Two composition substrates for growing plants were obtained by mechanical mixing of EDE-10P ion exchange resin in nitrate and phosphate forms with a natural clinoptilolite in potassium form. The substrates were tested in the biological experiment on continuous successive growing grass Lolium perenne L. on a fruitless sand with its 2% content without adding fertilizers. The productivity of the substrate was ~0.5 kg of dry (~5 kg green) overground biomass per kilogram of the ion exchange substrate, which is on the level of standard ion exchange substrate Biona®. 

A new approach to the synthesis of nanostructured yttrium oxide powders doped with europium ions by the method of combustionis is described. Carbohydrates (fructose, sucrose) and acetic acid were used as a fuel and hexamethylenetetramine – as additional fuel for ignition of the mixture. Based on the study of specific surface area, microstructure and morphology of the obtained powders, as well as after precursor calcination at 700, 900 and 1100 °C , it was found that specific surface area decreases with the increase of calcination temperature. This is due to the removal of weakly bound impurity groups (ОН, NO, СО2) from the surface of aggregates, compaction of the crystalline structure of the matrix particles and larger particle formation. In case of calcination at 700 °C, nanostructured particles with a size ranging from 39 nm (combustion in acetic acid) to 53 nm (burning in sucrose) are formed. Larger aggregates with particle sizes from 0.6 µm (in presence of sucrose) to 0.23 microns (in presence of acetic acid) are formed at 1100 °C. The powders obtained in such a way exhibit efficient luminescence properties in the red region of the spectrum upon excitation in the UV range (wavelength 250 nm). 

The possibility of vanadium-alloyed zinc coatings electrochemical deposition from alkaline electrolyte containing 5.5 g/l Na3VO4 has been shown. Vanadium content in zinc coating depends on cathodic current density and is 1.5–4.1% under cathodic deposition current 1–3 A/dm2. The process of chemical passivation of galvanic coating have been studied in sodium vanadate solution at 20–40 °C temperature, with pH 3 kept constant by phosphoric acid. It has been shown by XRD method that conversion coatings formed consist of Zn, ZnO, V2O5, V(HPO4)2, Zn3(PO4)2. The corrosion current of passivated alloyed zinc coatings deposited at 2 A/dm2 was 4.1–12.6 times less than corrosion current of alloyed zinc in 3% NaCl solution. Conversion coatings demonstrate high protective ability when treated with lead acetate solution (50 g/dm3 ). 

La0,95Ln0,05InO3, La0,95Ln0,05In0,98Sb0,02O3 (Ln – Dy3+, Ho3+), La0,90Dy0,05Ho0,05InO3, La0,90Dy0,05Ho0,05In0,98Sb0,02O3 photoluminescent phosphor samples were obtained by solid-phase synthesis. Their crystal structure, FT-IR spectra and thermal expansion were investigated. Complex thermal analysis was carried out for the named indates. All samples were found to have orthorhombically distorted perovskite structure. LaSbO3-based impurity phase was found in indates containing Sb3+ ions. The lattice parameters for all indates vary slightly due to the small content of doping ions. IR-spectra for all samples investigated differ slightly from that for LaInO3. There were no anomalies caused by phase transitions at temperature dependences of elongation. The coefficient of average linear thermal expansion is (7.26–7.89)·10–6 К–1. The curves obtained by differential scanning calorimetry demonstrate no thermal effects. Total weight loss in the temperature range of 300–1265 K does not exceed 0.276 wt. %. These results indicate that all the indates investigated are thermally stable and they are promising for practical application in a wide range of operating temperatures.

Magnesium oxide has found applications as adsorbent, catalyst and ideutifier of the contamination of chemicals and toxic substances in the processes of water and gases purification. In this work, mesoporous magnesium hydroxide and oxide were synthesized from water solutions by easy and cheap wet chemistry method. Crystal structure, particle size distribution and adsorption properties of the synthesized powders were studied. Obtained powders of Mg(OH)2 and MgO showed sufficiently high total pore volume – 0.737 and 1.038 cm3 /g, respectively, which opens an opportunity to use them as nanoreactors for the synthesis of isolated nanosized particles and multidirection catalysts. 

The method of determining the properties of adsorbents with a large amount of micropores has been developed. It was shown that the specific area values determined with the use of nitrogen adsorption are erroneous, since the micropore volume is only partly factored into the determination. It is shown that specific area values exhibit an increase with the increase of pore volume. 

Previously it was shown that 11,11-D2-linoleic acid effectively quenches the processes of lipid peroxidation in vitro and in cell cultures due to the presence of reinforced C-D bonds in bis-allylic positions, which are most vulnerable to the radicals. Therefore, this compound serves as a promising candidate to treat mitochondrial and eye diseases. The present work deals with the synthesis of the hydrophilic derivatives of 11,11-D2-linoleic acid as prodrug forms with increased solubility in water and biological media and improved pharmacological properties. As modifying reagents, we chose biologically compatible natural compounds, mainly aminoacids, which were attached to 11,11-D2-linoleic acid via amide or ester bond. Among the synthesized compounds there are cationic, anionic and neutral derivatives, and their permeability in eyes will be further tested. 

