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Abstract: The paper considers the current state and prospects for the development of the production of the main material, polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon), used in micro and power electronics and photovoltaics. The dynamics of the polysilicon market dynamics are analyzed. It is noted that the growth in the output of polysilicon is determined by the growing needs of photovoltaics and the global trend towards renewable power generation. It is expected that polysilicon production will grow at a rate faster than 10-15% per annum. For the intensive development of photovoltaics, an important role is played by the development level of polysilicon technology and the availability of this material for the large-scale production of highly efficient solar cells. The main technology used in the industry based on the Siemens process is forecast to remain dominant in the long term. OOO Kremniitechnoprom is developing a state-of-the-art polysilicon production facility based on the original developments and modernization of the Siemens process, which is planned to be implemented in Russia involving leading specialists and enterprises from Germany (SPSC GmbH, GEC GmbH). The new enterprise ensures the maximum production safety, despite the potential risks inherent in the technology, primarily through the guarantee of the performance of modern hardware and process flow schemes, the reliability of the equipment and design solutions, and an emergency protection system. Toxic waste will be processed into safe substances and the end products will be sold. The enterprise will be optimized by key indicators for competitive production, such as the product price, production volume, specific capital investment, and current unit costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proposed method of disposal of precipitation sewage treatment plants and increase soil fertility in Nizhnevartovsk. The properties of soils obtained using precipitation generated in the wastewater treatment process of the city. The effect of dose sediment germination, growth and yield of lawn grass. The optimum content of sewage sludge in the soil. Lawn grass crops in soils produced using sewage sludge showed the resistance of plants to adverse conditions of continental climate in West Siberia. Soils obtained recommended for creating urban lawns, which will reduce the cost of purchasing the traditional types of fertilizers, eliminate the need for storage of sewage sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The uncontrolled presence of African swine fever (ASF) in Russian Federation (RF) poses a serious risk to the whole European Union (EU) pig industry. Although trade of pigs and their products is banned since the official notification in June 2007, the potential introduction of ASF virus (ASFV) may occur by other routes, which are very frequent in ASF, and more difficult to control, such as contaminated waste or infected vehicles. This study was intended to estimate the risk of ASFV introduction into the EU through three types of transport routes: returning trucks, waste from international ships and waste from international planes, which will be referred here as transport-associated routes (TAR). Since no detailed and official information was available for these routes, a semi-quantitative model based on the weighted combination of risk factors was developed to estimate the risk of ASFV introduction by TAR. Relative weights for combination of different risk factors as well as validation of the model results were obtained by an expert opinion elicitation. Results: Model results indicate that the relative risk for ASFV introduction through TAR in most of the EU countries (16) is low, although some countries, specifically Poland and Lithuania, concentrate high levels of risk, the returning trucks route being the analyzed TAR that currently poses the highest risk for ASFV introduction into the EU. The spatial distribution of the risk of ASFV introduction varies importantly between the analyzed introduction routes. Results also highlight the need to increase the awareness and precautions for ASF prevention, particularly ensuring truck disinfection, to minimize the potential risk of entrance into the EU. Conclusions: This study presents the first assessment of ASF introduction into the EU through TAR. The innovative model developed here could be used in data scarce situations for estimating the relative risk associated to each EU country. This simple methodology provides a rapid and easy to interpret results on risk that may be used for a target and cost-effective allocation of resources to prevent disease introduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of radionuclides, especially anions, in water can substantially exceed local background levels in the vicinity of former and currently operating uranium enrichment plants. In this study, we present new data on environmental monitoring near the uranium sludge collector of an electrochemical plant (ECP) in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. We first tracked the complex biogeochemical processes that can affect the fate and transport of U in highly nitrate-polluted ground- and surface water. We described the main mechanisms of U immobilization: (a) biogenic and abiogenic reduction (microbial nitrate reduction caused dramatically Eh decrease), (b) sorption by organic matter in peat and by microbial biofilms on a sandy rock surface, and (c) precipitation with biogenic and abiogenic phases. The intensity of the biogenic and abiogenic factors depended on the dynamics of changes in the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP)-pH conditions as well as organic- and inorganic anion concentrations with distance from the source of pollution. Anammox bacteria were found in areas with high nitrate pollution, and we believe that they played a key role in lithotrophic nitrogen consumption and primary organic production. These data can form the basis for complex groundwater remediations close to U sludge repositories and can be implemented beyond the ECP site itself. • Complex biogeochemical monitoring near a uranium sludge collector at ECP was done. • U migration is determined by Eh-pH conditions based on biogenic and abiogenic factors. • Organic matter influenced U sorption on microbial biofilms on rocks and on peats. • Anammox bacteria can play a key role in nitrate reduction and organic production. • IN SITU microbial redox barrier could be done in nitrate-polluted groundwater on ECP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploitation of mineral deposits is followed by the formation of huge amounts of wastes, which have strong negative impacts on the surrounding environment. This paper presents the results of the compilation of data on general environmental problems in sites of waste disposal from mining and ore processing in Russia, based on the analysis of published data and own research. The own research of the authors relates to the estimation of the environmental hazards of mining waste using geochemical investigations and biotesting, as well as the development of the classification of technogenic mineral resources counting the reasons of the accumulation of precious components in them and findings on their environmental impact. The influence of waste disposal was determined as significant and diverse, leading to the transformation of all natural compartments surrounding waste disposal sites. The situation is especially aggravated when there are some mining and processing facilities within one relatively small territory. As a result, strong influence zones are formed. These zones have pronounced geochemical features reflecting the specificity of extracted rocks and produced raw materials. The analyzed information can serve as a basis for the development of nature protection measures for the mining waste disposal sites in Russia. Such measures using modern technical means for monitoring can minimize environmental damage from technogenic mineral formations.