The rapid pace of development of the world economy requires the progressive improvement of modern energy storage devices such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The main limiting factor in the specific capacity of LIBs is the anode material, which is traditionally graphite. One possible solution is to use SiOx, which has a higher theoretical capacity than commercial carbon. Despite this, SiO2 has several disadvantages that limit its widespread use as an anode material for LIBs due to low electrical conductivity and short cycling life associated with volume changes during alloying–dealloying of lithium ions during charge-discharge. We have proposed an inexpensive and simple method for obtaining amorphous SiO2 particles in a carbon shell to solve these shortcomings. SiO2 was synthesized from biological waste material - rice husks, and the carbon shell was obtained from sucrose, which is also obtained from biomass. Surface morphology, structural analysis, and chemical composition were examined using XRD, thermogravimetric analysis, TEM, SEM, Raman and FTIR. The resulting composite shows a high performance of 450 mAh/g at a current density of 50 mA/g after 50 cycles and high cyclic stability compared to pure SiO2, which at 50 cycles showed 295 mAh/g at a current density of 50 mA/g. The proposed inexpensive and easily scalable method for obtaining a SiO2/C hybrid composite is a possible solution for creating next-generation LIBs.

A limited supply of oil prompts the search for non-traditional energy sources to replace traditional ones. This makes hydrogen gas an appealing alternative source. Photosynthetic organisms capture sunlight very efficiently and convert it into organic molecules. A promising wild strain was isolated for the first time, from the rice paddies of Kazakhstan (Kyzylorda and Almaty regions), which can be considered as one of the most active hydrogen producers compared to the literature. The result showed that among the 13 isolated and collection cyanobacterial strains, Synechocystis sp. S-1 is the most active H2 producer (2.35 μmol H2 mg−1 Chl a h−1) in the light. In contrast, the wild-type cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis A-1 had higher productivity, nitrogenase activity, and a stronger capacity to produce hydrogen in the dark (8.67 μmol H2 mg−1 Chl a h−1), which matched the maximum yield obtained in the research. The metabolic modulation performed significantly increased hydrogen production. The highest photohydrogen production rate was observed in cells incubated with 25 μmol HEPES and 50 μmol sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3).

Presently, scientists are vigorously exploring effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources, which has lent momentum to the adoption of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The present research focuses on the synthesis and investigation of a binary oxide composed of lanthanum and copper, which was characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, XPS and BET. The findings revealed that the surface morphology exhibited mesoporosity, due to the interconnection and sintering of the pliable, rod-like crystalline structure, which was determined to be the binary oxide La2CuO4. Furthermore, within the temperature range of 500 to 600 °C, a two-fold increase in current density through the anode material was observed for every 50 °C temperature increment, coupled with a nearly three-fold reduction in polarized resistance.

Lumpy skin disease is an important emerging disease posing a threat to the livestock industry worldwide. Moreover, factors involved in disease transmission in the field and at farm level remain unidentified. This research was based on a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews with affected farmers. From January 2021 to July 2021, 543 households were visited in four provinces of the West Kazakhstan region to assess the prevalence of LSD and its associated risk factors. Animal and farm level risk factors were examined using univariable and multivariable mixed effect logistic regression. At animal level, the factors associated with LSD outbreaks include herd size Medium OR = 0.68, (95% CI: 0.54–0.84); large OR = 0.63, (95% CI: 0.49–0.81), purchasing animals OR = 11.67, (95% CI: 8.87–15.35), and selling animals during LSD outbreak OR = 1.24, (95% CI: 1.06–1.45). The overall animal level and herd level LSD prevalence were 10.2% (95% CI: 9.6 −0.10.9) and 49.2% (95% CI: 45.0 – 53.4) respectively. Our study demonstrates the dissemination of LSDV from primary outbreaks to new areas and risk factors associated with LSD in Kazakhstan. This finding will enhance knowledge on disease epidemiology and help develop coordinated actions in prevention and control of the possible LSD outbreaks.

