The paper considers ways to reduce industrial waste of spent cation exchange catalysts by pre-purification of hydrocarbon raw materials from catalytic poisons with lignosulfonates. The indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of lignosulfonates are highlighted, the normalized values for ensuring the quality of purification are indicated. To achieve the results of purification, optimal conditions for the preparation of primary lignosulfonate compounds are shown. Taking into account the duration of decomposition of waste cation exchange catalysts, the efficiency of large-scale implementation of the results obtained is evaluated, ways of significantly increasing the duration of operation of ion exchange catalysts are indicated. Catalytic poisons are captured by biodegradable lignosulfonate, which can be reused as components of drilling fluids or regenerated for re-filtration from catalytic poisons.

Improvement of energy and eco-efficiency of diesel locomotives by using mixed fuel, in particular, diesel fue with added hydrogen, has been addressed. The mechanism of main chemical reactions of fuel ignition with added of hydrogen has been studied. Experimental development test results to assess the energy and eco-efficiency of the diesel-locomotive shunter ChME-3 performance with added hydrogen in all modes on load tests.

The results of the aqueous liquids purification by sorption from various impurities by using ashes as sorbent resulting from the solid-fuel combustion (wood processing waste, coal) are presented. Sorption kinetic dependences have been studied, sorption characteristics of concerned ash samples relative to iron and phosphate counter-ions in aqueous liquids have been determined. Purification and sorption capacity values of concerned ash samples relative to ions extracted from aqueous liquids have been calculated. High efficiency of iron ion extraction from aqueous liquids by bypassing-products wihout any additional reagent has been discovered. Wood ash is a promising sorbent for phosphate ions.

The analysis of the problems associated with greenhouse gas emissions in various sectors of the world economy is carried out. It is noted that in recent decades, greenhouse gases have caused global damage such as global warming and climate change. Complete decarbonization of global industry is necessary to achieve climate stabilization, and achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050–2070 is necessary to limit global warming to 2 °C. The authors consider the issues of solving the problem of managing greenhouse gas emissions in the regional economy, in particular: setting the problem, creating an information model and a set of programs for decision-making on the interaction between carbon market participants on the scale of a separate region (on the example of a number of enterprises in various fields of activity of the Tambov region of the Russian Federation). The proposed management methodology allows to reduce total costs for economic entities in the interests of the entire region. Thus, the authors proposed a tool to stimulate economic subjects, the use of which will bring them and the whole society closer to decarbonization of the economy.

Data on mining landscapes at large deposits of non-ferrous metal ores, both abandoned and opencast, in the mining regions of Russia based on the remote sensing have been presented. On the basis of high-resolution satellite images, the number of mining and conveyor equipment in opencast quarries at deposits of non-ferrous metal ores and gold has been determined. Through mining logistics indicators determied via satellite images, diesel fuel consumption by haul trucks involved in pit-run rock transportation has been calculated. The toxic substances emission by haul truck at deposits of non-ferrous metal ores has been rated.

The paper presents study results of the disturbed lands ecological state due to the opencast mining of deposits of non-ferrous metal ores in the Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Krasnoyarsk regions. According to the OMS data on quarries, rock-disposal dumps, processed ore storages' surface there have been detected some self-restoring vegetation ecosystems. The necessity in rehabilitation of rock-disposal dumps piled during mining operations in areas with a short vegetative cycle has been substantiated.

Study results of disturbed lands ecological state due to the opencast mining of shaft developements in polymetals in the Orenburg region have been introduced. According to OMS data, self-restoring rates of vegetation and aquatic ecosystems of quarries and rock-disposal dumps due to the opencast mining of the concerned shaft developments have been brought to light. The necessity in rehabilitation of sulfide-containing rock-disposal dumps has been substantiated.

Results of vegetation ecosystem development in disturbed lands due to the opencast mining at shaft development in non-ferrous metals in the mining regions of Siberia and the Far East have been presented. According to OMS data, vegetation self-restoration rates of quarries, rock-disposal dumps due to the opencast mining of concerned deposits and in the storage surface of processed ore storages due to the back end have been identified. The necessity in rehabilitation of rockdisposal dumps to accelerate the vegetation development has been substantiated.

There has been presented a brief description of deposits of non-ferrous metal ores and opencast mining technologies based on remote sensing data of the Earth from space. Conventional configurations of mining and conveyor equipment for promising shaft developments in polymetals have been simulated. As part of the 3D modeling of opencast mining, technological designs' developments for reducing hazardous substances emission of haul trucks have been substantiated. It has been proposed to include green sources of electric power supply in mining enterprises energy systems.

Study results of quarries and rock-disposal dumps sizes at deposits of non-ferrous metal ores and abandoned deposits have been presented. Operating procedures and mining and conveyor equipment configurations for the mining-engineering recultivation of rock-disposal dumps has been determined. During ecological and mathematical modeling of the applied and author's technology of mining-engineering recultivation, the author's technical rehabilitation approach has been substantiated to significantly reduce the toxic substances emission. It has been proposed to include green sources of electric power supply in mining enterprises energy systems.

The simulation of dusting of phosphogypsum dump of Balakovsky branch of JSC "Apatit" of "PhosAgro" Group of Companies was conducted. On the basis of the analysis of the meteorological data for the period 2006–2019, the information on a projective covering by vegetation for the period 2006–2019, a relief and a soil map modeling of relative concentration for the particles the size less than 0,01 mm; 0,01–0,03 mm; 0,03–0,05 mm; 0,05–0,1 mm; 0,1–1 mm and 1–8 mm was done. It was found as a result of the joint analysis of the constructed maps and field data, that the map of the weighted sum of relative concentrations of the analyzed particles well enough reflects spatial variability of the maintenance in soil La and Ce, prevailing components among the analyzed rare-earth elements (correlation coefficient 0.74 and 0.68 accordingly). The modeling results can be used to assess the impact of phosphogypsum dumps on the adjacent territory and its soil cover.

A comprehensive analysis of the precautionary principle is carried out in the article. The essence of the "precautionary principle" concept and its main elements are analyzed, the concept of "morally unacceptable harm"is interpreted. A retrospective analysis of the emergence of the "precautionary principle" concept is carried out, the place and role of the precautionary principle in various international treaties is investigated. It is emphasized that scientific uncertainty is not an excuse for inaction when there is convincing evidence of potentially serious damage. The moral and ethical basis of the precautionary principle is noted. The place of the precautionary principle in the theory and practice of decisionmaking is investigated in the article. It is emphasized that the precautionary principle must be applied in conditions of uncertainty, when the boundaries of possible results are unknown and there are no reliable grounds for quantifying probabilities, and the ethical aspects of equality between and within generations are at stake, other decision-making principles cannot satisfactorily solve these problems.