Growing concerns over greenhouse gas emissions and energy insecurity caused by the depletion of conventional fuels have led to a search for sustainable fuel alternatives. As an alternative energy carrier, hydrogen (H2) is particularly attractive as only water is released during combustion. The process of H2 production from genetically engineered phototrophic microorganisms through biophotolysis leads the way to solve energy shortages. Genetically engineered cyanobacteria species are potential candidates due to their superior properties for reducing greenhouse gases and using solar energy as an energy source. The review discusses the mechanisms and enzymes involved in H2 production by cyanobacteria and applications of genetic engineering. A critical analysis of the fundamental issues attributed to the technical advancement of photobiological cyanobacteria-based H2 production is provided, as well as the perspectives for future research to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through the creation of waste-free technology. © 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC

In our era, water pollution not only poses a serious threat to human, animal, and biotic life but also causes serious damage to infrastructure and the ecosystem. A set of physical, chemical, and biological technologies have been exploited to decontaminate and/or disinfect water pollutants, toxins, microbes, and contaminants, but none of these could be ranked as sustainable and scalable wastewater technology. The photocatalytic process can harmonize the sunlight to degrade certain toxins, chemicals, microbes, and antibiotics, present in water. For example, transition metal oxides (ZnO, SnO2, TiO2, etc.), when integrated into an organic framework of graphene or nitrides, can bring about more than 90% removal of dyes, microbial load, pesticides, and antibiotics. Similarly, a modified network of graphitic carbon nitride can completely decontaminate petrochemicals. The present review will primarily highlight the mechanistic aspects for the removal and/or degradation of highly concerned contaminants, factors affecting photocatalysis, engineering designs of photoreactors, and pros and cons of various wastewater treatment technologies already in practice. The photocatalytic reactor can be a more viable and sustainable wastewater treatment opportunity. We hope the researcher will find a handful of information regarding the advanced oxidation process accomplished via photocatalysis and the benefits associated with the photocatalytic-type degradation of water pollutants and contaminants.

Membrane separation technologies face persistent challenges in balancing high water permeability, effective solute rejection, and resistance to fouling. Against the backdrop of escalating global water scarcity, nanofiltration (NF) has become a robust and sustainable solution for water purification. In this context, sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA), a zwitterionic polymer distinguished by simultaneous cationic and anionic functional groups, has attracted substantial attention owing to its exceptional hydrophilicity and electroneutrality. These attributes promote the formation of dense hydration layers and introduce steric repulsion effects, thereby significantly mitigating the membrane fouling. This review provides a systematic overview of fouling phenomena and classifies them into four principal categories: organic, inorganic (scaling), colloidal, and biofouling-based on their distinctive mechanisms of interaction with membrane surfaces. A comprehensive examination of the chemistry, morphology, and integration strategies of SBMA is presented, detailing the surface coating, surface grafting, and physical blending approaches for both polymeric and thin-film composite membranes. Numerous examples underscore the transformative impact of zwitterionic functionalization on separation performance, with marked improvements in antifouling behavior, flux recovery, and solute rejection. Finally, we discuss the remaining challenges and potential opportunities for optimizing zwitterionic membrane systems to satisfy the urgent demands of global water treatment. By illuminating key structure-property- performance relationships and highlighting innovative material engineering pathways, this review aims to guide the next generation of SBMA-based membranes toward greater durability, efficiency, and sustainability in water and wastewater treatment applications. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd

This article presents results of assessing monitoring state of technogenic load on natural environment in the context of development of the Zhanazhol oil field in the Aktobe region and activities of other oil-producing enterprises in Kazakhstan. It is demonstrated that, due to production activities of several large oil-producing enterprises, significant accumulations of oil-contaminated soils have formed on the territory of the Republic, causing substantial environmental pollution. Principal potential sources of soil contamination with oil and petroleum products include on-land transport vehicles, oil storage facilities, oil refineries, and transportation systems for petroleum products. The most problematic environmental situations associated with land pollution, particularly during accidental spills of oil and petroleum products during production and transportation, have been identified and evaluated.. Therefore, within oil-producing fields, it is crucial to implement reclamation measures aimed at restoring soil fertility. Reclamation method has been developed for soils contaminated with petroleum products using biopreparations derived from plant and food industry waste. Scientific significance of this study lies in the advancement of oil spill remediation methods based on the use of rice husks and biopreparations that contribute to mitigating and eliminating environmental impacts of oil production and transportation. Study results can be applied to reclamation of oil-contaminated lands in other regions and serve as a reference for master’s and PhD dissertations at the Kazakh National Research Technical University named after K.I. Satpayev. © 2025, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan. All rights reserved.