The search for an effective solution to improve performance and emission characteristics of internal combustion (IC) engines used in the commercial sector is regarded as one of the most important and essential issues in recent years due to increasing levels of pollution. Nanoparticles with their additive ability to increase fuel reactivity and atomization, due to their large surface area and high heat transfer coefficient, can improve the performance and emission characteristics of a fuel. This review highlights the use of nanoparticles as fuel additives to enhance the emission and performance characteristics of IC engines. Detailed comparisons of performance, emission, and combustion characteristics of IC engines using fuels blended with nanoparticles have been done. Nanoparticles were observed to be an oxygen buffer for fuel combustion and boost fuel atomization, thus enhancing engine performance. While alumina exhibited a decrease in levels of HC and CO but a considerable increase in NOx, graphene nanoparticles and ceria were found to be particularly effective in enhancing engine performance. Detailed study has been done on other nanoparticles, including metal-oxide, nonmetal-oxide as well as carbon nanoparticles. Overall, the use of nanoparticles can enhance the thermophysical characteristics of fuels, improving the emission and performance characteristics of engines. The review suggests that selecting the right dosage and variety of nanoparticles is crucial for optimizing engine performance, and thus directly helps in tackling the ongoing pollution problem.

The presence of natural organic matter (NOM) poses many challenges in the process of purifying water intended for drinking. The presence of NOM leads to high coloration due to natural conditions. During the coagulation and flocculation processes, NOM stabilizes dispersed and colloidal particles. Currently, there are many methods for removing natural organic matter. In Kazakhstan, coagulation is commonly used for treating most waters, which effectively reduces color and NOM. It is known that the efficiency of ozonation and coagulation is high when they are used together. The impact of ozonation on the properties of coagulation is significant because coagulation is the most widespread process for treating drinking water. The combination of ozonation with coagulation has been proposed as an improved method for reducing coloration and removing surfactants. The studies were conducted at the K.I. Satpayev Kazakh National Technical University, where a liquid phase ozonation laboratory system was developed. The aim of the research was to demonstrate the positive effect of combining ozonation with coagulation on the removal of color and surfactants in surface waters. Studies were conducted on model waters with different contents of humic substances. Positive results were obtained at low concentrations of ozone (0.1…0.8 mg/l) and low doses of coagulant. A low dose of ozone showed improvement for coagulation. The results of the study indicate that ozonation, combined with coagulation, has a positive effect on color removal, enhances the removal of NOM, and reduces the necessary dose of coagulant. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences.

Creating a comfortable microclimate in the premises of buildings is currently becoming one of the priorities in the field of architecture, construction and engineering systems. The increased attention from the scientific community to this topic is due not only to the desire to ensure healthy and favorable conditions for human life but also to the need for the rational use of energy resources. This area is becoming particularly relevant in the context of global challenges related to climate change, rising energy costs and increased environmental requirements. Practice shows that any technical solutions to ensure comfortable temperature, humidity and air exchange in rooms should be closely linked to the concept of energy efficiency. This allows one not only to reduce operating costs but also to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thereby contributing to sustainable development and environmental safety. In this connection, this study presents a parametric assessment of the influence of climatic and geometric factors on the aerodynamic characteristics of the air cavity, which affect the heat exchange process in the ventilated layer of curtain wall systems. The assessment was carried out using a combined analytical calculation method that provides averaged thermophysical parameters, such as mean air velocity ((Formula presented.)), average internal surface temperature ((Formula presented.)), and convective heat transfer coefficient ((Formula presented.)) within the air cavity. This study resulted in empirical average values, demonstrating that the air velocity within the cavity significantly depends on atmospheric pressure and façade height difference. For instance, a 10-fold increase in façade height leads to a 4.4-fold increase in air velocity. Furthermore, a three-fold variation in local resistance coefficients results in up to a two-fold change in airflow velocity. The cavity thickness, depending on atmospheric pressure, was also found to affect airflow velocity by up to 25%. Similar patterns were observed under ambient temperatures of +20 °C, +30 °C, and +40 °C. The analysis confirmed that airflow velocity is directly affected by cavity height, while the impact of solar radiation is negligible. However, based on the outcomes of the analytical model, it was concluded that the method does not adequately account for the effects of solar radiation and vertical temperature gradients on airflow within ventilated façades. This highlights the need for further full-scale experimental investigations under hot climate conditions in South Kazakhstan. The findings are expected to be applicable internationally to regions with comparable climatic characteristics. Ultimately, a correct understanding of thermophysical processes in such structures will support the advancement of trends such as Lightweight Design, Functionally Graded Design, and Value Engineering in the development of curtain wall systems, through the optimized selection of façade configurations, accounting for temperature loads under specific climatic and design conditions. © 2025 by the authors.

