This study presents the effect of inert gas flow inlet positioning and orientation on the conversion efficiency of the proposed solar thermochemical reactor for hydrogen production. The nitrogen gas was used as (i) a reducing agent, (ii) a cooling agent to control the porous matrix temperature and (iii) removing oxygen from the STCR chamber. The result of the study demonstrates that the highest average temperature yield of 1570 K occurred at an inlet position of 10 mm with a 75° inclination, while 1665 K was obtained at an inlet position of 10 mm with a 90° inclination. Additionally, a temperature of 1353 K was achieved at an inlet position of 12 mm with a 75° inclination, both radially (for 20 mm thickness) and axially (over 80 mm length) along the centerline of the STCR chamber (extending 125 mm in length). The optimized inlet positioning and orientation provided the improved design of the solar thermochemical reactor (STCR) chamber capable of achieving the uniform solar flux profile and high-temperature distribution in the porous media to successfully carry out the redox reactions and achieve high solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency. © Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2024.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the current state of water consumption and wastewater disposal systems in the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK) in order to identify problem areas and develop recommendations for improving water resources management. The study used analytical, functional, and statistical methods, classification, synthesis. The study of excess and actual indicators of water consumption and disposal in the RK was conducted in order to analyse the efficiency of water resources use and management of water supply and disposal in the country. To achieve this goal, data on water consumption and wastewater treatment systems in different regions of Kazakhstan were collected and analysed. The study results showed that there are irregularities in the use of water resources between different regions of the country. Some regions are experiencing excessive water consumption, which may lead to a shortage of resources in the future, while other regions have problems with insufficient availability of clean water. Important conclusions of the study are the need to develop more effective water management strategies, considering the characteristics of different regions, and attention to environmental and social aspects of water use and disposal. Such measures can contribute to a more sustainable use of water resources in the RK. © 2024, Zibeline International Publishing Sdn. Bhd. All rights reserved.

Biomass-derived porous carbon materials are a new type of popular environmentally friendly materials that have attracted researchers worldwide attention due to their well-developed and easy control pore structure, high specific surface area, higher graphitization degree, etc. Although there have been many critical reviewers and summaries on biomass-derived porous carbon materials, improvements, revisions, and additions are still needed. This paper critically reviews the current knowledge and summarizes the recent advances in biomass-derived activated carbon and carbon aerogels that considers porous carbon materials. In addition, the application of biomass-derived porous carbon materials as electrode materials for supercapacitors and anode materials for lithium-ion and potassium-ion batteries are reviewed. Moreover, biomass-derived carbon aerogels are shortly discussed as absorbent materials for spilled oils and organic solvent recovery. Finally, the conclusions and prospects of biomass-derived porous carbon materials are discussed. © 2022 The Authors

Climate change and intensive economic activity in the river basins lead to a restructuring of the water regime. Therefore, this study aims to study the current intra-annual flow distribution in the plain rivers of the Yesil river basin, and to determine the estimated intra-annual distribution for different time periods. The results showed that the decrease in spring runoff is most noticeable in the upper stream of the Yesil river, in the lower stream of the river the spring runoff for the period with the disturbed regime is much higher than the spring runoff for the natural period, there is an increase in seasonal runoff. These findings indicate that as a result of an increase in the coefficient of natural flow regulation, the winter runoff of the Yesil river in the middle stream has increased by two or three times. © 2024, Zibeline International Publishing Sdn. Bhd.. All rights reserved.

Increasing the efficiency of renewable energy use is an important priority as more and more people are now showing interest in sustainable and clean energy sources. An integrated approach aimed at enhancing the efficiency of utilizing renewable energy sources for small-scale decentralized consumers is particularly pertinent. This article aims to explore and establish the principles of an integrated approach suitable for enhancing the efficiency of renewable energy utilization among small-scale, decentralized consumers. Among the methods used, it should be noted the analytical method, the classification method, the functional method, the statistical method, the synthesis method. Kazakhstan is actively promoting the development of renewable energy. The presence of institutional frameworks, including development initiatives, legal provisions, and supportive measures for the renewable energy sector, has contributed to the expansion of installed capacity in renewable energy stations. The installed capacity of wind farms is particularly high, and it is estimated that they produce much more energy than solar farms. This is due to the spatial distribution of these renewable energy sources. The amount of available solar and wind energy varies significantly in different regions of Kazakhstan (from 5 to 90%). Wind farms have the potential to meet a significant portion or even all the electricity demand in each region. Solar energy is less probable and may only serve as a supplementary energy source; however, the Kyzylorda, North Kazakhstan, and Zhambyl regions exhibit the most substantial potential for energy supply derived from renewable energy sources (RES). The outcomes of the economic evaluation demonstrate that electricity generated from wind and solar sources is cost-effective. The practical significance of this research lies in offering valuable scientific insights and recommendations that aid in developing and implementing an integrated approach to enhance the efficiency of renewable energy utilization among small-scale decentralized consumers. This contributes to sustainable development goals and reduces reliance on conventional energy sources. © 2024, Kaprint. All rights reserved.