Research into lightweight structural concrete using volcanic tuff is of great importance to the construction industry. These materials have excellent thermal insulation properties, which helps improve the energy efficiency of buildings. A three-factor experimental design was used to build the statistical model. The test methods used were methods for determining the crushability of volcanic tuff, determining the average density, compressive strength and thermal conductivity of lightweight structural concrete. The influence of basalt fiber on the properties of lightweight structural concrete has been determined. The optimal compositions of lightweight structural concrete using tuff have been selected. The compressive strength of lightweight structural concrete reached 32.0 MPa. The average density range is 1754.6–2114.0 kg/m3. Good thermal conductivity values were obtained in the range of 0.653–0.818 W/m·K. The article obtained the optimal compositions of lightweight structural concrete using volcanic tuff as a filler.

The increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration linked to human activity results in global warming by the greenhouse effect. This anthropogenic CO2 may be sequestrated into geological formations, e.g., porous basalts, saline aquifers, depleted oil or gas reservoirs, and unmineable coal seams. Furthermore, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) methods are an acceptable and sustainable technology to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, in which Kazakhstan is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% compared with the 1990 level. Unmineable coal seams are an attractive option among all geostorage solutions, as CO2 sequestration in coal comes with an income stream via enhanced coalbed methane (ECBM) recovery. This paper identifies four carboniferous coal formations, namely Karagandy, Teniz-Korzhinkol, Ekibustuz, and Chu coal basins of Kazakhstan, as CO2 geostorage solutions for their unmineable coal seams. The ideal depth of CO2 storage is identified as 800 m to ensure the supercritical state of CO2. However, the Ekibustuz coal basin fails to meet the required depth of 800 m in its unmineable coal seams. The conventional formula for calculating CO2 storage in coal basins has been modified, and a new formula has been proposed for assessing the CO2 storage potential in a coal seam. The CO2 storage capacities of unmineable coal seam of these coal basins are 24.60 Bt, 0.61 Bt, 14.02 Bt, and 5.42 Bt, respectively. The Langmuir volume of the coal fields was calculated using the proximate analysis of coalfields and found to vary between 36.42 and 98.90 m3/ton. This paper is the first to outline CO2 storage potential in Kazakhstani coal basins, albeit with limited data, along with a detailed geological and paleographic review of the carboniferous coalfields of Kazakhstan. A short overview of the CO2-ECBM process was also included in the paper. Instead of any experimental work for CO2 storage, this paper attempts to present the CO2 storage capacity of carboniferous coal formation using the modified version of previously determined formulas for CO2 storage.

Purpose. The primary objective of this research is to develop a technology for achieving water quality at the level of Maximum Permissible Concentrations (MPC) required by sanitary regulations and norms. Methods. To meet these regulatory requirements, experimental studies were conducted to analyze the chemical and microbiological composition of water, focusing on parameters such as the total microbial count (quantity/ml), coliform bacteria (quantity/ml), coliphages (quantity/100 ml), clostridia (cl/20 ml), and other harmful substances. The research also examined water disinfection processes depending on the autumn and winter seasons of the year. Findings. To assess the device’s effectiveness, the research determined the optimal ozone concentration and contact time in the disinfection chamber. The findings indicate that 0.6 grams per hour (G = 0.6 g/hour) of ozone (O3) per cubic meter of surface water is sufficient for the removal of harmful microbiological substances. Originality. The primary innovation in this research lies in the establishment of parameters for an ozone generator utilizing a novel corona discharge method. The study introduces both theoretical frameworks and practical methodologies for effectively disinfecting surface waters using this innovative technique. Practical implications. This case study offers insights that can be applied and replicated in regions facing similar water quality challenges.