This research focuses on studying the process of wastewater treatment using electrical discharge. The introduction highlights the harmful effects of ammonia, nitrites, phosphates, and heavy metals found in wastewater and their impact on water pollution. The purpose of the study is to investigate and evaluate the efficiency of decomposing harmful substances in water using ozone and hydroxyl radicals generated by high-and low-frequency electrical discharges. During the experiment, a voltage of 15 kV and an ozone concentration of 600 g/h were applied. The results showed that the initial ammonia concentration decreased from 130 mg/L to 1 mg/L, while nitrites were reduced from 0.5 mg/L to 0 mg/L. In addition, phosphates (from 30 mg/L to 0 mg/L), chlorides (from 250 mg/L to 20 mg/L), and sulfates (from 200 mg/L to 18 mg/L) significantly decreased. The COD level dropped by 70%, from 800 mg/L to 0 mg/L, and the bacterial count decreased by 85% within 30 minutes, reaching 100% elimination by 60 minutes. The energy consumption was 0.5 kWh per liter of water, proving this method to be an efficient and environmentally friendly solution. The conclusion highlights the potential of the electrical discharge method for water purification without chemical additives, its environmental safety, and its applicability on an industrial scale. © 2025, Zibeline International Publishing Sdn. Bhd.. All rights reserved.

Introduction. The article is devoted to the methods of producing transparent conductive coatings for heating glass in mining equipment and gas-sensitive coatings for mine sensors. Materials and Methods. Three film-forming systems were considered in the work: tin tetrachloride in ethanol, tin hydroxide hydrosol and their mixture in a ratio of 1: 1 by volume. The structure of the coatings, their transmission and reflection spectra, and the sensitivity of the resulting coatings to water vapor were studied. Results. Sensitivity to water vapor was found in coatings obtained from Sn(OH)4 hydrosol at room temperature (24°C). Coatings from the film-forming system - tin tetrachloride in ethanol, demonstrate a transmittance of 80-85% in the visible region and a resistance of 9.7±0.4 kOhm. These coatings can be used for heating glass. Coatings obtained from a 1:1 mixture are sensitive to water vapor and are more resistant to abrasion than coatings obtained from a hydrosol. Discussion. The film obtained from the ethanol system is not sensitive to water vapor. The film obtained from the sol is sensitive to ethanol vapor. Its resistance, when water vapor is introduced, changes by 3.75 times in less than 1 s. The initial resistance value is restored in about 3 s. Films obtained from a mixture of film-forming systems are also sensitive to water vapor. However, the response time and the time of restoration of the initial resistance value are longer than those of films obtained from the sol. Conclusion. Coatings from the film-forming system - tin tetrachloride in ethanol, can be used to heat glass. Coatings obtained from a 1:1 mixture are sensitive to water vapor at room temperature (24°C) and can be used as sensitive elements for water vapor in devices monitoring operating conditions in mines. Resume. The technology of manufacturing thin films on glasses based on tin oxide obtained in the course of the work allows to form stable coatings. The properties of these coatings allow to carry out heating when passing electric current through them. Also, the effect of water vapor on films obtained under certain conditions causes a change in their properties. This allows to use the obtained results of the work for practical application in the manufacture of elements of mining equipment. The formed coatings can be used for the manufacture of humidity and water vapor sensors, as well as for the manufacture of heated glass. © 2024 North Caucasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, State Technological University. All rights reserved.

This article presents the results of a pilot study on the treatment of sludge from a water treatment plant in the city of Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan, to ensure further disposal. The main objective of the study was to compare the efficiency of sludge drying by natural and artificial methods. The qualitative characteristics of the leachate from the dewatering unit, the chemical composition of the dried sludge and the granulometric analysis of the dried sludge were also studied. The greatest reduction in moisture content was recorded for drying in natural conditions (2.1%), but this process required the longest drying time. The leachate obtained from sludge dewatering was characterized by significant contamination (e.g., turbidity—55.65 on average, color—67.7, total Fe—5.15 mg/L, total N—79.6 mg/L, COD—311 mg/L, BOD—336.15 mg/L), which indicates the need for its pretreatment before further management in the technological system of the treatment station. The content of chemical substances contained in the dry residue of the sludge was also determined, of which aluminum was 0.94–13.8 mg/kg, silicon was 50.24–146.3 mg/kg, potassium was 1.72–5.51. mg/kg, calcium was 71.8–79.1 mg/kg, iron was 2.0–7.54 mg/kg and nickel was 0.9–4.4 mg/kg. A particle size analysis of the dried sludge showed that the majority fractions were fine and very fine sand, with a total of 20.2%, and silt and clay, with a total of 78.3%. Such properties justify the rationality of considering the reuse of dried sludge as a raw material for making, for example, construction materials or soil remediation material. © 2024 by the authors.