Micronutrient Se is characterized by extremely low physiological requirements and a narrow threshold between deficiency and toxicity. Selenium deficiency leads to poor health and shortened lifespan. Soil is the primary source of Se for plants, and this element is then passed along the food chain. Most agricultural soils are characterized by a significant Se deficiency. Enriching soils with this micronutrient not only increases Se-content in agricultural products but also enhances the productivity of agrocenoses, reduces pathogen load on plants, and improves their stress resistance. Se-containing fertilizers can be used to enrich soils. Fertilizers containing Se in organic form or bioform are considered the safest, however, the production of such fertilizers is relatively expensive. Sodium selenate is most often used as a source of Se for plants. High toxicity is its disadvantage limiting its use in agriculture. Commercial forms of combined fertilizers enriched with Se are considered safer. The production and marketing of affordable and effective Se fertilizers is of great social importance. However, the technological aspects of their production have not been adequately addressed in scientific publications. Questions regarding optimal Se application rates to soils have not yet received an acceptable answer. Various publications report positive effects with Se applications ranging from 4 to 200 g/ha for the same crop. Assessing the environmental risks of large-scale Se-fertilizer use is controversial. However, there is evidence that due to volatile compounds formed, Se does not accumulate in soils and virtually does not migrate into groundwater.
Ginsenosides/panaxosides are glycosides of triterpenoids, active components of Panax plants. They have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antitumor effects. The chemical profile of ginsenosides in supercritical carbonic acid (SC-CO2), aqueous alcohol (70 %), and acetic acid (5 %) extracts of white ginseng cultivated in China was studied using HPLC-MS/MS. The mass fraction of ginsenosides in white ginseng CO2-extract is higher than in aqueous alcohol and acetic acid extracts, respectively 3.5 %, 2.1 % and 1.1 % dry matter. 23 compounds were identified, including the main polar ginsenosides-Rb-1, Rb-2, Rc, Rd (PPD-type) and Re, Rf, Rg(1) (PPT-type), as well as minor nonpolar ones-F-2, Rg(3), Rh-2 (PPD-type) and Rg(2), Rh-1 (PPT-type). The instability of oleanane saponins (Ro) upon heating is explained by their absence in the studied extracts and the appearance of zingibroside R-1 (Ho adduct) in the aqueous alcohol extract. Minor nonpolar ginsenosides and adducts accounted for the majority of acetic acid and SC-CO2 extracts; the aqueous alcohol extract contained approximately equal amounts of major and minor ginsenosides. The highest content of adducts with antioxidant effect-ginsenosides Rg(3), Rh-1, Rh-2, Rk(1), & Scy;K, Rg(1), Rb-1, Rb-2, He-was noted in SC-CO(2 )extract (67.7 %), the lowest-in alcohol extract (29.7 %). A product with the desired metabolic profile can be obtained by varying the extraction conditions.
A way to increase the performance of fuel cells is to optimize the cathode microstructure in order to increase the three-phase interface and reduce the polarization resistance. The synthesis of cathode materials determines particle sizes and shapes, which parameters, in turn, determine the electrochemical characteristics of the particles. This work is the first study designed to elucidate how the synthesis of lanthanum scandate manganite-based materials influences the phase formation, microstructure, and electrochemical characteristics of the prepared electrode layer. The manufactured materials were qualified by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The properties of La0.9Sr0.1Sc0.4Мn0.6O3 – δ materials with different synthesis histories were studied by impedance spectroscopy in contact with a lanthanum scandate-based proton-conducting electrolyte. The citrate-nitrate method is shown to be optimal for preparing these cathodes, facilitating the formation of electrochemically active cathode microstructure.
Environmental hazard of machinery production and aircraft industry can be reduced by reutilization of electrolytes for deposition of composite electrochemical coatings with enhanced physical properties. Specifically, composites consisting of the nickel matrix and dispersed phase can be obtained. The dispersed phase consists of micro-and nanoparticles which improves coating appearance and enhances performance parameters. Fly ash is formed during the combustion of solid fuel in the Thermal Power Plant (TPP). It is promising as dispersed phase because is consists of spherical particles of various diameters. The fly ash activation in the disposal solution of chemical-nickel plating causes an increase in particle size and weight due to the reduction of nickel over the particle surface and in agglomerates. The TPP-5 (Kirov, Russian Federation) fly ash is used in this study to obtain "nickel-activated fly ash" composite electrochemical coatings (CEC). The introduction of the fly ash coated with chemically-deposited nickel into the matrix obtained by electrochemical platting of nickel is shown to form the CEC with improved wear resistance due to the reduction of internal stresses and the absence of delamination. Dispersed particles embedded into the nickel matrix change its morphology and mechanical characteristics of the coating without changing the appearance. The obtained results demonstrate that the most promising combination for obtaining CEC is the following: the disposal nickel-plating electrolyte containing nickel-coated magnetic fraction of the fly ash with the particle size below 125 & micro;m. The application of the disposal nickel-plating electrolyte solution with a low nickel concentration for fly ash activation makes liquid waste processing easier and cheaper.
This article analyzes the implementation of environmental, social, and corporate responsibility (ESG) principles in the activities of the country's commercial banks, and examines examples and indicators of the country's largest banks regarding the implementation of "green" economy principles through the prism of ESG banking development. The aim of this article is to identify and analyze the main problems of implementing an ESG strategy in the Russian banking sector, as well as the possibility of assessing the level of ESG principles penetration in the commercial banks activities in the context of maintaining modern environmental approaches to organizing financial and economic activities. Reports on the sustainable development of Russian large commercial banks, as well as scientific and analytical publications on the implementation of the "green" economy principles were used as an information base for the analysis. Recently, the implementation of sustainable development goals agenda has become increasingly relevant. This creates challenges for the corporate sector. International companies are actively implementing ESG principles in their operations and recognize the importance of ESG risk management. Russian ESG agenda attracted public attention after the announcement of the EU cross-border carbon regulation project. In 2021, there was an active development of ESG practices and responsible financing instruments in Russia. In May 2020 the European Central Bank and the Central Bank of Russia announced a new position and plans for regulating and supervising the ESG risks in the financial activities process. Thus, the "Green" Economy Regulatory Group (GERG) was created. Supervisory authorities regulate the GERG's activities. The GERG issued a guide on sustainable and responsible investment, as well as banking portfolios management. At the same time, it is important to find an optimal balance between the areas of the country's financial and environmental policies, which would promote the implementation of the interests in the noted areas without compromising one of them. There is a need to monitor the results of ESG-principles implementation, to unify the model for assessing indicators, as well as to determining the role of the state and the banking sector in a "green" economy development.