Recently, there has been a propensity to postpone dealing with the world's climate concerns until later, resulting in a 1.5 °C rise in temperature over the last century. Therefore, interest in biologically derived, inexhaustible energy sources based on solar energy is growing. Cyanobacteria have the potential to produce clean, renewable fuels in the form of hydrogen (H2) gas, derived from solar energy and water. The current study reports the screening 11 cyanobacterial strains isolated from rice paddies and hotsprings for efficient H2 producers. According to our findings, H2 concentrations in the species ranged from 3.6 to 48.9 μmol mg−1 Chl a h−1. H2 production by isolated species was shown to have a 2% positive influence on oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and a 2% negative effect on all nitrogen gas (N2) concentrations. It was discovered that at high CO2 concentrations, photosynthesis is enhanced but H2 production is suppressed. Anabaena variabilis BTA-1047 was found to be the most active H2-producing species, with an H2 production activity of 21.3 μmol mg−1 Chl a h−1. Moreover, a 1% O2: 2% CO2 gas mixture doubled the strain activity of H2 production. The findings of the study called into the question the notion that only an anaerobic environment is required for H2 production by N2-fixing cyanobacterial species and explored whether H2 productivity can be increased by stimulating the micro-anaerobic environment with a carbon source.

The synergistic effectiveness of the yeast Cryptococcus laurentii cultured with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) at different concentrations was studied in controlling Penicillium expansum in postharvest grapefruit and exploring the biofilm formation mechanism. The current research results indicate that 0.5% (w/v) CMCS-treated C. laurentii for 72 h could suppress Penicillium expansum conidia germination and hyphal growth in vitro on grapefruit, and its biocontrol efficacy had been significantly enhanced. Moreover, population number of C. laurentii induced by low CMCS level in vitro was obviously increased by changing the budding capacity of yeast. In in vitro experiments, CMCS-C. laurentii adhered to the orifice plate, having a strong biofilm-forming ability, and accompanied by the production of extracellular secretions. Furthermore, the monosaccharide composition of extracellular polysaccharides of yeast by inducing treatment was determined. Among these, compared with C. laurentii, the contents, such as Ara, Gal, Xyl, Man, and Glc-UA, all were increased. Adhesive substances wrapped on the surface of yeast and accompanied by a thin reticular structure were further observed by scanning electron microscopy. Meanwhile, we identified that C. laurentii tightly adhered to the hyphae indicating that the induction treatment effectively inhibits the pathogen development. In comparison to the control fruit, 0.5% (w/v) CMCS-cultured yeast resulted in noticeably synergistic effects that greatly decreased the grapefruit blue mould decay rate and lesion diameter. A new idea was presented in this study to enhance the biocontrol properties of antagonistic yeast.

Background: This study was performed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) of farmers and veterinary professionals towards foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the area studied. Methods: The study was based on a comprehensive questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews. Between January and May 2022, 543 households and 27 animal health practitioners (AHP) were visited in 4 provinces of the West Kazakhstan region to assess their KAPs towards FMD. Results: A large proportion of herd owners (84%) had known the name of the disease, and nearly a half (48) of respondents had heard of FMD cases on farms in the neighbourhood. Oral mucosa lesions were the most consistent with clinical sign characteristic of FMD among farmers (31.4%), followed by hoof blisters (27.6%) and excessive salivation (18.6%). Farmers reported that new animal introduction was potentially the main factor associated with FMD occurrence in their herds. Over half of farmers (54%) interviewed prefer not to purchase livestock from unknown or potentially epidemiologically disadvantaged areas. Conclusion: All AHPs (27) reported that in their zone of veterinary responsibilities, vaccination against FMD is not practised because the area investigated possesses FMD-free status. However, in the past few years, numerous FMD outbreaks have been detected throughout the region. For this reason, immediate actions need to be taken to prevent further FMD occurrences by giving the region a status of an FMD-free zone with vaccination. The current study demonstrated that inadequate quarantine controls of imported animals, absence of regular vaccination and unrestricted animal movement within the country were the primary obstacles in controlling and preventing FMD in the investigated area.