ASSESSMENT OF ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF COMPOSITE FUEL PRODUCTION FROM THE PEAT AND BIOMASS

The goal of investigation was assessment of environmental impact and economic efficiency of composite briquette production on the base of peat and renewable biomass. Biomass for composite briquettes was obtained from straw (cereal crops and rape) and wood residues (sawdust, chips) Experimental composite briquette were produced from the mixture of peat and biomass in relation to – 25 : 75, 50 : 50, 75 : 25. The technological cards of biomass feedstock production for 6 variants were developed. Technological cards were used for calculation of emission into the atmosphere during life cycle of biomass production and prime cost of biomass. The lowest volume of gas (SO2, NOx, CO2) and particulate matter (PM) emission was installed for biomass production from the sawdust. The highest volume of emission was installed for production of biomass from the straw with pressing it in standard bale. The volume of CO2 emission for the sawdust production was 6 kg per ton of biomass and for the standard bale of straw was 19 kg per ton of biomass. Prime cost of sawdust production (lowest) was 11 belarusian rubles per ton of biomass, for the wood chips was 19 rubles per ton and for the straw varied from 26 to 33 rubles per ton in depend of technology. It was installed that growth of biomass rate in composite briquette had a good influence on number of basic fuel characteristics (contents of ash, sulfur and moisture). The variation of calorific value of briquette was not significant in depend of biomass contents. In accordance with assessment of all characteristics the better briquettes was obtained from the peat and sawdust.

ASSESSMENT OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE MAIN CLIMATIC FACTORS ON THE YIELD OF WINTER CEREAL CROPS ON THE TERRITORY OF BELARUS FOR FORECASTING PURPOSES

The results of a statistical assessment of the influence of changing weather and climatic conditions of the territory of Belarus on the productivity of the main winter cereal crops are presented in order to build computational models of productivity. The calculations were made with respect to the climatic component as a predictor, taking into account the deviations of air temperature and precipitation from the long-term climatic norm of months that have the most significant effect on the yield of the studied crops. For winter rye and wheat, adequate models of yield variability have been built. The research results are relevant for solving forecasting problems.

RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF HUMIC SUBSTANCES OF PEAT AND BROWN COAL

Knowledge about structure and rheological peculiarities of drilling solutions and reagents applied for the proceeding of oil wells has significant value for the forecasting of oil wells drilling. The research results of the structure of the humic substances of peat and brown coals precipitated in different pH ranges from the standpoint of their ability to structure formation on the base of the rheological curves obtaining of the flow of their dispersions and determining of their rheological parameters in terms of their application in drilling practice are given in the article. It is established that during transition from fraction, beset into alkaline media (12.0–8.5) to fraction beset into acid media (5.0–2.0) the decrease of the rheological indicators of caustobiolate humic substance is occurred. Rheological curves of the flow of the disperse of caustobiolate humic substances of the fraction 1 and 2 are characterized for strong fossil structures, disperses of humic substances of the fraction 3 is for less strong coagulation structures. Less structured are humic substances of brown coal so that their use is preferable for the regulation of the structure and rheological peculiarities of drilling solutions.

THE GEOLOGICAL ROLE OF THE SEARCH METHOD "WILD CAT WELLS" IN THE STUDY OF THE HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL OF THE PRIPYAT TROUGH

The results of geological exploration for oil within the Elsky, Shatilkovsky, Savichsky and Petrikovsko-Shestovichsky sections of the Pripyat trough are analyzed. The analysis covers almost 70 years from the drilling of the first exploratory wells laid by the "wild cat" method to the modern comprehensive justification. During the analyzed period, from 12 to 23 deep wells were drilled with a total penetration of 42.3 thousand meters to 68.3 thousand meters in each section. The initial stage of work after the first oil inflow is characterized by a higher activity of drilling new exploratory wells, justified by the methods available at that time. The negative result of exploratory drilling in certain areas is also due to the significant fragmentation of the intrasalt perspective horizons and the areal unevenness of reservoir layers in the subsalt complex. Within the boundaries of the sites, deposits with recoverable oil reserves of no more than 450 thousand tons are established, which can be determined as a low economic efficiency of prospecting operations. However, the work has played a positive role in determining real models of hydrocarbon traps for use in the study of other sites.

ESTIMATES OF MOISTURE AND VULNERABILITY OF SOILS OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS OF THE BELARUSIAN POLESIE TO DROUGHT

The evaluation of soil moistening of farmlands of the Belarusian Polesie under the conditions of modern climate change is given. The frequency of occurrence of soil droughts has been determined. A comparative assessment of the change in the frequency of soil droughts during the pre-warming period (1951–1980) and the modern period (1989–2018) is given. The cyclical nature of the change in the average number of cases with soil droughts has been established. Indicators of the degree of vulnerability of soils of farmlands in the region to droughts have been determined. A map of the degree of vulnerability of soils of farmlands to droughts of the Belarusian Polesie and Kalinkovichi district of the Gomel region is presented.

