The presence of various organic and inorganic contaminants in wastewater leads to serious health effects on humans and ecosystems. Industrial effluents have been considered as noticeable sources of contaminating water streams. These effluents directly liberate the pollutants such as dye molecules and heavy metal ions into the environment. In the present study, three biowaste materials (groundnut shell powder, coconut coir powder and activated corn leaf carbon) were utilized and compared for the removal of acid blue dye 113 from aqueous solutions. The characterization study of newly prepared sorbent material (H3PO4-activated corn leaf carbon) and the other utilized sorbents was carried out by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR), along with Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) Analysis. The influence of experimental conditions such as pH, initial dye concentration, temperature, contact time, and sorbent dosage on the removal efficiency of the dye were appraised. The adsorption isotherm and kinetic result of acid blue dye 113 adsorption onto the sorbents best obeyed from Sips and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Overall, the outcomes confirmed that the newly synthesized sorbent material (carbonized H3PO4-activated corn leaf) has superior adsorption capacity, rapid adsorption, and higher suitability for the removal of toxic dyes from the contaminated waters. © 2023 Elsevier Inc.

Beryllium-based intermetallic compounds, such as Be12Ti, are increasingly being considered as a material capable of replacing pure beryllium in structural elements of fusion reactors. Be12Ti is considered as a neutron breeder material, a structural part of the Helium Cooled Pebble Bed of the DEMO reactor. It is expected that the replacement of beryllium by Be12Ti will make it possible to reduce the capture of tritium in the blanket without a significant decrease in the neutronic characteristics. Unlike beryllium, beryllides have relatively recently begun to be considered for use in nuclear and thermonuclear facilities, so the radiation resistance of these compounds remains little studied. This paper presents the experimental results on effect of low temperature neutron irradiation to properties of titanium beryllide samples manufactured by industrial technology in the Ulba Metallurgical Plant (UMP, Kazakhstan). The manufactured samples before and after irradiation were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), hydrostatic weighing method, dimension method and microhardness measurement by Vickers method. © 2024 The Authors

The continued search and urgent need for renewable fuel sources have necessitated the exploration of microalgae to identify relevant species for making biofuels. The aim of the study was bioprospecting and screening native microalgae strains from freshwater habitats of the Almaty region, Kazakhstan, to assess the potential for producing biofuel. The studied strains demonstrated simultaneous biomass productivity, lipid productivity, suitable fatty acid composition, and biodiesel properties. The sequence analysis of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer partial region and ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase gene (rbcL) led to the identification of five microalgae: Monoraphidium griffithii ZBD-01, Nephrochlamys subsolitaria ZBD-02, Ankistrodesmus falcatus ZBD-03, Parachlorella kessleri ZBD-04, and Desmodesmus pannonicus ZBD-05. P. kessleri had the highest biomass production (1.42 ± 0.08 g L−1 day−1), lipid productivity (29 ± 1.2 g L−1day−1), and C16–C18 fatty acid contents (90%), followed by A. falcatus and M. griffithi. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis indicated that the dominant fatty acids in these strains were palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids. The calculated biodiesel properties of P. kessleri and A. falcatus based on fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) profiles showed relatively good fuel properties (cetane numbers - 48 and 50; iodine and saponification values - 83.4 and 103.6 g I₂/100 g oil, 260.8 and 199.5 mg KOH g−1), which correlate well with. Our results suggest that P. kessleri and A. falcatus are promising strains for biodiesel production due to their high lipid productivity, fatty acid profile with relatively high content of oleic acid, and suitable biodiesel properties. The isolated native species of microalgae from natural freshwater bodies of the Almaty region present opportunities for further exploitation for the sustainable production of biomass and biodiesel. © 2023 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC

The detrimental impact of human activity on the global ecological situation has resulted in the active exploration and development of alternative energy sources. Efficient solar energy utilization can significantly contribute to resolving the current energy crisis, because approximately 1.36 kW m−2 of solar radiation reaches the Earth's surface, and this can be used to satisfy the global energy requirements. Among various prevalent sunlight conversion technologies, photocatalytic materials are potentially useful for hydrogen production and other relevant applications. Existing technologies for the production and use of photocatalysts do not sufficiently address the target characteristics owing to the low solar conversion efficiency and service life in addition to high costs. However, recent advances in SrTiO3-based heterostructures indicate that photocatalysts can potentially compete with modern solar energy technologies in terms of their practical application. In this review, we systematically consider the advancement in the production and application of SrTiO3-based photocatalysts in various fields. The methods for obtaining complex heterostructures with different classes of nanomaterials are comprehensively discussed. The aim of this review is to highlight the advantages and limitations of using SrTiO3-based photocatalytic systems. Finally, the future prospects of using SrTiO3-based photocatalysts are considered from the perspective of their practical applications. © 2023 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC

Biomass-based carbon nanofibers (CNF) were synthesized using lignin extracted from sawdust and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) (30:70) with the help of the electrospinning method and subsequent stabilization at 220 °C and carbonization at 800, 900, and 1000 °C. The synthesized CNFs were studied by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. The temperature effect shows that CNF carbonized at 800 °C has excellent stability at different current densities and high capacitance. CNF 800 in the first test cycle at a current density of 100 mA/g shows an initial capacity of 798 mAh/g and an initial coulomb efficiency of 69.5%. The CNF 900 and 1000 show an initial capacity of 668 mAh/g and 594 mAh/g, and an initial Coulomb efficiency of 52% and 51%. With a long cycle (for 500 cycles), all three samples at a current density of 500 mA/g show stable cycling in different capacities (CNF 800 in the region of 300–400 mAh/g, CNF 900 and 1000 in the region of 100–200 mAh/g). © 2022 by the authors.

This study examined the suitability of polyethylene terephtal (PET) waste to provide an alternative modification to bitumen and reduce waste accumulation. The chemical structure and physical properties were evaluated for modified bitumen with different PET flakes content from 2 to 10 %. The effect of PET waste content on bituminous systems was analyzed using IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy, differential thermal (DTA) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses. The study of change in the microstructure as a result of bitumen modification was carried out using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Regularities of changes in the structural-group composition of bituminous binders after their modification with PET waste have been established. It is noted that the chemical interaction of the base bitumen with PET flakes occurs due to the formation of associative bonds between the oxygen-containing components of the modifier and bitumen. The influence of the modifier on the physical and mechanical properties was evaluated using standard methods (penetration, extensibility and softening point). Based on the physical and mechanical properties of bitumen, such as needle penetration depth (penetration), ductility and softening point, it was found that the optimal dosage of PET waste in terms of asphalt binder characteristics is 3 %. It has been established that PET waste and original bitumen interact both at the chemical and physical levels and can be considered as a suitable alternative for changing the properties of bituminous binders. Thus, the obtained samples of modified bituminous binders have improved physical and mechanical properties, which makes it possible to produce high-strength asphalt concrete pavements based on them © 2022. Authors. This is an open access article under the Creative Commons CC BY license

Road infrastructure is a key public asset because it benefits the social and economic development of any country. It plays an important role in the development of the industrial complex and the production sector, and the surfaces of transport roads should be of high quality and have a long service life. Road infrastructure, like all infrastructure, requires preservation, maintenance and repair. There are special requirements for roadways that must be observed during construction or repair. The uncertainty of the composition, temperature sensitivity and viscoelastic characteristics of road materials make the structural analysis of pavement very difficult compared to other civil structures, such as bridges, tunnels and buildings. For this reason, the question of how to improve fiber sensors based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) arose. The novelty of this study is to modernize fiber sensors based on FBG so that they display deformation, stress and displacement, temperature and other parameters with much greater accuracy, which would provide a reliable scientific basis for modifying the theory, as well as the use of a fiber sensor based on FBG for simultaneous measurement of deformation and temperature when monitoring the road surface. This article is devoted to a detailed study of the use of fiber-optic sensors (FOS) based on fiber Bragg grating for road surface monitoring. Such a fiber sensor, consisting of a fiber Bragg grating and a pair of grids, can offer the possibility of simultaneous measurement of deformation and temperature for monitoring the pavement. Temperature and deformation measurements were carried out by installing a sensor on the surface of a made asphalt sample. The built-in fiber sensor based on FBG provides important information about how the pavement structure can withstand the load and subsidence of soil and implement road safety and stability measures in a timely manner to evaluate and predict the service life of the pavement. The results of the study showed that the synchronicity, repeatability and linearity of the characteristics of the fiber sensor are excellent. The difference between the experimental and theoretical results was about 7%. Thus, based on the results of the obtained data, the fiber sensor on the FBG can be used for monitoring and designing road surfaces and in general transport infrastructure. © 2023 by the authors.

