We set forth results of the experiments on acid mine drainage treatment and neutralization carried out on the laboratory and pilot scales aimed to develop the comprehensive technology based on galvanocoagulation, reactant flotation and sonoplasma purification methods. The authors proposed instrumentation and process flow diagrams for comprehensive processing of acid mine drainage aimed to develop multifunctional mobile unit for acid mine drainage treatment and neutralization in the areas of mining operations. The developed principles of comprehensive technology can become a foundation for the breakthrough approach to solving a wide range of problems in the processes of ground water conditioning and purification.

Acid processing of montmorillonite clay ensured production of the sorbent agent for heavy metals removal from waste waters. Sorption properties of the sorbent in relation to heavy metals were defined for static and dynamic conditions. The authors proposed the conceptual process flowsheet for heavy metals removal from chromiferous galvanic waste waters. The flowsheet provides for prereduction of Cr⁶⁺ to Cr³⁺, slaked lime precipitation of heavy metal hydroxides and subsequent post-treatment of waste waters for heavy metals removal in order to achieve regulatory requirements with the use of montmorillonite clay treated with 1 M of HCl solution. 

Based on the carried out chemical, mechanical and toxicological testing of drill cuttings, we assessed the possibility to use drill cuttings for reclamation of closed mines in mineral production with regard to the requirements defined for the bio-reclaimable rocks with afforestation. The author obtained the results proving inability to apply direct use of drill cuttings to reclamation of the closed mines. Physical and chemical properties of drill cuttings require carrying out of some works in order to be improved, such as dilution with peat, sand, binding materials, mineral fertilizers, etc.

Producing environmentally safe secondary production based on drill cuttings, which can be used for reclamation of disturbed soils, well sites and construction of intra-field and temporary roads is an advanced and economically sound method of the drill cuttings processing. We carried out physical and mechanical tests to investigate deformation and strength properties of the samples of drill cuttings and mixtures based on them in order to evaluate worthiness of their use as a road-building material. The obtained results prove inability to use the drill cuttings directly as a road-building material. At this, in accordance with the research results, the mixtures based on drill cuttings can be used for road bed construction with carrying out the activities aimed at compaction of the foundation in order to improve strength and decrease soil settlement.

We give a classification of waste disposal facilities (except for municipal solid waste) with the aim of subsequent development of the requirements thereto at the stage of their engineering, construction, operation, decommissioning, conservation and destruction. We defined belonging of a facility to a type of economic activity (production), use of a facility, properties of wastes located at a facility, method of waste allocation at a facility, design features of a facility, and location of a facility as main classification criteria, which shall be considered while developing requirements to waste disposal facilities. We showed the role of each classification criterion during consideration of a waste disposal facility as a source of a negative impact on the environment.

Change of the environmental legislation regulating the change of current standardization system for negative impact on the environment and introduction of standardization based on the best available techniques correspond to a process complicated with a range of objective reasons. The authors considered a range of discrepancies between the current and newly introduced standardization systems as well as some problems complicating the process of transition. The authors made a conclusion on necessity to activate preparatory works on the part of the enterprise.

The authors considered the researches aimed at development of the Handbook on Best Available Techniques (BAT) in Waste Disposal and provided data on regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation governing compilation of the handbooks on BAT. The authors described the main stages of collection and processing of the information on techniques of waste usage and neutralization for its subsequent evaluation in the terms of conformity to BAT. The authors gave the priority groups of wastes neutralization of which shall be mentioned in the handbooks. The authors proposed the types of waste disposal facilities, and engineering, operation and destruction techniques, which shall be reasonably considered in the handbooks. The problems faced by handbook creators are shown.

Leather and fur industry is a source for generation of considerable amount of the collagen-containing wastes as degree of the raw materials use is equal 60 % at most. The enterprises direct these wastes composed by flesh, cutoff pieces, split leather, cloth rags to disposal sites. The authors proposed the technology for processing the flesh from yak pelt and split leather from reindeer paws aimed at obtaining protein hydrolyzate for its subsequent use as an intensifier and biosurfactant in the processes of soaking and degreasing of leather and fur materials. The authors investigated physical-chemical and colloid-chemical properties as well as chemical and amino acid composition of protein hydrolyzates. It was shown that surface characteristics of protein hydrolyzates obtained from the yak pelt flesh and split leather from reindeer paws are comparable to the properties of synthetic surfactants used in liquid processes of leather and fur production. The authors established that amino acid composition of protein hydrolyzates include tyrosine, phenylalanine, leucine and isoleucine, valine, proline and oxyproline, serine, alanine, glycine. Histidine and methionine were found in protein hydrolyzate obtained from split leather from reindeer paws, and lysine and threonine—in protein hydrolyzate from yak pelt flesh.

The authors analyzed pilot projects on bauxite tail processing—red muds. The authors made a conclusion on absence of the technology for efficient muds processing in the volume comparable to their annual output. Comprehensive investigation of physical and chemical properties of the muds produced by Urals Aluminium Smelter were carried out. The authors provided the results of laboratory investigation of the red muds usage as an intensifier for sintering of iron-ore agglomerates and as a binder for production of the iron-ore pellets. The factors impeding mass use of the red muds in classic processes of ferrous metal industry were identified. It was showed that mass processing of the muds is possible in new processes of iron production out of the blast-furnaces. The authors proposed the breakthrough approach to the problem of complete processing of existing red muds, namely, their use as a binder and a collecting agent for the metals in multi-fuel gas producers of the air-lift type.

The authors investigated removal of ions of Chrome(VI) during waste water treatment with prompt industrial scrap from Engels Instrument Making Association "Signal". Intensification of this process with magnetic field was studied. The authors carried out macro-structural investigation of the prompt industrial scrap, and calculated efficiency of the waste water treatment.