THE METHOD OF SELECTING OF PEATLAND FROM SEVERAL SUITABLE AT THE PRE-DESIGN STAGE OF ITS PREPARATION FOR EXPLOITATION

The generalize desirability function of Harrington which can include a variety of particular parameters such as technological, technical and economic, qualitative characteristics is widely used in the search for optimal conditions in various areas of the national economy. The analysis of the tasks solved during the research and project works showed that this method can be successfully applied in the peat industry. The article, as an example, considers the selection method for the peat deposit from several suitable for extraction of sod peat intended for the production of activated charcoals, which at the current time is the best option. It is shown that the use of the generalized desirability function makes it possible to achieve acceptable results at the stage of preproject preparation, without recourse to complex mathematical calculations, which are the basis of a standard feasibility study. Thus, the proposed method allows to reduce labor and financial costs.

FEATURES OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE STRUCTURE OF THE BELARUSIAN POLESIE AREA IN THE MURAVIAN INTERGLACIAL

Based on the analysis of about 850 borehole sections and published data on the geology of the region, a paleogeomorphological scheme of the Belarusian Polesie Area in the Muravian interglacial was made. It shows that the earth's surface at that time was more dissected than now, elevation marks reached 150 m (at the present time – 120 m). Sublatitudinal zoning was clearly manifested in the relief and expressed in the alternation of bands of high and low relief. The same genetic types as in the modern relief prevailed. However, there were certain differences: in the interglacial period large areas were occupied by glacial formations, the outliers of denudation lowlands, which are composed of Cretaceous, Paleogene-Neogene rocks and almost absent now, were presented, glaciolacustrine surfaces were widespread. The constructed paleogeomorphological scheme can be used for study of the direction of natural processes development in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene.

SORPTION MATERIALS BASED ON ALKALI-INSOLUBLE COMPONENTS PEAT AND BROWN COAL FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT FROM IONS OF HEAVY METAL

The problem of environmental pollution with heavy metals is relevant for the Republic of Belarus. One of the ways to remove heavy metals from industrial wastewater is to treat them with sorbents. Sorbents based on peat and brown coal are effective and inexpensive, but their use leads to secondary contamination of the treated environment with water-soluble organic compounds. It is shown that the developed sorption materials based on peat and brown coal residues sorb heavy metal ions (copper, nickel, zinc) and do not pollute the treated medium with water-soluble organic compounds (the COС value of sorption materials does not exceed 5 mg O2/dm3). It was found that the exchange capacity of sorption materials in an acidic medium (pH 2.0) is higher than that of humic acids and is in the range of 0.17–1.38 mmol/g. The use of ultrasonic treatment to increase the exchange capacity of sorption materials makes it possible to increase it by 2.3–3.0 times for copper ions and 2.2 times for zinc ions, which is due to the destruction of large aggregates. The obtained results formed the basis for the development of a technology for obtaining sorption materials for wastewater treatment from heavy metal ions.

ASSESSMENT OF THE GEOECOLOGICAL SITUATION WITHIN THE SMALL DRAINS IN THE YASELDA RIVER BASIN

The main topic of research is the drainage basins of small rivers, which in recent years have become objects of close attention due to the high degree of their transformation associated with significant anthropogenic loads. The article presents a methodology for geoecological analysis of anthropogenic loads on the catchments of small rivers, an assessment of the degree of natural protection of the territory and a comprehensive description of the ecological state of the Yaselda river basin using GIS technologies. The paper considers the results of the study of the geoecological state of small catchments by assessing various indicators of the natural protection of the territory and factors of anthropogenic load. The scientific novelty of the research consists in the development of a methodology for assessing the geoecological situation of small catchments of the rivers of the Belarusian Polesye on the basis of a matrix of attributive indicators, which allows, taking into account generalized point estimates, to identify categories of lands with different geoecological situations. As a result of the research, a hydrographic zoning of the river basin was carried out. Yaselda, eight small private catchments (sub-basins) were identified, cartographic material was digitized, statistical data were collected, a database was created on various physical-geographical, socio-economic and ecological-hydrographic indicators. In this work, for the first time, the natural resource potential of small catchments of the Yaselda river basin is studied and presented, the natural environment-forming factors are assessed, and the main anthropogenic factors are identified, their qualitative and quantitative characteristics are carried out.

INVESTIGATION OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE ORGANIC AND MINERAL PARTS OF SOLID WASTE FROM THE PRODUCTION OF HUMIC PREPARATIONS

The composition of the organic and mineral parts of solid residues from the production of humic preparations Hydrohumate, Oxyhumate, peat oxidate and Consil was studied. Significant differences in the component composition of these wastes, depending on the technologies for obtaining drugs, have been established. Redox-hydrolytic processing of peat leads to almost complete (acid-base hydrolysis) or partial (oxidation) destruction of hemicelluloses and the relative accumulation of cellulose and "lignin" in solid waste. The organic parts of the residues contain up to 30 % humic substances, due to the fact that the technologies for the production of humic preparations do not provide for the stage of washing the residues after separation in a centrifuge and some of the humic preparations remain in the solid phase. It is shown that the mineral part of solid residues includes a wide range of biogenic macro-and microelements, since humates of monovalent metals pass into solution, and salts of humic substances with metals of higher valence are insoluble and remain in the solid residue from hydrolysis or oxidation of peat. The study of the chemical composition of solid residues from the production of humic preparations showed possible directions for their effective disposal. Waste products are humate-containing products with a wide range of biogenic macro-and microelements, so they can be effectively used as biologically active additives to soils, compost, fertilizers, as well as in pond fish farming to stimulate the development of components of the natural food base of fish and increase the fish productivity of reservoirs.