, TAL-25-13-R) have been tested. At the same time practically all tested brands of corrosion inhibitors couldn't decrease corrosion of stainless steel and formation of firm deposits in still-head pipes of technological devices. The existing corrosion inhibitors create protection on the boundary of phases metallic surface – liquid, but they aren't efficient on the boundary of phases metallic surface – liquid – steam-gas phase (at the temperature of 150–250оC). The authors propose the mechanism of formation of these compounds based on result of corrosion of metal gauzes made of stainless steels brand X6CrNiTi18-10in the presence of sulphurous compounds.An active method of corrosion prevention is recommended to apply. The method is based on creation of nanodimensional anticorrosion coatings from binary compounds (such as titanium nitride) or pure metals (Ni, Cr, Ti, Cd, Zn, etc.). These metals don’t reduce initial high parameters of grids by heat conductivity and heat capacity, that makes possible to increase significantly life cycle of contact devices and, as a result, to improve considerably operational and economic indicators of operating technological plants used to process oil raw material

Creation of anticorrosion coatings for contact devices of rectifying columns

Today the main corrosion protection methods applied in contact devices of rectifying oil processing equipment, in particular, in mesh nozzles made of stainless steel, under relatively high temperatures (150–250оC) and in the presence of aggressive components in oil raw materials (hydrogen sulfide, sulfides, mercaptans, other sulphurous compounds, chloride ions, organochlorine connections, water) are to use special alloys as protecting covers as well as corrosion inhibitors that reduce corrosion action of hostile environment. At the same time, the disadvantages of the majority of these methods concern high operational costs, insufficient efficiency or protection ability designed only for a certain factor, but not for combination of them. In this regard corrosion resistance of mesh contact devices made of stainless steel (brand SUS 321) has been studied on three types of samples: alloy wire, welded grid, thin leaf. Titanium nitride (TiN) and metallic coatings from nickel (Ni), titanium (Ti) and chrome (Cr) were used as anticorrosion coatings for the mentioned samples. These coverings were applied on samples in two ways: by means of electrolytic method and vacuum ion-plasma dusting. It was determined that optimal coating thickness is 10–15 microns as it is the thickness at which the produced films possess sufficient plasticity and do not exfoliate from the surface of the corresponding corrosion-proof alloy. The research of corrosion of samples of stainless steel SUS 321 with applied coverings and without them was performed by immersing the samples into compositions that contain oil as well as into the modeling hostile oil-containing environment. As a result of the conducted researches it was determined that the protecting covers of chrome and titanium nitride applied with vacuum ion-plasma dusting method are the most effective coatings from the point of view of anticorrosive protection for mesh contact devices of stainless steel used in rectifying columns

Assessing and Mapping Changes in Forest Growing Stock Volume over Time in Bashkiriya Nature Reserve, Russia

There is growing recognition that forest ecosystems are a key component in the global carbon cycle, and there is a clear demand for their study. This research is a comparative analysis of forest growing stock volume (GSV) and determination of annual growth in Bashkiriya Nature Reserve (Russia) for 1979 and 2015 using 8395 and 8405 observation plots, respectively. Also, we evaluated the spatial distribution and produced digital maps of the species and their GSV for each year. The results showed that pine and birch were the dominant species (60.5 and 24.8% of the area in 2015, respectively) and there were no significant changes in the area of stands during the 36-year period. We found that the GSV in the reserve had increased by an average of 23.2% over the 36-year period. Specifically, the total forest GSV increased from 7,678,960 in 1979 to 10,003,890 m3 in 2015, representing an annual gain of 0–1.5 m3/ha. The increase in GSV was mainly associated with an increase in birch and pine trees. The annual growth of GSV was determined as 1.8–2.1 and 1.4 m3/ha per year for pine and birch forests, respectively. However, these types of trees belong to the age categories of mature and overmature stands, i.e., with reduced intensity of GSV gain. Digital maps produced as part of this study provide a visual representation of the changes in forest spatial patterns and GSV over time, highlighting areas of the reserve where the stock has increased or decreased. This study leveraged a substantial dataset, which provided valuable retrospective insights into the dynamics of pristine forest ecosystems, allowing for the assessment of changes over a 36-year period. Overall, this study highlights the importance of the ongoing monitoring and assessment of GSV levels, especially in the context of rapidly changing environments and climates

Assessment of Chemical Properties, Heavy Metals, and Metalloid Contamination in Floodplain Soils under the Influence of Copper Mining: A Case Study of Sibay, Southern Urals

The ecotoxicological condition of soils around mining areas is most often unsatisfactory, which affects entire ecosystems and human health. This research sought to analyze the morphological, agrochemical properties, and content of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn) and metalloids (As) of soils located in a floodplain. The study was conducted within the city of Sibay (Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia). The soil samples were collected from the floodplains of the rivers Karagayly and Khudolaz. According to morphological studies, the soil cover was represented by the Lithic Leptosols, Stagnic Phaeozems, and Fluvisols. The results showed that the soils were characterized by high values of organic matter, potassium, and low levels of phosphorus. Soils that were located away from the city in the Karagayly River were not contaminated. However, the floodplain areas pertaining to the urban district and located near the quarries were characterized by severe anthropogenic soil pollution, disrupted integrity of the soil cover, decreased vegetation, and accumulating labile forms of heavy metals and metalloids. The highest degree of pollution was observed in the floodplain soil of the river Khudolaz where all elements exceeded the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) level. Soils in the floodplain of the Karagayly river were marked by an increased degree of contamination of Zn: exceeding MPC by 1.6 times. With the trend toward an arid climate, the ecotoxicological condition of floodplain soils is an important challenge