Despite the promising specific discharge capacity and energy density, lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) encounter challenges related to the lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) shuttle effect and volume expansion during extended cycling. A pivotal aspect of this research lies in the strategic synthesis of a hybrid of non-polar and polar compounds, creating an effective host and separator modifier tailored for LSBs for improvement of their electrochemical characteristics. Precisely, high-specific surface area graphene-like porous carbon (GPC) was successfully synthesized from inexpensive and abundant rice husk (RH) waste via step-by-step carbonization and thermo-chemical activation, and subsequently used as a porous matrix for sulfur cathode preparation using the melt-diffusion technique. Furthermore, composites based on GPC decorated with NiO nanoparticles were synthesized with varying GPC to Ni(NO3)2 ratios and utilized as an efficient separator modifier. The obtained results revealed that the cell consisting of GPC@S cathode and GPC-NiO-20 modified separator exhibited accelerated LiPSs redox reactions and suppressed the shuttle effect. In particular, the GPC@S/GPC-NiO-20 cell demonstrated excellent initial discharge capacity (1519 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C), promising long-term cycling performance (capacity decay of 0.091 % per cycle over 400 cycles at 1 C), and remarkable rate performance (568 mAh g−1 at 2 C). © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

This study investigates the hydrogen adsorption performance of activated carbon (AC) derived from rice husks and modified with magnesium and nickel salts. Adsorption isotherms were recorded at 25 °C and 50 °C up to 80 bar, simulating practical storage conditions. The unmodified AC exhibited the highest hydrogen uptake (0.62 wt% at 25 °C), attributed to its high surface area and dominant ultramicroporosity (<0.9 nm). Modifications with Mg and Ni reduced adsorption capacity, likely due to partial pore blockage and decreased surface functionality, as confirmed by FTIR, Raman, and XRD analyses. Despite this, all samples demonstrated stable cyclic adsorption–desorption behavior and consistent isotherm profiles. Hysteresis observed in the modified samples suggests capillary condensation within mesopores. Thermodynamic analysis confirmed the exothermic nature of hydrogen adsorption. Among the modified materials, ACM10 (Mg-modified) exhibited the best performance (0.54 wt%), highlighting the importance of optimizing the metal content. The obtained results indicate that the micropore size distribution and accessible surface functionality critically govern the hydrogen storage capacity, suggesting that unmodified AC is a promising candidate for low-temperature hydrogen storage systems. © 2025 by the authors.

The B10 fuel blend in the presence (or absence) of n-butyl alcohol and eucalyptus essential oil additivities by the ASTM standards has been tested. As seen our results, these oxygenated compounds can be successfully used in B10 fuel blends as additives to improve exploitation properties. Methanol-based biodiesel has been synthesized by the transesterification reaction of technical cottonseed oil in the presence of potassium hydroxide, with a maximum yield of 64% at a molar ratio of oil to alcohol of 1:3, at 65°C. The oxidizing stability of the B10 fuel blends with (or without) additivities has been evaluated using the NMR spectroscopy method. Our experimental results demonstrated that investigated B10 fuel blend with oxygenated compounds has a high potential for diesel engines than B100 and petroleum diesel. The best results demonstrate the B10+n-Butanol fuel blend.

Purpose. The research is aimed at developing the technology for chemical strengthening of mine workings using epoxy reagent to create a protective shield in unstable zones of rock masses, as well as at assessing the strength of the strengthened areas and improving the stability of mine workings. Methods. During the research, core samples extracted from the epoxy reagent-strengthened mass were tested to assess their strength and resistance to external influences. Numerical modeling was performed in ANSYS Mechanical 14.5 to analyze the stress-strain state of strengthened and non-strengthened areas. Findings. Tests of core samples taken from the Akbakai mine showed that failure mainly occurs in the zones of contact between the rock and the adhesive composition, with the share of new fractures not exceeding 15%. The adhesion strength was 0.15 MPa, which is three times higher than that of non-strengthened rock. The results of modeling confirmed the reduction of stresses and displacements in strengthened zones by 2-3 times compared to non-strengthened ones, which indicates the high efficiency of the proposed method to improve the stability of mine workings. Originality. For the first time, an innovative method of chemical strengthening of mine workings with the use of protective epoxy shield, which significantly increases the stability of the mass when conducting mine workings under the influence of mineral salts and external loads, has been substantiated. Practical implications. The developed technology of chemical strengthening of mine workings with the use of protective epoxy shield has a high practical significance for the mining industry. Its application will significantly improve the stability of rock masses, especially in unstable zones exposed to the influence of mineral salts, which contributes to improving the safety and durability of mine workings, reducing the risks of caving and cleavage, as well as increasing the efficiency of miningtunneling operations. © 2025. Y. Iskakov, D. Amanzholov, Z. Kenessov.

