The Use of Natural Sorbents to Reduce Ammonia Emissions from Cattle Faeces

Intensification of animal production leads to an increase in ammonia emissions into the environment. For this reason, various methods and strategies are sought to reduce ammonia emissions from faeces. The aim of the study was to test the possibility of using natural sorbents and sorbent mixtures to reduce ammonia emissions from cattle faeces. Faecal samples for analysis were collected from Holstein-Friesian dairy cows during the winter. The amount of ammonia emissions from cow faeces was determined every seven days, after mixing the faeces with a mixture of selected sorbents. All of the sorbents used have the potential to remove ammonia. The most effective reduction in ammonia was achieved using biochar and a mixture of bentonite with zeolite. The reduction in these groups was 42.56% and 24.56%, respectively, relative to the control group. The results indicate that these sorbents can be used to reduce ammonia emissions from cattle farms.

On methods of modifying natural minerals

Recently, more and more attention is paid to the ecological safety of the republic due to the increased threat of environmental pollution by radionuclides, particularly by uranium, while the processing of uranium-containing raw materials generates a significant amount of liquid industrial waste. The main waste disposal method is a sorption, which requires the use of inexpensive sorbents. Such sorbents can be obtained on the basis of domestic natural raw materials. The significant disadvantages of natural sorbents are a low sorption capacity, which can be increased by developing effective and relatively cheap methods for their modification. The absence of the methods of modification is a limiting factor for the widespread using of natural sorbents for environmental purposes. Variants of modification of natural aluminosilicate and coal-mineral raw materials of Kazakhstan by physical and chemical methods are considered. The chemical methods include the modification with a mixture of tributylphostat and di-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid in kerosene to obtain "solid-phase extractants", a mixture of phosphoric acid and polyacrylamide, and the synthesis of organominerals. The possibility of using technogenic raw materials as a modifying reagent has been studied. Zeolite of the previously unexplored Kosmurun deposit and shungite of the Koksu deposit were selected for research, and slags of phosphorus production were selected as a technogenic raw materials. Their physical and chemical properties have been studied.

Effect of Natural Sorbents in the Diet of Fattening Pigs on Meat Quality and Suitability for Processing

The effect of three natural sorbents added to the diet of pigs on the composition and physicochemical properties of two skeletal muscles—the musculus longissimus lumborum (MLL) and musculus semimembranosus (MSM) of crossbred pigs were evaluated. The experiment was carried out on a farm in two production cycles. The addition of biochar (trial 1) significantly influenced instrumental color parameters, shear force and energy, and the oxidative stability of the skeletal muscles, while the proximate composition, pH, texture, and water-holding capacity (WHC) parameters did not differ significantly between groups in either of the two muscles. Similarly, no statistical differences were noted in the proximate chemical composition, texture parameters, or WHC of the meat in trial 2. The addition of both sorbents was associated with a significantly (p ≤ 0.01) lower content of haem pigments in the MLL and MSM, which was accompanied by a significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher lightness (L*). Moreover, the MLL muscle of the pigs had higher oxidative stability, as well as lower drip loss (DL). In turn, the MSM of pigs had a significantly lower pH compared to the control group, however, the ultimate pH (48 h) in all groups was within the acceptable range (5.50–5.80). Summing up, the sorbents used are a safe ingredient in the diet of pigs, however, there is a need to continue and strengthen this line of research, including the relationships linking the future production goals of pig farming and processing potential in the meat industry with current climate policy.

THE INVESTIGATION OF SORPTION CAPACITY OF SAPONITE GRANULATE IN RELATION TO HYDROCARBON MIXTURE IN THE DYNAMIC MODE

Their drawback can be explained by the high cost and regeneration complexity. That is why the usage of natural sorbents (Tashkiv saponite deposits, Khmelnitsky region). They are able to clean contaminated water from colloidal, molecular and ionic substances. Exploring the specified topic, physicochemical properties of various forms of saponites are studied; the area of their usage is defined. The paste for cleaning contaminated surfaces is developed on their basis. The research results have shown that the most effective method is to use natural saponite. The author of the article advises to conduct preliminary acid activation of clay minerals and modification of its surface multivalent metal salts. Saponite clay granulate is obtained with different time and sintering temperature. Granulation is shown to improve the strength and filtration characteristics of natural sorbents, increasing the filtration rate and the duration of the filter cycle. The influence of the granulation process on the sorption properties of the obtained granulated aluminasilicates is investigated. A detailed hydrocarbon analysis of the A-92 starting gasoline is carried out. The composition of the purified samples of the hydrocarbon mixture is evaluated with gas chromatography using saponite granulate (Octane rating = 94,013 according to the method of research) under static conditions. The structure changes of raw and acid activated saponite clay has been investigated by nitrogen adsorption method and scanning electron microscopy. Established that the porous structure of saponite clay mineral represented by micro-meso porous system with domination of micropores. Acid modification promotes the development of specific surface area (from 47,7 m2/g to 177,9 m2/g) and increase the total volume of pores (from 0,134 cm3/g to 0,201 cm3/g).

Sorption of petroleum products with natural sorbents

This article presents the results of a study of cleaning the water surface from contamination with petroleum products. Kulantaussky vermiculite, the birthplace of the Turkestan region, was studied as a sorbent. Studies have shown that the modified vermiculite is able to retain the sorbed oil up to 2 days after the expiration of the main sorption time (4 hours). It is established that the oil capacity depends on the thickness of the oil film, the sorption time and the amount of the sorbent taken.

Testing of Natural Sorbents for the Assessment of Heavy Metal Ions’ Adsorption

Nowadays, the sorption-oriented approach is on the agenda in the remediation practices of lands contaminated with heavy metals. The current growing quantity of research accounts for different sorbets. However, there is still a lack of studies utilizing the economic criteria. Therefore, to ensure a wide application of opportunities, one of the necessary requirements is their economic efficiency in use. By utilizing these criteria, this manuscript researches the generally accepted natural sorbents for the assessment of heavy metal ions’ adsorption, such as peat, diatomite, vermiculite and their mixtures in different proportions and physical shapes. The methodological base of the study consists of the volumetric (titrimetric) method, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrometry. Experimental tests show a certain decline in the efficiency of heavy metal ions’ adsorption from aqueous salt solutes as follows: granular peat–diatomite > large-fraction vermiculite > medium-fraction vermiculite > non-granular peat–diatomite > diatomite.