The growing demand for clean energy has spotlighted biomass as a promising resource for sustainable hydrogen production, providing a carbon-neutral alternative to traditional fossil fuels. This review examines the latest advancements in converting biomass to hydrogen, focusing on thermochemical methods like gasification and pyrolysis, catalyst development, and biotechnological approaches such as dark fermentation and biophotolysis. While these methods offer substantial environmental benefits, including waste reduction and renewable energy generation, challenges persist in optimizing feedstock diversity, enhancing catalyst stability, and achieving cost-effective scalability. Innovations in plasma-assisted reforming, advanced nanocatalysts, and integrated reactor designs show promise in overcoming these barriers. By fostering collaboration across academia, industry, and government, these advancements can pave the way for a viable, sustainable hydrogen economy and contribute significantly to reducing global carbon emissions. © 2025 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC

A novel self-powered and flexible enzymatic biofuel cell (EBFC)-based aptasensor was developed for the sensitive and selective detection of 17 β-estradiol (E2). A flexible polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-tannic acid‑carbon nanotube/reduced graphene oxide (PTCR) substrate was modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and thiolated aptamer 1 (Apt1) to yield Apt1@AuNPs/PTCR. A copper-based metal-organic framework (Cu-MOF) with peroxidase mimicking activity was employed to anchor glucose oxidase (GOD) and Apt2, forming the Cu-MOF@GOD/Apt2 tag. When E2 was recognized by Apt1, the anchored E2 quantitatively recognized Cu-MOF@GOD/Apt2 to create a Cu-MOF@GOD/Apt2-E2-Apt1 sandwich structure for glucose oxidation to generate electrical power. Increased E2 concentrations enhanced Cu-MOF@GOD/Apt2 capture and amplified the electrical signal. The electrical power increased linearly as the E2 concentration increased from 1.0 pM to 1.0 nM. The sensor was successfully applied to various food samples and blood serum detection. This work promoted the application of novel self-powered biosensors for food safety analysis. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd

Climate change from anthropogenic activities had resulted in devastating disruptions in Kazakhstan. This includes drought in 2023 and flooding in 2024, with widespread water pollution. The field surveys and water-soil sampling were carried out in 2013 to study West Kazakhstan’s (WK) groundwater and soil. From this, preliminary classifications were made. The water was categorized into three groups: (1) potable household, (2) technical irrigation, and (3) unsuitable for use. WK is under intensive oil and gas exploration and processing activities, thus, groundwater in the region faces contamination risks. As a result, proper, permanent groundwater quality monitoring is needed. Along with these efforts, the groundwater and soil samples were collected and analyzed. This included measuring for different anions and cations concentration, hydrogen ions pH concentration, total dissolved salts (TDS), total water hardness С, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and sodium content (SC). The Piper and Durov Diagrams illustrate water-soil quality. The WK region was categorized into three groups by the water-soil quality outputs; the (1) group of the WK North-East region with the smallest salinity level, suitable for the household use; the (2) group of the WK South-East, suitable for irrigation, as technical water, which is unsuitable as the potable water and requires purifications for the household needs; the (3) group of the WK North-West, unsuitable for irrigation and high salt content, which requires substantial purification for the household or irrigation use. Among the salinity chemistry levels, the most common are chloride-sulfate, soda-sulfate, sulfate-soda by anions; next sodium and sodium-calcium by cations. Soda-saline lands were identified in some areas of the WK region. The upgrading of melioration for sufficient water quality improvement will require substantial efforts. The content of petroleum products in some soil samples significantly exceeds the maximum permissible concentration. A further, more detailed investigation is required with more permanent soil water monitoring efforts, especially following the recent flooding events. © The Author(s) 2025.