Climate warming and intensified human activities threaten the stability of oasis ecosystems in arid regions, increasing water resource pressure and vegetation degradation. Existing methods fail to fully capture hydrological-vegetation interactions, and research on groundwater depth thresholds remains limited. The Keriya River, which extends deep into the heart of the Taklamakan Desert, serves as a crucial window into the water balance between humans and oases. This study, using multi-temporal Sentinel-2 remote sensing imagery, water resource observation data, and ground survey data from 2016–2024, extracted data on farmland area and watershed area in the middle and lower reaches of the Keriya River over multiple years. An analytical framework integrating remote sensing monitoring, machine learning, and groundwater modeling was constructed to systematically assess the impact of regional farmland expansion on groundwater dynamics and desert riparian forests. Results revealed farmland increased by 31.17 km² year−1. Due to the increase in human water use in the middle reaches, decreasing groundwater levels by 0.04–0.05 m year−1 and straining ecological water supplies. Populus euphratica forest decreased by 4.04 km² year−1, while drought-resistant Tamarix chinensis communities expanded by 3.67 km² year−1, indicating a shift to secondary vegetation. Spatial variations in the fractional vegetation cover indicated a significant decline in vegetation health along the oasis peripheries, with pronounced degradation trends in areas with insufficient surface water supply. Model projections indicate that, if current trends persist, 34.5 % of the total oasis area will have groundwater levels shallower than 6 m by 2120, i.e., below the groundwater level suitable for the growth of desert riparian forests. This would put the oasis ecosystem at risk of large-scale degradation, resulting in long-term and irreversible impacts on protected areas. The methodology improved spatiotemporal resolution, quantitative simulation, and multi-source process integration and provides a novel pathway for investigating hydrological-ecological dynamics in arid regions and scientific evidence for water resource management and ecological conservation. Controlled farmland expansion, improve the legal and regulatory standards system, optimized water usage, and a long-term ecological water supplementation mechanism are recommended to sustain the oasis ecosystem. © 2025 The Authors

The need for a relatively quick solution to the problem of providing highways with roadside service facilities necessitates the development of a series of appropriate standard projects. To increase the efficiency of these series, it is advisable to carry out the interconnection of space-planning solutions based on a particular module. Taking into account the variety of planning and landscape characteristics of the sites for the placement of objects of the mainline service, it seems advisable to choose as a module not a square or rectangular, but a triangular configuration, which allows in most cases to harmoniously block the modules. The proposed roof module in the form of a “regular” triangle facing the tetrahedron has a structural basis in the form of a single-tier rod spatial plate. The principal space-planning solutions of all four dozen objects from the approved nomenclature of the mainline service performed in the process of analyzing the possibilities show the real possibility of solving the development tasks on the basis of this system. The use of the proposed modular system makes it possible to successfully solve a number of tasks to reduce the harmful impact on the environment and effectively use renewable energy sources. The work is devoted specifically to the field of design. © 2022 by the authors.

