Home – Home – Jornals – Chemistry for Sustainable Development 2010 number 2

Main catalytic processes and types of fuel for the production of hydrogen for low-temperature fuel elements with simultaneous carbon dioxide removal from the reaction medium are described. Types of adsorption reactors used for absorption and catalytic conversion (ACC) with pressure or temperature swinging, as well as reactors with membrane separation of hydrogen are considered. Descriptions are presented for novel regenerative membrane systems such as adsorbent-membrane reactor and space life support systems. Prospects for the use of ACC in hydrogen power engineering are evaluated.

Concentrations of vitally important (S, K, Ca, Fe) and highly toxic elements (Pb, Cd), heavy metals possessing moderate toxicity (Zn, Cu, Co, Mo, Ni, Cr, Mn), and low-toxic elements (Ti, Ba, Sr, Zr) in the model animal species belonging to different trophic levels of terraneous biocenoses were investigated. Background areas and the regions chemically polluted with metals were considered. We studied invertebrate phytophages (larvae of sawfly Arge sp.) and carnivores (terraneous beetles Pterostichus oblongopunctatus L.), as well as two small mammal species belonging to different taxonomic and trophic groups: phytophagous bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus Shreber) and insectivorous common shrew (Sorex caecutiens Laxmann). It was demonstrated that the distribution of the concentrations of chemical elements in living organisms is determined by their position in the trophic structure of natural biocenoses; thus the groups of primary producers, phytophages and carnivorous species are distinguished. Under environmental pollution, the character of distribution of the concentrations of chemical elements is determined by the specificity of mineral metabolism in animals as well as by their belonging to different taxonomic groups.

Fatty acid content in muscular tissue and liver of three morpho-ecological groups of the Baikal omul was determined for the first time. Among total lipids in all the fish individuals studied, prevailing groups are presented by polyunsaturated (38.5-53.8 % of the total acid content) and saturated (31.8-36.5 %) fatty acids. Polyunsaturated acids are presented mainly by 22:6(n-3) and 20:5(n-3), their sum varies within the range of 16.8-33.3 %. The lipids of muscles contain a high fraction of polyunsaturated fatty acids at the expense of docosahexaenic acid (13.28-24.66 %). No considerable differences were revealed between different morpho-ecological groups of omul concerning the composition of fatty acids of lipids. Due to a moderate total fat content (6.37-7.65 %) and a balanced polyunsaturated fatty acid n-3/n-6 ratio in muscular tissue, the Baikal omul may be considered a high-quality dietetic foods as well as a raw material for obtaining biologically active supplements.

Close correlation between the concentrations of elements in human blood, tissues of small mammals (liver, bone tissues), wild animals (hair, bone tissues) and the concentrations of elements in atmospheric aerosol and nutrition components was established at the regional level. Substantial role of atmospheric aerosol in the global cycles of chemical elements is assumed. The elemental composition of blood of tundra Nines people, Chukchi, Eskimo people and Russians living in Novosibirsk was used in the investigation.

Process features and the component composition of the products of ozonolytic destruction of the shale oil kerogen from the Kashpir deposit in the Volga Basin were studied. The products soluble in chloroform and water are represented by sulphuric acid, n-dicarboxylic aliphatic acids С₂-С₁₄, keto acids and the acids of branched structure, whose amounts are quite comparable. Water-insoluble compounds include higher fatty acids С₁₀-С₁₈, benzenedicarboxylic acids, as well as keto and oxy forms of aromatic (including hydroaromatic and nitrogen containing) compounds.

Transformations of acetylene during mechanical activation in the presence of quartz were investigated. The destruction of quartz is accompanied by the formation of radicals on the surface; they initiate gas-phase transformations of acetylene. It was demonstrated that, in addition to acetylene destruction proceeding with the formation of hydrogen, methane and ethane, acetylene polymerization with the formation of benzene takes place. It was established that the yield of the products of chemical transformations of acetylene depends on the time of mechanical action.

An electrochemical method for the oxidation of β-naphthol by active oxygen species generated from О₂, Н₂О₂ and Н₂О in aqueous media with different рН values was studied in situ using the anodes made of Pt, Pb/PbO₂ with graphite and gas diffusion cathodes based on technical-grade carbon. The effect of reagents concentration, current density and the way of carrying out the process on the efficiency of β-naphthol oxidation was investigated.

Software for constructing the structures of petroleum resins and asphaltenes molecules were developed using Monte Carlo method. With the help of this program, and basing on the parameters of structural group analysis calculated from analytical data concerning elemental composition, molecular mass and PMR spectroscopy, we obtained molecular structures for the resins and asphaltenes of heavy oil from the Zuunbayan (Mongolia) and Usinsk fields. The thermodynamic stability of structures calculated and constructed for the molecules of resin and asphaltene was evaluated using molecular mechanics calculation.

It is demonstrated that carbonization of sapropel at the temperature of 700-800 °C may be used in order to obtain carbon-mineral sorbent for wastewater comprehensive purification either from polar substances or from nonpolar ones. Composition and structure for the material obtained were established using X-ray fluorescence and IR spectroscopy, XRD phase analysis, thermal and chemical analyses, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, mercury porosimetry. Sorption characteristics of the sorbent were determined with respect to a wide range of substances (iodine, methylene blue, heavy metal ions, oil products, phenol, surfactants).

Geochemical investigation of the Ekaterininskiy brook draining the Salair ore field from the temporarily abandoned culvert (Salair city, Kemerovo Region) was carried out. Changes of the overall composition of element concentrations in water and in bottom sediments in the brook under investigation, the Malaya Talmovaya River and the zone of their mixing were determined. Model chemical species of element occurrence and the indices of saturation of mineral phases in solution were calculated. The major mechanisms of element deposition at the geochemical barrier were revealed. It was demonstrated that the interaction between the brook and river waters causes substantial changes of the basic ion composition in the mixing zone, the concentrations of heavy metals decrease substantially but the level of background values is not achieved. The main forms of the occurrence of zinc (as the pollutant of priority for the system under consideration) in the surface water of the Ekaterininskiy brook are sulphate and aquated complexes. In water and bottom sediments of the Malaya Talmovaya River, zinc is represented mainly by aqua ions and carbonate complexes. For all regions under investigation, iron occurs in the form of hydroxide complexes, which was confirmed by calculated saturation indices. The latter values showed that the waters of the brook and the river are supersaturated with respect to goethite FeOOH and ferrihydrite Fe(OH)₃, and the latter compounds promote sorption and co-precipitation of a number of heavy metals.

Basing on the results obtained in comparative studies on the purification efficiency of water from the Om River using a coagulation method with alumina, ferric chloride, and the reagent containing sodium-potassium ferrate (VI) (FSR) and ferric chloride as a coagulating agent, possibility has been demonstrated for obtaining potable water with required quality, making no considerable change in the process flowsheet of water treatment plant at the Kormilovka settlement.

Russian investigations in the area of nanoscience and nanotechnology were studied by means of bibliometric methods using the databases of Science Citation Index, Chemical Abstracts and Inspec of the international research network Scientific and Technical International.

Russian research in the area of nanoscience and nanotechnology were studied by means of bibliometric methods using the databases of Science Citation Index, Chemical Abstracts and Inspec of the Scientific and Technical Network International.