ICEMA is an annual event, where scientists, engineers, representatives of universities and industry of the world present and discuss current trends in the development of new energy materials and resource-saving. In the last two years, the ICEMA activities have been successful in Seoul (South Korea) and Hiroshima (Japan).
The topics of the ICEMA 2018 included issues of energy material, hydrogen energy, hydrogen production, fuel elements, biofuels, solar energy, nanomaterials,
Ekaterina Markova, senior lecturer of the RUDN Department of Physical and Colloid Chemistry was the only representative from Russia at such a large inter-branch event. She made an oral presentation "Investigations of the catalytic activity of the newest nanomaterial on the example of nanofiber alumina for the modern energy in the cracking reaction".
RUDN soil scientists have revealed a direct correlation between the rate of soil formation of carbon dioxide, called CO2 emissions, and the content of microbial biomass in it. It is known that CO2 emission from soil is mainly conditioned by respiration of soil microorganisms and plant roots. The more CO2 soil emits, the more microbial biomass it usually contains. It was shown that CO2 emission by chernozem of different ecosystems (or different types of land use) correlates with the content of microbial biomass, and most closely with the rate of its microbial respiration. And the soil with good microbial properties has the “best quality”, is more fertile, provides the highest yield of crops and other plant biomass.
A RUDN chemist has synthesized a catalyst for the production of gamma-valerolactone — an energy-intensive “green” biofuel. The catalyst based on zirconium dioxide and zeolite has shown high efficiency in converting the waste of wood plant materials — methyl levulinate — to gamma-valerolactone.
Biochemists from RUDN University determined which substances in peach leaves provide the antioxidant effect their extract has. They investigated the composition of the powders obtained from leaves of several varieties of peach and found that high polyphenol content correlates with antioxidant properties. The results will help start production of antioxidants from natural sources.