The issue of housing for humans has been extensively studied and remains highly relevant. While multi-story buildings in both large and small cities have addressed the need for residential accommodations, key aspects essential to ensuring comfortable living and human activity have often been neglected. A potential solution lies in the renovation of existing structures to enhance housing quality while preserving the original framework. This paper aims to explore the relationship between renovation approaches and the structural systems of residential buildings. It examines case studies of building renovations utilizing various materials, highlighting their features and applicable solutions. The analysis includes examples from multiple countries with diverse social, economic, and climatic conditions. Renovation is defined in this study as the process of modernizing residential buildings and their surrounding areas. Through an evaluation of architectural strategies employed in building renovations, the study identifies general trends and principles applicable to the refurbishment of standard residential structures. Based on these findings, the authors propose recommendations for renovation strategies tailored to different structural types. The outcomes of this research offer a framework for implementing revitalization projects, urban regeneration efforts, and building adaptation initiatives. © 2025 by authors, all rights reserved.

The need to remove radioactive iodine from water extends beyond the liquid radioactive waste treatment in the nuclear industry, as it can also be found in hospital wastewater and reach wastewater treatment plants. However, it remains a challenge affected by diverse iodine speciation, which includes anions and neutral forms. Recent developments in new carbon materials are offering new opportunities to capture radioactive iodine species from aqueous and gas phases. But how are they made, how feasible is their use, and how effective can they be? Do they outperform traditional carbon materials such as activated carbon? This review, for the first time, assesses current developments in preparing adsorbents for removing iodine species, including nanocarbons. Specifically, their synthesis, properties, maximum extraction capacity, and sorption mechanisms are discussed. The most effective biomass-based carbon for iodine removal was found to be chemically activated (with KOH) sunflower hydrochar with highly developed porosity and a surface area >2000 m2/g. Its capacity achieved 6.46 g of I2/g adsorbent. A similar level of uptake was demonstrated by KOH-activated hydrochar made from cellulose diacetate. The range of nanocarbons studied for this application did not outperform biomass-activated carbons. The regeneration of adsorbents, their scalability, current gaps in understanding the mechanisms of iodine species uptake, and the need to achieve their practical application have been discussed. The purpose of the review is to extract new knowledge from relatively new carbon nanomaterials, nanocomposites as well as traditional carbon sorbents that will inform the preparation of effective sorbents for upscaled applications such as the treatment of radioactive effluents from hospitals or liquid radioactive waste produced in the nuclear fuel cycle. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd

Generative potential and thermal maturity for Upper Palaeozoic source rocks from the south-eastern edge of Precaspian Basin were determined using Rock–Eval. A high hydrocarbon source rock generative potential and high degree of thermal maturity for the Lower Permian, Mid-Carboniferous strata have been revealed based on 39 rock samples. TOC values of 0.4–5.5% have been obtained for mature source rocks. Integrated geochemical analysis determined from Rock–Eval studies combined with 1D basin modelling was utilized in order to reconstruct thermal evolution for the Upper Palaeozoic source rocks. Calibrated 1D models for three wells had been constructed to understand petroleum system. For two deep exploration wells (Nur-1 and Tassym SE-1), which penetrated pre-salt strata at the depths of 5.7 and 7 km, respectively, the impact of salt diapirism on timing of maturation was modelled. Type II kerogen was used, which is based on previous palaeogeographic studies. The stratigraphic framework and major stages of geodynamic evolution were analysed. Salt-related structural traps in post-salt strata have been described based on 3D seismic data, and additional intra-salt sediment packages have been delineated. Discovered producing oil fields in the Upper Triassic and Jurassic–Cretaceous stratigraphic sections are mainly confined to the four-way dip structural closures above the steep flanks of salt structures. Based on burial and thermal modelling, the maturation and generation behaviour of kerogen Type II below salt-related minibasins and close to thick salt diapirs were inferred. For Lower Permian SR with type II kerogen, the generation peak (maturity over 50%) occurs in Middle to Late Jurassic. For predominantly carbonate and terrigenous-carbonate Mid-Carboniferous marine SR, generation peak occurs earlier below salt withdrawal minibasins. Implications for deeper hydrocarbon prospectivity were made for the study area, and methodology for evaluating hydrocarbon potential adopting 1D basin modelling technique and geochemical data is presented. © 2022, The Author(s).