The key problem of using lithium-containing ceramics as materials of breeders for the propagation of tritium in thermonuclear reactors is phase stability, as well as the preservation of strength and thermophysical parameters of ceramics during their operation, which is accompanied by the accumulation of fission products in the near-surface layers, alongside mechanical influences from the outside. Moreover, in contrast to other types of ceramics, the presence of lithium in the composition of the samples under study leads to limitations in the use of classical analysis methods (scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive analysis or optical spectroscopy) of structural changes caused by the accumulation of radiation damage, which requires the use of more complex methods for the assessment of the defect concentration in the structure, as well as establishing their relationship with the deterioration of strength and thermophysical parameters, playing a key role in determining the stability mechanisms and further exploitation of ceramics for tritium production. In this regard, the aim of the study is to determine the kinetics of changes in the near-surface layer of two-phase Li4SiO4 – Li2TiO3 ceramics associated with the accumulation of structural distortions caused by irradiation, as well as their relationship with strain embrittlement and disorder. During the studies, it was found that the accumulation of implanted hydrogen in the near-surface layer under high-dose irradiation initiates deformation distortion processes, the intensity of which depends on the ratio of components in the ceramics, according to which the optimal compositions of two-phase ceramics are ratios of components from 0.3 to 0.6. Determination of the type of defects in the composition of the damaged layer, as well as their concentration, was carried out using the electron spin resonance (ESP) method. During the studies, it was found that at low irradiation fluences, the dominant role in the accumulation of structural defects is played by vacancy defects associated with E′-centers, the formation of which is associated with structural distortions, while as the fluence grows, the structure is dominated by deformation disordering caused by the accumulation of Ti3+ defects and HC2 centers (SiO4 3-), the concentrations of which have a clear dependence on the phase composition of the ceramics. © 2024 The Authors

Microfinance is seen as an important vehicle for developing small businesses in developing and transitional economies despite the relative absence of supporting research. We use mixed methods to offer a nuanced empirical exploration of the relationship between microfinance and everyday entrepreneurial practice(s) in Kazakhstan. As in many transitional contexts, ‘unbankable’ borrowers here operate in a vibrant informal sector, face high degrees of uncertainty, and retain a strong distrust of a corrupt/predatory state. Our data-based methodology for analysing borrowers’ diverse relationships with microfinance organisations (MFOs) generates insights into their multiple pathways to business development. Both ‘outreac\h’ and ‘commercialised’ MFOs sustain micro-flows of resources that are critical for everyday entrepreneurs who need to finance ongoing consumption and contingencies whilst also (and by) building up their small businesses. Microfinance use did not promote formalisation or impersonalised banking relationships. Instead, MFOs focused primarily on repayment, clients’ businesses remained partially formalised or unregistered across all stages of growth and the lending relationships preferred by Private MFOs and borrowers were highly personalised. Consequently, we call for assumptions about how microfinance can (and should) drive small business development need to be rethought for transitional contexts. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

In this study, solar thermal desalination methods were developed to enhance the day to day efficiency of solar distillers by improving their portability and water purification properties. The performance of solar stills is highly contingent on environmental factors, making it essential to address these variables. To achieve this, a double-slope single basin solar distiller (DSBD) was upgraded by incorporating a partially coated absorber plate with ZnO/PVC/Bioactive nanocomposite (ZPBN), which was subsequently examined for its impact on drinking water production from multiple perspectives, including energy, exergy, environmental, and economic considerations. The ZPBN material was synthesized using the solvent casting technique, and its properties were comprehensively characterized through various analytical methods. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed a regular crystalline lattice structure amidst an amorphous background, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirmed its surface performance. The presence of ZnO nanoparticles within the PVC and bioactive matrix imparted enhanced thermal characteristics to the DSBD, including higher temperatures, specific heats, and thermal stability compared to the ZPBN. The study demonstrated that the introduction of ZPBN significantly increased drinking water yield by up to 126% due to its enhanced absorption of solar energy. Furthermore, the energy efficiency of the DSBD improved by 0.44%, while its exergy efficiency decreased by 0.25% when compared to a conventional double slope single basin solar distiller (CDSBD) under the tropical climate conditions of Vijayawada, India. In terms of energy matrices, the ZPBN-coated basin area exhibited minimum and maximum energy payback times of 6.55 years and 0.15 years, respectively. Over its lifetime, the DSBD was found to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.97 tonnes and offered the lowest cost per litre, amounting to $0.0360. The incorporation of ZPBN on the absorber plate within the DSBD resulted in excellent environmental and energy economies, with values of 4.640 kWh/$ and $83.210, respectively.

This study reports the synthesis and characterization of a novel sorbent from manganese ore beneficiation tailings (Borly deposit, Kazakhstan), activated with 20% phosphoric acid and thermally treated at 600 °C. Compared to the raw material, the sorbent showed reduced BET surface area (6.05→3.02 m2/g) but increased average pore diameter (13.2→21.8 nm), more negative zeta potential (−4.1→−18.9 mV), and lower water solubility (0.82%). Equilibrium tests revealed ≥99% Cu2+ removal and a maximum capacity of 1.329 mg/g, with a type V isotherm indicating cooperative adsorption on heterogeneous sites. Among tested models, the RALF (Redlich–Anderson–Langmuir–Freundlich) isotherm provided the best fit (R2=0.999), confirming structured and energetically diverse adsorption sites. Kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model (R2≈1), suggesting chemisorption with mixed physisorption contributions, while intraparticle diffusion was not the sole rate-limiting step. Fixed-bed tests showed a dynamic capacity of 0.68 mg/g. The results highlight a sustainable approach to valorizing manganese tailings for efficient copper removal. This work demonstrates a sustainable approach to valorizing mining waste into functional sorbents for heavy metal removal. Despite their modest adsorption capacity, the materials show high removal efficiency and low cost, making them promising for polishing treatment and other cost-sensitive applications. © The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits the use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source is given by providing a link to the Creative Commons license and changes need to be indicated if there are any. The images or other third-party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

This paper presents an analysis of the current state of processing lead–zinc ores from the Koskudyk deposit (Kazakhstan). At present, polymetallic ores are being extracted from the Ridder-Sokolnoye, Zyryanovskoye, Maleevskoye, and Achisai deposits. However, the reserves of rich and easily beneficiable ores are being depleted, and the supply of raw materials from the developed deposits does not exceed 25 years. As a result, more complex and difficult-to-enrich oxidized and mixed ores are being involved in production, and the extraction of non-ferrous metals from these ores presents a significant technological challenge. The most effective method for enriching oxidized polymetallic ores is flotation with preliminary sulfidization. Laboratory studies were conducted on a sample of oxidized lead–zinc ore from the Koskudyk deposit, which contains 79.69% oxidized lead compounds and 84.72% oxidized zinc compounds. This study examines the effect of sulfidization using sodium sulfide and determines the oxidative–reductive potential (ORP) levels for various reagent dosages. The experiments demonstrated that a sodium sulfide dosage of 700 g/t at an ORP of −200 mV yields the most effective lead flotation, resulting in a lead recovery of 50.07%. Zinc recovery remained relatively unchanged across all tests, confirming the limited response of oxidized zinc minerals under the applied sulfidization conditions. The highest beneficiation efficiency was achieved within the ORP range of −160 to −200 mV, beyond which lead recovery began to decline. The findings underscore the importance of optimizing ORP to ensure the formation of a stable sulfide film on mineral surfaces and efficient collector attachment. These results provide practical guidance for improving flotation performance of oxidized ores and demonstrate the need for additional activation strategies in zinc recovery. © 2025 by the authors.