// #1 SubQueries no.1 -------------------------------------------

$this->db->select('title, content, date');
$this->db->from('mytable');
$query = $this->db->get();
$subQuery1 = $this->db->_compile_select();

$this->db->_reset_select();

// #2 SubQueries no.2 -------------------------------------------

$this->db->select('title, content, date');
$this->db->from('mytable2');
$query = $this->db->get();
$subQuery2 = $this->db->_compile_select();

$this->db->_reset_select();

// #3 Union with Simple Manual Queries --------------------------

$this->db->query("select * from ($subQuery1 UNION $subQuery2) as unionTable");

// #3 (alternative) Union with another Active Record ------------

$this->db->from("($subQuery1 UNION $subQuery2)");
$this->db->get();