N-Trifluoroacetyl-L-alanyl-L-glutamic acid dimethyl ester and N-trifluoroacetyl-L-α,γ-glutamyl-bis(methoxy-L-alanine) were obtained by condensation of N-trifluoroacetyl-L-alanine with L-glutamic acid dimethyl ester and N-trifluoroacetyl-L-glutamic acid with L-alanine methyl ester, respectively. Removal of protecting groups by sodium hydroxide in the compounds obtained and subsequent acidification of the reaction mixtures led to the formation of L-alanylL-glutamic acid and L-α,γ-glutamyl-bis(L-alanine). N-Trifluoroacetyl-L-alanine and N-trifluoroacetyl-L-glutamic acid were obtained from L-alanine and L-glutamic acid sodium salts using ethyl trifluoroacetate as an acetylating agent. 

To obtain catalytically active recombinant biotin ligase (rBirA), we developed an approach for heterologous expression of BirA-MBP-fusion protein in E. coli cells, its purification and subsequent rBirA release by highly specific proteolysis using TEV protease. The recombinant protein is obtained in homogeneous state and retains specific catalytic activity. Enzyme immobilization on magnetic microparticles has allowed to develop an approach for effective enzymatic biotinylation combined with purification of target protein molecules on the affinity matrix.

A method for chloromethylation of polypropylene fibers with a graft copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene was developed and chloromethylated grafted fiber (CGF) with a high content of chloromethyl groups was obtained. CGF was used as intermediate for the preparation of the FIBAN XC-1 fibrous chelate sorbent with iminodiacetate groups, which is obtained by reaction CGF with dimethyl ester of iminodiacetic acid dimethyl ester and subsequent hydrolysis of the ester groups by sodium hydroxide. The method of FTIR spectroscopy was used to study the structure of the fibrous chelate ion exchanger. 

Radon from natural and anthropogenic radiation sources contributes significantly to the public exposure. For that reason, systematic radon monitoring is carried out in Belarus. The main source of radon in the air of premises is its emanation from the geological space under the buildings. The results of radon monitoring in 665 premises in 21 settlements of Vitebsk region are presented. The parameters investigated were: radon volumetric activity in the air of home accommodations and industrial premises (ОАRn), radon equivalent equilibrium volumetric activity and annual effective dose of public exposure due to radon-222 and its progenies (ERn). The excess values of radon volumetric activity in relation to the statutory criteria (200 Bq/m3 ) have been detected for 18 premises (2.7 %). Among them 16 are living accommodation and 2 are industrial premises. The weighted average annual effective dose of public exposure due to radon and its progenies in Vitebsk region is 4.5 mSv per year. Its value for Polatsk district is 2 mSv per year and 7.6 mSv per year – for Glubokae district. Maximum of the weighted average annual effective dose is reported for Garadok dictrict and it makes 32.4 mSv per year. The population exposure to radon and its progenies is the main dose forming factor in comparison with other natural and anthropogenic radiation sources, including exposure from Chernobyl radionuclides.

Mass compositions for production of dense ceramics, in particular clinker bricks based on low-melting clays, loams, low-calcined chamotte and cullet glass have been developed. A positive effect of finely ground low-ash chamotte obtained by heat treatment of low-melting clays at 1000 °C, which contributes to the expansion of the sintering interval of materials, is established. The complex use of polymineral clays, low-calcined chamotte and loams allows obtaining dense-looking material with a water absorption of 3–5 %, which is due to the effective action of fine-dispersed amorphous silica contained in loam. Dense material with a less than 5 % water absorption, frost resistance of 120–200 thermal cyclings and mechanical compressive strength of 41–47 MPa was produced by calcination of the mentioned materials at 1150 ± 10 °C. 

Shoenite synthesis process from the suspensions with low sodium chloride content was investigated. Two techniques of synthesis were used: dissolution of solid phase which contains huge amount of chlorides and water evaporation from the suspension. The evaporation was carried out under vacuum at the temperature of 80 °C with subsequent cooling. Chemical compositions of solid and liquid phases were estimated. It was established that evaporation degree increase (or decreasе of the amount of water in the system) slows down the shoenite output and increases the impurities amount in it. Should the content of magnesium chloride in the initial suspension be increased, the evaporation degree during the shoenite synthesis should be decreased. The compositions of the products obtained allow us to calculate the evaporation degree of the shoenite suspension. 

The review article is devoted to the methodology of getting derivatives containing metallocene and heterocyclic fragments united in one molecule, which allows not only strengthening the specific action and the properties of the latter, but also obtaining compounds with radically new properties. Isoxazole is a part of many biologically active compounds, and its derivatives are used to treat diseases of the central nervous system, such as anti-tumor agents, analgesics, anesthetics, muscle relaxants, antibiotics. Purposefully synthesized isothiazole derivatives exhibit antiviral, anticancer, antibiotic activity, are effective immunosuppressive drugs, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic agents. Derivatives of these azoles have a special place in agrochemicals as herbicides, pesticides, insecticides or fungicides. In turn, ferrocene compounds are of interest due to their wide range of chemical transformations and various ways of practical use in the art of electrochemistry, catalysis, and also in medicine and biology. Moreover, it is noted that the inclusion of the ferrocene moiety in an organic molecule often leads to completely new properties, including biological activity. This is due to the increase of penetration rate of material through the cell membranes due to the high lipophilicity of the ferrocene moiety, and therefore, the occurrence of abnormal metabolism ferrocene compound. Cymantrene derivatives applications are no less diverse; however, the use of biologically active compounds based on it is limited because of quite high toxicity of cymantrene fragment. Of great interest is the ability of the cymantrene structure to transmetallation with the formation of derivatives of other metallocenes. 

Lishtvan, Ivan Ivanovich (On the occasion of the 85th birthday).