Use of natural sorbents enriched with microorganisms (biodestructors and bioactivators)

The armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which began in 2014 and escalated into a full-scale war, has left a heavy environmental legacy for future generations. These include hundreds of thousands of tons of toxic substances (TSS) contained in submerged or buried aerial bombs, shells, mines, land mines, and other munitions, both exploded and unexploded.

Special attention is required to the underwater locations of these shells, as well as their decay products that have fallen into large territories and water bodies of Ukraine. As a result of prolonged (since 2014) exposure to moisture, the shells of the tanks with the OD have undergone critical corrosion. These facts have been repeatedly confirmed during the demining of deoccupied territories.

Residues of ODs that are in the soil in fields, in forest belts and on wastelands, with precipitation enter groundwater and flow into open water bodies. The spread of toxic substances by underwater currents and their release onto the shore leads to poisoning of the environment – people, animals and plants.

The problem of disposal of toxic substances

Modern chemical warfare agents (including mustard gas, lewisite, VX) are extremely persistent. They are slowly hydrolyzed, and the breakdown products can be no less toxic than the agents themselves. There are three main approaches to solving the problem of disposal:

1. Chemical processing – using specialized equipment, in particular the incineration method (offered by companies from the USA and Germany).
2. Physical containment is the preservation of hazardous containers (for example, surface concreting) with subsequent reburial. Common in Ukraine.
3. The biotechnological approach involves the use of microorganisms that can use organic matter as a source of nutrition and convert it into non-toxic substances.

Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages, but none is completely safe or environmentally friendly, as it requires mechanical intervention in the chemical hazard zone. In addition, the implementation of any of these approaches is a complex and expensive process, requiring special equipment and trained personnel.

Alternative: Biotechnological approach

Our team of specialists developed and tested a complex bioactivator in granular form, which showed a stable positive effect when used:

• in places of destroyed military equipment;
• in areas contaminated with fuel and lubricants;
• on reclaimed lands after demining.

The drug was used on ponds with a total area of ​​over 69 hectares (cadastral numbers: 4820680700:01:000:0314, :0315, :0316), located outside the village of Dobra Krynytsia, Ingulsky village council, Bashtansky district, Mykolaiv region, which are used for fishery needs.

Proposed solution

Based on positive experience, we offer a comprehensive system for cleaning polluted water areas and soils based on a biotechnological approach. The key component is a natural mineral sorbent – glauconite, combined with biodestructive microorganisms.

Why glauconite?

Glauconite is a marine aluminosilicate with high sorption properties, capable of absorbing:

• organochlorine and organophosphorus compounds;
• organometallic substances;
• petroleum products;
• heavy metals and radionuclides.

At the same time, it is a balanced environment for microorganisms and plants.

The main areas of use of glauconite:

• adsorbent of harmful substances;
• softening hard water;
• wastewater treatment;
• mineral fertilizer;
• environmentally friendly mineral pigment.

Ukraine has significant deposits of this mineral — millions of tons.

Technology for localization and neutralization of OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3pHG6YVjAg

Technical reinforcement scheme:

1. Concrete blocks are installed on the seabed to prevent the tanks from shifting.
2. A cushion of glauconite is poured.
3. Containers with liquid are laid out.
4. They are covered on top with a layer of glauconite.
5. To prevent washout, bags of glauconite are added.
6. If the containers cannot be moved, reinforcement is carried out directly on site.

Over time, glauconite forms a semi-permeable geochemical barrier that isolates toxins even in the presence of currents.

Implementation stages:

Stage 1. Survey of landfills or discharges of RW. Determination of volumes, condition of containers, level of contamination. Preparation of project documentation. Stage 2. Localization and conservation of contamination centers using glauconite. Stage 3. Settlement of destructor microorganisms that decompose RW. Glauconite is used as a carrier and nutrient medium. Pulp (glauconite + microorganisms) is introduced through wells directly to the source of contamination. Intermediate and final transformation products remain hermetically covered under an impermeable layer of glauconite.

In the event of a leak of liquid into water bodies, glauconite disperses above the source – slowly settling, it adsorbs pollutants and deposits them on the bottom.

The result is physical purification of the reservoir

In some cases, it is recommended to combine physical and biotechnological approaches.

Result: Combined physical and biotechnological purification of the reservoir

Literature:

1. Petrus R., Malovany M., Varchol Y., Odnorig Z., Petrushka I., Leskiv G. Wastewater treatment technologies using natural dispersed sorbents // Chemical Industry of Ukraine. – 2003. – No. 2. – P. 20–22.
2. Voropaeva Z.E., Katsnelson Y.Ya., Shamrai L.I. Glauconite – a sorbent of harmful chemicals. Express Information. M.: VIEMS, No. 2.
3. Distanov U.G., Mikhailov A.S., Konyukhova T.P., etc. Natural sorbents of the USSR. – M.: Nedra, 1990. – 208 p.
4. Kulchytska G.O., Tsyon O.V., Fenoshyn U.I. On the nature of carbon compounds in glauconite // Mineralogical Journal. – 1988. – No. 5. – P. 34–45.
5. Lazarenko E.K., Srebrodolskyi B.I. Mineralogy of Podillia. Lviv: Publishing House of LSU, 1969. – 346 p.
6. Mirkhodzhaev I.M., Beskrovnyi Yu.V. Use of adsorption properties of glauconite sandstones of the Changi deposit for wastewater treatment of industrial enterprises // Protection of groundwater of the Ukrainian SSR from pollution and depletion. Issue 2. – Kyiv: Naukova Dumka, 1970. – P. 53–54.
7. Fenoshina U.I., Turkevich G.I., Hrytsyk V.E., Zhilevsky D.Ya., Kovalev V.I. Glauconites of Ukraine and prospects for their use in the national economy. Materials of the XI All-Union Conference on the Study and Use of Clay Minerals. – M., 1976