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The Bi2O3/Bi2SiO5 heterostructures were obtained with various samples of silica as a precursor: on the basis of biogenic silica isolated from rice husk and rice straw and the silica of mineral origin. A mixture of Bi(NO3)3 and SiO2 with a mass content of 15% was used for synthesizing all the samples. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray phase, X-ray fluorescence, and ultraviolet-visible diffused reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS) were used to systematically characterize as-obtained materials. Photodegradation of methyl orange in neutral aqueous solutions (pH = 6.8) under UV irradiation was studied to evaluate their photocatalytic activities. Morphology, bandgaps, the value of the zero charge point, and photocatalytic activity of the samples depended on the characteristics of the original silica. The degree of methyl orange degradation reached the maximum values (81%-85%) for samples based on precipitated silica from rice husks, straw, and the minimum value (16%) for a composite with thermal silica from rice straw. Composites based on thermal silica from rice husks and reagents from mineral raw materials did not statistically differ from each other in the degree of methyl orange degradation (67%-74%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, most of the modern society is concentrated in large and medium-sized cities. This gives residents more opportunities for self-realization, professional development, socialization, as well as a greater number of options for spending their personal time, which undoubtedly affects the satisfaction of a person living in an urban environment. To prevent a decline in the development of the city, constant monitoring of the state of the urban environment is necessary, since the population is constantly in direct contact with it. The number of the city's population and the satisfaction of living in it is one of the most important components of the indicator of the development of all sectors of the city. Assessment of the mood of the population is most often done through personal interviews with citizens. The purpose of the survey is to get an opinion about the general situation in the city or about certain areas, events, news. To automate this process, it was decided to create an information system for collecting citizens' opinions on certain events in social networks and mass media, which greatly simplifies the process of assessing the mood of citizens.

Over the last decade, membrane-based CO2 capture using ionic liquids (ILs) has been demonstrated as a promising technology. However, elaborative synthesis of monomers and long-term instability of IL-based composite membranes have so far limited their industrial relevance. In this paper, novel membranes are introduced for CO2 separation using poly(ionic liquids) (PILs) based on polyvinylbenzyl chloride (PVBC). Three PIL-based membranes were prepared as thin-film composites (TFC) by solvent casting with subsequent sealing. They were tested for the CO2 removal from synthetic flue gas. An ammonium-derivatised PVBC-analogue was prepared as a first PIL-type by polymerisation of an IL monomer, whereas two other PILs, respectively with hydroxyethyl ammonium and pyrrolidinium cations, were obtained using a modification of commercial PVBC. Introduction of bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (Tf2N) anions was accomplished by metathesis. A thorough characterisation of the material structure, composition, membrane morphology and gas separation properties demonstrates that the presence of hydroxyl groups in the polycation enhanced the interaction with CO2 molecules. The mixed-gas selectivity increases with the higher positive charge on the cation species (hydroxyethyl-dimethylammonium ＞ trimethylammonium ＞ pyrrolidinium). More importantly, experiments performed in humidified conditions particularly revealed a doubled CO2 permeance and a 20–30% increased selectivity in comparison to dry conditions. These developments are spurring the application of PIL-based TFC membranes for CO2 capture from flue gas streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the main issues of energy saving and energy efficiency in the Russian Federation, in particular, the issues of implementing state policy and development of energy management in the region. The authors define the concept of “energy saving” through the prism of subject of regulation, which more fully reveals the whole range of relations of energy saving, corresponding to the essence of legal regulation. The purpose of the study is to analyze legal and managerial problems of implementation of state program on energy saving and energy efficiency in the framework of regional management. The scientific novelty of the study consists in studying problems of energy saving and energy efficiency in the implementation of regional legislative establishments and issues of effectiveness of energy management in the region. The leading approach to the study of this problem is dialectic, analysis, synthesis, formal legal and comparative legal method. Conclusions: First, the state program of energy saving and energy efficiency at the regional level is not being implemented effectively enough. The main problem lies in weak coordination policy of interaction between the region and municipalities in organizing and conducting activities aimed at effective energy saving in the region. Secondly, the use of energy-saving technologies at industrial sites and business facilities is fairly low. Thirdly, there is no comprehensive legal study of this area of relations, and scientific papers are fragmentary.