The paper is focused on the recent stage in development of Kazakhstan urban agglomerations, formed as one of the priorities of state policy. Amid the absence of criteria, the boundaries of agglomerations were delimited by 1.5-hour isochrone of transport accessibility around cities with a population of over 100000. Then, eight centers were selected using a modified coefficient of development, which took into account, in addition to urban satellites, villages with a population of over 3000. At the second stage, the degree of separation between the cores of agglomerations and zones of influence or the rest of the regions was analyzed by means of demographic and socio-economic indicators. The case of Kazakhstan has shown that the inherited structure of economy and low-comfort environment of the centers do not contribute toward the development of most agglomerations. During the post-Soviet period, their share in the population of the country increased from 43 to 52%, but the administrative approach of agglomerations “construction” works only where there are objective prerequisites and an evolutionary backlog. Of the agglomerations whose status is stated in government documents as growth points, the Almaty agglomeration is one of the most developed. The gravity zone of Shymkent includes mainly large villages, some of which have recently become towns. The capital city agglomeration in terms of development is noticeably inferior even to the neighboring Karaganda. Aktobe is able to attract residents only of the north-western regions. According to the dynamics of socio-economic development, both metropolitan agglomerations stand out, which shows the level of wages and the commissioning of housing. The three largest agglomerations are the most tertiarized, while the rest retain high employment in industry, the concentration of which in the cores does not contribute to the development of agglomerations. Except for Almaty, which is surrounded by signs of the starting suburbanization, the core cities are growing faster than their zones of influence. The suburbs lack of places for employment, a weak social infrastructure, and a lower income. This situation, which is typical of the initial stages of development, hinders the use of the classical advantages of agglomerations.

Mass high-rise, tenement housing in former Soviet bloc countries, built within the modernist genre, has proved to be problematical throughout the history of architecture and urban planning. This study addresses features of mass housing in the former Soviet state of Kazakhstan, in which planning, artistic, psychological, social, and urban aspects of housing have resulted in the inhabitants’ diminished quality of life. The study’s findings reveal specific critical problems regarding typical tenements in Kazakhstan for their inhabitants and for the urban environments they occupy. An interdisciplinary approach reveals both negative and positive characteristics of various types of Kazakh mass tenement housing, with an emphasis on the former. The paper addresses some potentialities and recommendations for renovation that would enhance the quality of life in the urban setting.

The study investigates the structural, thermal, and adsorption properties of natural diatomite and its modified forms (thermally and acid-treated) for oil spill remediation. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed amorphous silica alongside crystalline phases. Thermogravimetric analysis showed mass losses at 80–300 °C (removal of adsorbed water) and 430–700 °C (dehydroxylation), with an 8.63% total mass loss. Acid treatment with 0.5N H2SO4 significantly altered the chemical composition, increasing the SiO2 content to 88.8% while dissolving CaO, Na2O, and MnO2. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed the removal of hydroxyl groups and structural changes following treatment. Nitrogen adsorption analysis revealed enhanced porosity in the acid-modified diatomite (D-H2SO4-400), showing a BET surface area of 80.0 m2/g and a uniform pore size distribution of 19.0 nm. Scanning electron microscopy revealed preserved skeletal structures with improved porosity. Oil sorption tests showed that D-H2SO4-400 exhibited the highest adsorption capacity (optimal at 4 g, 30 µm particle size), achieving maximum uptake within 2 minutes. Overall, these findings confirm that thermal and acid treatments enhance the sorption efficiency of diatomite, making it a promising low-cost and environmentally friendly material for oil spill remediation. © 2025 The Author(s).

The rapid growth of global industry and population has caused severe freshwater shortages, necessitating advanced water treatment and harvesting technologies. Hydrogels, with their three-dimensional network structures and exceptional water absorption properties, are emerging as effective materials for water purification. This study focused on synthesizing a novel copolymer from N-(2-vinyloxyethyl)-N-(2-cyanoethyl)amine (VOECEA) and maleic anhydride (MAh) through radical copolymerization, utilizing azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator in a 30% cyclohexane and 70% ethyl acetate solvent mixture at 70 °C. The copolymers were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Post-synthesis, the nitrile groups were modified using a methanol-water solution containing NH₂OH∙HCl and NaOH at 80 °C. The modified hydrogels demonstrated effective removal of heavy metal ions, including lead (Pb²⁺) and cadmium (Cd²⁺), and organic pollutants such as dyes, showcasing their potential for addressing critical water contamination challenges. © The Author(s) 2025.