The study estimates the water and water management balance of the Tobyl River basin in the Kostanay region, Kazakhstan in the context of non-stationary climate and river flow conditions. The research aims to determine the current deficit and surplus of water resources to develop recommendations on regional water supply needs, especially for urban territories and agricultural sectors. Hydrometeorological data from regional monitoring stations were analyzed using probabilistic statistical methods. The Mann-Kendall test is applied to assess long-term trends in river flow. A comprehensive water balance model is developed for the reservoirs of the Tobyl River. The study shows statistically significant upward trends in water consumption at the Tobyl-Kostanay and Tobyl-Grishenka stations from 1972 to 2021. The developed water management balance indicates that in average and high-water years, the Tobyl River reservoirs accumulate water, and low-water years (95% non-exceedance probability) are marked by water shortage. Evaporation accounts for a significant share of water losses in the reservoir system, especially in low-water years. The findings underscore the urgent need for advanced water-saving methods and adaptive water resource management strategies to mitigate the consequences of water shortage, especially in low-water years. To ensure a stable water supply in the region, it is recommended to strengthen the coordination of transboundary water resources use and employ technological solutions.

Selection of materials for fusion reactors and, in particular, for blanket systems is one of the most important tasks that determine the development of fusion energy. Lithium ceramics Li2TiO3 is considered as prospective candidate for solid breeders of future fusion reactors' blankets. The paper presents the results of high-temperature tests of Li2TiO3 + 5 mol% TiO2 ceramics, performed under conditions of blowing with argon containing impurities of water vapor of different isotopic compositions (H2O, HDO, D2O) in the range of temperature from 100 °C to 1400 °C. The vapor–gas mixture for the experiment was prepared in a special mixing tank. The interaction of Li2TiO3 + 5 mol% TiO2 ceramics with chemically active gases and water vapors was investigated by thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and mass spectrometry (MS) methods. As a result of experiment, the dependences of the sample mass change during heating under single purge gas composition was obtained. Mass spectra that characterize the changes in the qualitative composition of the gas mixture in the reaction chamber with the investigated sample were recorded and subsequently analyzed. An isotope effect is observed during the experiment: the release of D2 gas begins significantly earlier than the release of HD gas. The observed effect appears only in the high-temperature region (above 1050 °C), which characterizes the investigated material as almost completely chemically neutral towards water vapor.

In 2019, the Engineering and Seismometric Service Stations of Kazakh Scientific Research and Design Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture JSC registered 3 Local Earthquakes with foci in Almaty city and adjacent areas of Almaty region. In September 2019, there were two earthquakes with foci near Almaty city. Earthquake accelerogram recorded in the substructure and upstairs of an 11-storey building with a steel frame, as well as on the 10th and 16th floors in a 17-storey building with a stiffening core were obtained on September 02, 2019, September 07, 2019. The buildings are located near tectonic faults. Spectral curves describing the frequency content of the seismic impact are constructed. It is established that the frequency behavior of the footing, composed of soils of the 2nd category in terms of seismic properties, are high-frequency with prevailing periods of 0.06–0.13 s. Resonance phenomena for flexible buildings were not observed in the local earthquakes indicated. Instrumental records are included in the database of accelerograms of Kazakh Scientific Research and Design Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture JSC. The results of the work can be used in the calculation and design of buildings and structures in Almaty city. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

With the growing deficit of water resources, utilizing non-traditional water sources for irrigation has become crucial for stable crop and livestock production. In the Yenbekshikazakh district, favorable natural and climatic conditions have facilitated the development of cascades of seasonal regulation ponds. The construction and reconstruction of these ponds, integrated into water recycling systems, have significantly enhanced irrigated agriculture. This initiative has resolved water supply issues for the villages of Baiterek, Alga, and Koishibek, restoring 1,420 hectares of previously abandoned arable land and boosting agricultural productivity. The cascades have increased water availability by 25–30%, reducing reliance on traditional irrigation sources during dry periods, with a total storage capacity of 850,000 m³. Consequently, average crop yields have risen by 15– 18%, with wheat increasing from 2.5 t/ha to 3.1 t/ha, barley from 2.2 t/ha to 2.8 t/ha, and corn from 3.8 t/ha to 4.5 t/ha. Additionally, water availability has expanded fodder crop cultivation by 20–25%, enhancing livestock nutrition and decreasing dependence on imported feed. These measures support sustainable agricultural development and long-term food security in the region.

The authors regret, that when analyzing the primary spectra of the mass spectrometer, namely the dependences of the change in pressure of gases with mass number M4, a significant inaccuracy was made - the different probability of ionization of helium and the HT molecule was not taken into account, which led to an incorrect assessment of the equilibrium release of tritium from the ceramics. To maintain the exact meaning, it was necessary to make a change to the article of the following nature: the graphs in Fig. 10 (which shows the results of simulation tritium release at the initial stage of the experiments) were renormalized in accordance with the updated data on tritium release (the shape of the graphs did not change, but the range of fluxes tritium release is now indicated correctly). Corrected Fig. 10 is shown below. Also, in the “Acknowledgments” section the program number should be read as No. BR21881930. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.