The quest for alternative energy sources, including electrochemical ones, has never been more critical. The key components in energy-releasing devices are functional electrodes, which have a large specific active surface area and high lateral electrical conductivity. This article considers the modification of electrodes by electrochemical deposition from the liquid phase as a promising strategy to obtain alternative electrochemical energy sources. The modification resulted in oriented metal nanowire networks with a developed surface area due to their high anisotropy. Using the deposition from supramolecular systems containing metal ions and calix[4]resorcinol, a high homogeneity of the applied network layer was achieved. The method of electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM) was employed for in situ observation of the formation of the anisotropic network on the electrode surface. Several complexes of metal ions (Fe(II), Ni(II), Co(II)) with thiophosphorylated calix[4]resorcinols were investigated, and the electrochemical reduction potentials and deposition times were determined for each of them. For most of the studied systems, the electrochemical deposition proceeded with the formation of nanoparticles, which combined into large aggregates, producing a continuous film.

The chemical composition, physical properties, and biological activities of Cananga odorata essential oil (CoEO) from fresh blossoms collected in Dong Nai (Vietnam) were studied. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed the dominance of benzyl acetate (13.15 %), β-linalool (19.73 %), and β-caryophyllene (8.01 %), which are all known for their pronounced antibacterial and antioxidant effects. CoEO also demonstrated favorable physical properties such as relative density (0.95 ± 0.01), absolute density (0.92 ± 0.03 g/mL), and evaporation time (up to 108 h), indicating its prolonged fragrance retention and stability. Using the DPPH• (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) test, the high antioxidant capacity of CoEO (IC₅₀ = 50 ± 3 mg/mL) was found. In addition, CoEO exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Based on the obtained findings, it can be suggested that CoEO may have many valuable potential applications in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.

Urban tree assemblages are an integral natural component of cities. Each autumn, during the leaf fall season, leaf waste (leaf litter) accumulates on the ground and is then collected and disposed of in municipal solid waste landfills by public services. However, as part of the gradual shift toward a circular economy and in the context of the development of the national project “Technological support of bioeconomy,” fallen leaves can be recycled into valuable resources, such as oil sorbents. This article examines the production of an oil sorbent from urban leaf litter using only mechanical modification methods (drying, grinding, pelletizing, and fabrication of oil sorbent pillows). The approach was tested on fallen leaves of common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), whose oil sorption capacity has never been studied. The leaves were collected within the urbanized area of Ufa and subsequently utilized to produce oil sorbent samples (0.1–5 mm leaf particles, along with 2 mm pellets and a pillow made from leaf particles of the same size). The highest oil sorption capacity was observed for the leaf particles sized 1 and 2 mm and the pillow. The worst results were obtained for the pellets.

The kinetics of mineral nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by Chlorella vulgaris during its intensive phototrophic cultivation in Tamiya medium were examined. The main growth parameters of the batch culture were established: maximum biomass concentration (2.3 ± 0.1 g/L), specific growth rate (0.46 1/day), and maximum productivity (0.27 g/(L×day)). The requirements of C. vulgaris for phosphorus (13.4 ± 0.5 mg P/g of dry weight (DW)) and nitrogen (86 ± 4 mg N/g DW), as well as their specific uptake rates (1.12 ± 0.05 mg P/(g DW×day) and 7.1 ± 0.4 mg N/(g DW×day), respectively), were determined. At a N : P ratio of about 6.4 : 1, the assimilation of these essential macronutrients was balanced. Without additional CO₂ supply, the extraction efficiencies of phosphorus and nitrogen were only 15 and 32 %, respectively, due to carbon limitation. The protein content in the biomass (56 %) was calculated, indicating a strong proteinogenic potential of the studied strain. The results are helpful for further optimization of biotechnological processes in microalgae cultivation and for the development of biological wastewater treatment systems.

This article outlines a new and rapidly developing method of managing organic waste by using biochar as an additive in composting. Biochar, produced through pyrolysis of organic biomass, has a highly porous structure, a large specific surface area, and a high cation exchange capacity. These properties make it effective for improving compost structure and maintaining stable physicochemical parameters during composting. Here, a detailed analysis was performed on the effects of biochar on key composting parameters, including temperature, moisture, aeration, pH, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N), as well as on the levels of toxicants and antibiotics, the structure of the microbial community, and the presence of pathogenic species in compost. Special attention was given to the role of biochar in shaping antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of compost microorganisms, particularly the mechanisms that may reduce their abundance.