Biphasic lithium ceramics based on lithium orthosilicate Li4SiO4 and lithium metatitanate Li2TiO3 is one of the most promising materials for breeder blankets of future fusion reactors. One of the important issues of biphasic lithium ceramics application in the fusion reactor blanket is to determine the parameters and mechanisms of tritium transfer within and from the ceramics. This paper continues the analysis of irradiation experiments carried out at the WWR-K reactor (Almaty, Kazakhstan) with a sample of biphasic lithium ceramics Li4SiO4-Li2TiO3 (pebbles of lithium orthosilicate with 35 mol% lithium metatitanate with diameter 250––1250 μm). The section of the experiment in which the reactor was temporarily shutdown for 1.5 h was investigated in detail. During this period of time the sample temperature rapidly decreased from 665 °C to 100 °C, generation of tritium and helium in the lithium ceramic sample ceased, but the desorption of previously generated gases from the ceramic surface continued. The experiments were carried out by the vacuum extraction method. The nature of tritium-containing molecules and helium release for that specified time interval was analyzed. The kinetics of tritium release from ceramics in the experiment during reactor shutdown was simulated and the expression for the effective diffusion coefficient D = 5e-11(m2/s)∙exp(-20(kJ/mole)/RT) was determined. It was suggested that one the most realistic mechanisms for tritium release is the mechanism associated with both diffusion and desorption of tritium from the pebbles surface and release from the open pores of the pebble. This mode of the experiment made it possible to estimate the parameters of tritium release immediately after irradiation, which imitates the conditions of breeding blanket operation in the fusion reactor. © 2023

Purpose. The research is aimed at substantiation of the effective method for mining thin slope ore bodies occurring in soft unstable host rocks by optimizing the breaking process, while determining the patterns of blast energy impact on the disturbed mass by explosive charges with controllable density, taking into account the geomechanical rock mass state. Methods. The research uses a comprehensive approach, including analysis of literature sources, practical experience of mining the slope ore bodies in difficult mining-geological conditions, modeling of the energy characteristics of blasts and wave action on the mass using software, as well as conducting experimental-industrial tests in the Akbakai mine. Findings. An innovative method for effective and safe ore mining from thin slope ore deposits in masses with weakened host rocks has been substantiated and developed. It implies the use of a new construction and location in the blast-holes of a charge consisting of mixed low-density explosives with widely controllable characteristics and with which the blast-holes are charged in two layers with different densities of explosives and detonated at different delay intervals. The optimum delay intervals have been determined, which improve the conditions for controlling the blast energy by changing the direction of the blast action vector towards the newly outcropped surfaces formed in the rock mass after the blasting the first stage charges. The main factors influencing the ore delivery range when mining thin slope ore bodies with blast delivery system have been revealed and methods for increasing this process efficiency are proposed. Originality. New parameters of drilling and blasting operations have been determined for the conditions of mining thin slope ore bodies of the Akbakai deposit: a rational charge construction with controllable blast characteristics has been deve-loped; the optimum range of blast-hole charging density with mixed low-density explosives and delay intervals have been substantiated; a new exponential dependence of the ore delivery range on the specific blasting agent consumption and the angl e of the ore body occurrence has been revealed. Practical implications. Practical significance is in increasing the efficiency of blast breaking of minerals, improving the quality of blast delivery of broken ore to loading sites while maintaining the host rock mass continuity and reducing the ore mass dilution, eliminating the formation of large-sized pieces that complicate the blast delivery of the broken ore. © 2023. Y. Serdaliyev, Y. Iskakov, A. Alibayev Mining of Mineral Deposits.

Polyampholyte hydrogels exhibit great antibacterial and antifouling properties, which make them attractive for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, wound healing, and tissue engineering. They also have potential applications in food safety, wastewater treatment, and desalination. Since they are based on ionic interactions, polyampholytes are known to require lower amounts of chemical cross-linkers as compared with traditional gels. However, the effects of both chemical and physical interactions on the material’s performance are yet to be fully understood and were examined in the present work. Here, four series of equimolar polyampholyte hydrogels were synthesized with anionic (acrylamidomethylpropane sulfonic acid sodium salt) and cationic monomers (acrylamidopropyl-trimethylammonium chloride) along with a cross-linker (N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide). The mechanical and rheological properties of the gels were characterized following changes to the initial monomer concentration and crosslinker ratios, which led to gels with different toughness, stretchability, and compressibility. The direct correlation of the cross-linking degree with the initial monomer concentration showed that the chemical crosslinker could be further reduced at a high monomer concentration of 30% by weight, which creates an inter-chain network at a minimal crosslinker concentration of 0.25%. Lastly, N′N-dimethylacrylamide was added, which resulted in an increase in the number of H-bonds in the structure, noticeably raising material performance. © 2023 by the authors.

