BIONATURE 2013

– Extrazonal steppe forests are studied. In this paper we consider Rostov region which is a typical steppe area, where the majority of forests are man-made. We aim to analyze the present state of steppe forest landscapes and to discuss some related geo-environmental problems. Damage caused by fires, pests, diseases and unbalanced forestry is estimated for forest ecosystems of South Russia. Abstract —Arctic sea ice extent reached another historical record low in summer 2012. More importantly, perennial sea ice extent in 2012 set the new record low in the long period that extends back to the last half of the 20 th century as observed by a combination of long-term measurements acquired by ocean buoys and decadal data acquired by satellite scatterometers. To investigate impacts of sea ice reduction on atmospheric chemical processes, we conducted the BRomine, Ozone, and Mercury EXperiment (BROMEX) in March-April 2012 around Barrow, Alaska. We present an overview of BROMEX and highlight results to document sea ice change and chemical processes. We found a large number of bromine explosion events occurred in the BROMEX area where seasonal sea ice dominated. Abstract —Fatty acid status of the White Sea herring from Dvina, Kandalaksha and Onega Bays of the White Sea in autumn was investigated. The fatty acid profile of the herring groups from studied sites was characterized by high amount of monounsaturated fatty acids, among which 18:1(n-9) and 16:1(n-7) dominated. The herring from Kandalaksha Bay had higher ( р≤ 0.05) level of 18:1(n-9) fatty acid than the fish from Onega Bay, whereas the last one was characterized by low ( р≤ 0.05) level of 16:1(n-7). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were the second largest group in the herrings, mainly because of (n-3) fatty acids. In the herring from Onega Bay, the level of 22:6(n-3) was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher than in other fishes. Besides that, this fishes were characterized by high level of (n-3)/(n-6) PUFA, 18:3(n-3)/18:3(n-6) and 16:0/18:1(n-9) ratios. Detected lipid status reflects ecological and biochemical features of fish adaptation in relation to specific ecological factors of the inhabitation areas of the White Sea and choice of optimal and adequate survival strategy in sub-Arctic. The results of this work present information about some features of mechanisms of adaptations on the level of lipid spectra and the role of fatty acid constituents in ecological and biochemical adaptions of the White Sea herring. Abstract — An optical fiber biochemical gas sensor (bio-sniffer) for assessment of indoor formaldehyde was fabricated and tested. The bio-sniffer measures formaldehyde vapor as fluorescence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), which is the product of formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FALDH) reaction. Usually, an enzyme loses its specific activity in the gas phase. This makes biochemical gas monitoring difficult. We used a micro flow-cell with a FALDH immobilized membrane to prevent the FALDH from deactivation. An ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) with peak emission of 335nm was employed as an excitation light source. Emission of the UV-LED was introduced to the optode through an optical fiber and fluorescence of NADH was picked up coaxially at the optode. In order to improve the sensitivity, a photomultiplier tube was utilized as a photodetector. Consequently, continuous FA monitoring with biochemical method was successfully conducted with high sensitivity and high selectivity. A real-sample test was also carried out with the bio-sniffer. According to the results, it is expected to be useful in fast and convenient monitoring of indoor FA. Abstract- Currently, the worldwide demand for fossil fuel is increasing rapidly and, at the same time, known resources are diminishing. In particular, energy resources, such as oil and natural gas, are almost depleted in some parts of the world . In addition, the fact that the climate changes are more severe than before has increased the demand for renewable energy resources. Thus, energy from biomass is one of the potential renewable energy options. The availability of biomass, combined with the recent development of technologies to use it efficiently, with low level of emission, promise to make biomass an increasingly attractive fuel option. Coffee husk is an agricultural waste in coffee processing industries in different parts of Ethiopia that has the potential of exploiting energy via thermo-chemical conversion such as gasification. However, the characteristic properties of this material with regard to thermo-chemical conversion technologies are missing in literature. This study focuses on the experimental investigating of coffee husk in bubbling fluidized bed gasifier. The performance parameters that were investigated during the experiment were tar content and gas composition. The study findings show that the tar content of coffee husk gasification is not disturbing the smooth operation of the gasifier and the gas composition observed was good as compared to wood pellet. Therefore, coffee husk will be promising feedstock in fluidized bed gasification. Abstract —According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Green Growth means “Fostering economic growth and development, while ensuring that natural assets continue to provide the resources and environmental services on which our well-being relies”. Furthermore, since Sustainable Development provides an important context for Green Growth, The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) include the goal “Ensure environmental sustainability”, which considers four specific targets related to the development policies, the biodiversity loss, the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities and the improvement in the lives of slum dwellers. In this context, our paper aims to provide both analytical and empirical contributions for the monitoring of the MDG achievements. With this regard we firstly propose a Poverty-Growth-Environment triangle, and then we analyze the available statistical evidence in order to summarize the current progress and future perspectives towards the Environmental Millennium Development Goals. Abstract — One of the most important properties of the torrefied pellets, along with high calorific value, is their hydrophobicity. Inability to absorb moisture and self-destruct under its influence determine possibility of using of pellets in the pyrolysis reactor. For the technology of two-stage thermal processing of biomass, developed at the Joint Institute for High Temperatures, the amount of synthesis gas which can be obtained from one kilogram of torrefied pellets is also important. A construction of the pilot torrefaction reactor powered by flue gas is shown. The results of experimental investigations of hydrophobicity of torrefied pellets produced by the reactor and quantity of synthesis gas which can be obtained by two-stage thermal processing of the pellets are presented. It is shown that torrefaction allows simplifying the process of conversion of pellets into synthesis gas without significant reduction in the volume of the gas. Abstract —Possibilities of use of low-temperature pyrolysis (torrefaction) for improvement of heat engineering characteristics of biomass granulated fuel are considered. The data on hygroscopic properties, content of volatile matter and specific combustion heat of the torrefied fuel, produced under various conditions of processing of such types of biomass as wood, peat and agricultural waste, are presented. It is shown that the high-temperature conversion of gases and vapors, escaping during torrefaction, into synthesis gas is an effective method of their environmentally friendly utilization and, at the same time, increases the energy efficiency of biomass processing to granulated fuel. Abstract — The processes of heat and mass transfer, such as drying, pyrolysis and heating of biomass particles during torrefaction in a flow reactor are considered. It is shown that for small particle size (~ 1 cm) heat transfer between the heating flow and the particles does not depend on mass transfer and the characteristic time torrefaction determined by the pyrolysis of biomass particles. Analytical dependences of concentration of the waste component of pellets under the condition of small time of heating and evaporation in comparison to the time of pyrolysis are made.