Six bacterial strains capable of degrading benzoic acid (BA) were isolated from anthropogenically contaminated Antarctic soil samples. In addition to using BA as the sole carbon and energy source, the bacterial isolates were capable of growing on other aromatic substrates (naphthalene, biphenyl, and ortho-phthalate). Based on the 16S rRNA gene analysis, the strains were identified as belonging to the class Actinomycetes (affiliated with genera such as Arthrobacter, Cryobacterium, Paeniglutamicibacter, Pseudarthrobacter, and Rhodococcus). The studied bacteria, except for Rhodococcus sp. LB2, grew efficiently on BA at 10 °C, and Paeniglutamicibacter sp. PBA4 and Cryobacterium sp. LBA9 also maintained growth at lower temperatures (4 °C). The benA genes encoding the α-subunit of benzoate 1,2-dioxygenase, a key BA-degrading enzyme, were found in all isolates. The nucleotide sequences of the benA genes of the tested strains were most similar (81.7–100 %) to known homologous sequences of Actinomycetes bacteria from extreme habitats. The results suggest that the isolated BA-degrading bacteria may be used to restore contaminated habitats with cold climates.

The surface soils of the Preduralye Nature Reserve were analyzed for dialkyl esters of phthalic acid. Five phthalates (dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and diethylhexyl phthalate) were identified in the samples. Their total content was in the range of 0.012–0.461 mg/kg, with a median of 0.064 mg/kg and a mean of 0.099 mg/kg. Dibutyl and diethylhexyl phthalates were the most abundant, accounting for 90–100 % of the total phthalate content. The content of phthalates in the studied soils varied with vegetation types. The highest levels were detected in the soils of the fir–spruce forests and the oak forest, as well as in the soils of the meadows dominated by green strawberry. The lowest levels were in the soils of the maple–linden forests, the coastal aquatic and synanthropic plant communities, and the meadows dominated by awnless brome, ground elder, and cocksfoot.

This article presents the results of an overlay analysis carried out from 2000 to 2024 in the forest stands and burned areas of the Dyakovsky Forest National Park. Using expert interpretation of multi-temporal satellite images, 9300 ha of natural and planted forests and 53 fire events, including 13 fires that entered the protected territory from outside the park boundary, were identified. The results show that fires appear to be the primary cause of forest loss in the park. The extensive fires of 2008 and 2010 destroyed 3200 ha of its forests. In total, 3600 ha of forests died due to fires in the studied years. Pine stands were found to be particularly vulnerable to fires, with 93.7 % of mortality cases associated with crown fires. Small-leaved elm stands turned out to be more resistant to ground fires, yet still suffered loss in 62 % of cases due to fire disturbance. The recurrence of fires was low (no more than three fire events per site).

Based on snow samples collected in 2016–2022, the chemical composition of the snow cover in major urban centers of the Republic of Tatarstan, including Kazan, Almetyevsk, Bugulma, and the Nizhnekamsk industrial zone, was examined. The snowmelt waters exhibited mineralization values of 5.26–733 mg/L, pH of 4.89–7.84, and dust fallout intensity of 1.40–880 kg/(km² ×day). Differences were identified among various natural and anthropogenic landscapes, as well as across key functional zones both within and outside the urban areas. The least mineralized and dusty snow was found in the field sites and lake environments away from roads. The highest pollution levels were associated with the suburban highways, industrial zones, and heavily trafficked roads in Kazan. The potential of using isotopic data (δD and δ¹⁸O) to infer the degree of snow pollution was demonstrated. The mean fallout intensity of dissolved substances and dust with winter atmospheric precipitation in Tatarstan was estimated at 1.1 t/km² and 5.37 t/km² , respectively. The total amount of substances deposited in the region by the snow cover per winter season was 438 800.5 t. The most intense acidic precipitation was observed near the Nizhnekamsk industrial zone, although the emissions from its petrochemical enterprises affected only the snow pH and organoleptic properties. The substantial improvement in the snow quality since 1990 suggests a progressive enhancement of the air quality.