Environmental problems are among the most pressing issues in the modern world, including the shortage of clean drinking water partially caused by contamination from various industries and the excessive emission of CO2 primarily from the massive use of fossil fuels. Consequently, it is crucial to develop inexpensive, effective, and environmentally friendly methods for wastewater treatment and CO2 reduction, turning them into useful feedstocks. This study explores a unique method that addresses both challenges by utilizing ZnO, which is recognized as one of the most active semiconductors for photocatalysis, as well as a cost-effective electrocatalyst for the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). Specifically, we investigate the influence of the morphology of various ZnO nanostructures synthesized via different low-cost routes on their photocatalytic properties for degrading the rhodamine-B dye (RhB) and on their electrocatalytic performance for the CO2RR. Our results show that the ZnO lamella morphology achieves the best performance compared to the nanorod and nanoparticle structures. This outcome is likely attributed to the lamella’s higher aspect ratio, which plays a critical role in determining the structural, optical, and electrical properties of ZnO.

The article is dedicated to the study of the phase formation processes in Li2ZrO3 ceramics obtained by the method of solid phase synthesis. Interest in these types of ceramics is due to their great potential for use as blanket materials in thermonuclear reactors, as well as being one of the candidates for tritium breeder materials. Analysis of the morphological features of the synthesized ceramics depending on the annealing temperature showed that the average grain size is 90–110 nm; meanwhile the degree of homogeneity is more than 90% according to electronic image data processing results. The temperature dependences of changes in the structural and conducting characteristics, as well as the phase transformation dynamics, have been established. It has been determined that a change in the phase composition by displacing the impurity LiO and ZrO2 phases results in the compaction of ceramics, as well as a decrease in their porosity. These structural changes are due to the displacement of LiO and ZrO2 impurity phases from the ceramic structure and their transformation into the Li2ZrO3 phase. During research, the following phase transformations that directly depend on the annealing temperature were established: LiO/ZrO2/Li2ZrO3 → LiO/Li2ZrO3 → Li2ZrO3. During analysis of the obtained current-voltage characteristics, depending on the annealing temperature, it was discovered that the formation of the Li2ZrO3 ordered phase in the structure results in a rise in resistance by three orders of magnitude, which indicates the dielectric nature of the ceramics.

As climate change concerns are rising rapidly, energy efficiency promotion and implementation could be sustainable solutions within energy transition. In this context, buildings, including educational ones, play an important role in reducing energy needs and promoting energy efficiency since they account for a significant share of the total energy consumption. As a case study for this research, the educational building of Kazakh-German University was selected. Following the national and international building standards, energy performance parameters were estimated. Current heat losses and performance have been estimated as baseline scenario settings. The impact of retrofitting measures on energy efficiency performance of the buildings under the four scenarios was calculated. Under the minor scenario, retrofitting interventions will lead to annual energy savings of 36.9 kWh/m2 and a 48% CO2 emission reduction, whereas under the major scenario, the annual energy savings will increase to 77.76 kWh/m2 and a nearly 82% CO2 emission reduction. The integration of a solar thermal system with capacity 400 kWh, assuming that the heat demand was reduced under the minor retrofitting scenario, can decrease heat energy consumption and CO2 emissions to 35%. As upfront costs of the energy efficiency measures are high, a carbon offset mechanism could facilitate the implementation of university building modernization. © 2022 by the authors.

Environmental problems associated with water pollution caused by organic dyes have raised serious concerns. In this context, photocatalytic processes have proven to be promising and environmentally friendly methods for water purification utilising abundant solar energy. In this study, a SrTiO3 -based photocatalyst was modified by doping with Al ions and the deposition of dual co-catalysts (Rh/Cr2O3 and CoOOH) to enhance the photocatalytic decomposition efficiency of methylene blue (MB). Pure perovskite SrTiO3 was synthesised by chemical precipitation followed by calcination at 1100 ◦C. Al-doped SrTiO3 with deposited co-catalysts showed 3.2 times higher photocatalytic activity compared to unalloyed SrTiO3 with co-catalysts in MB decomposition under visible radiation. This study highlights the effectiveness of using dual co-catalysts and low-valence metal doping to enhance the efficiency of the photocatalytic decomposition of organic pollutants. The density functional theory analysis results show that the Al doping of SrTiO3 improves charge separation and increases the lifetime of photogenerated electrons and holes while maintaining the size of the forbidden band, which confirms its effectiveness for enhancing photocatalytic activity