More than 300 million tons of ash have been accumulated in the dumps of power plants from the combustion of Ekibastuz coal, with an annual release of over 20 million tons. By 2050, the amount of ash in dumps is expected to exceed 1 billion tons, which could cause an environmental disaster in the regions. On the other hand, ash dumps contain a significant amount of valuable metals -Zn (0.3-4.0)%, Pb (0.1-0.9)%, Cd up to 0.028%, Ga, Ge-200 g/t, and the average content of pow-dered gold is 0.8 g/t. The work aims to develop an energy-saving technology for extracting valuable ash components into sub-limates and waste-free processing of the silicate part of the ash into a melt, suitable forthe production of building materials. The novelty of the work is creating an «ideal»mixture in the melt, with the aim of coagulating particles of valuable compo-nents (Ge, Au) and mix them with Zn, followed by their rise from the melt by evaporating zinc into the gas phase. Experiments carried out on a smelting reactor operating in the «ideal»mixing –«ideal»displacement mode, when melting Zn, Ge -contain-ing slags, proved the feasibility of the proposed method. An assumption has also been made about thepossibility of extracting fine gold from the ash and slag melt using a similar method. An assessment of the economic efficiency of the proposed tech-nology shows: that in the case of extracting gold from the melt, the payback period of the investment does not exceed 2-3 years, and in the absence of extraction -3-4 years.

The article considers sources of hexavalent chromium in the environment, its toxicity, methods of removal, main adsorbents used for Cr(VI) removal, obtaining of carbon sorbents using different raw materials. The interpretation of the mechanism of Cr(VI) removal is given.Chromium is widely used in many industries, which results in the generation of a large amount of hazardous waste -wastewater from steel, metalworking, electroplating, tanning, automotive, paint, paper-pulp and textile plants. Chromium is one of the most dangerous inorganic pollutants because of its carcinogenic effects on biological species. In aquatic environments, chromium usually exists in the trivalent Cr(III) or hexavalent Cr(VI) state. Hexavalent chro-mium ions in aqueous media are highly toxic even in small amounts, and their removal from solution poses a serious wastewater treatment problem. Methods such as adsorption ion exchange, membrane separation, coagulation, chemical precipi-tation, extraction and electrochemical separation can remove hexavalent chromium from wastewater. Adsorption is considered to be the most efficient, economically feasible, environmentally sustainable and technologically promising process. Among adsorbents of different nature, activated carbon is the most widely used.Wood is the most common source of activated carbon but given the importance of wood in maintaining the ecosystem, alternative sources of activated carbon production are being sought. Activated carbon is produced from various materials by high temperature carbonization. Activated carbon materials have high specific surface area and developed porous structure. The micropores in activated carbon account for the physical adsorption of chromium ions. The presence of functional groups containing O and Nin activated carbon affects the chemical structure and the process of chemical sorption.

The presented scientific article deals with the actualproblem of complex processing and disposal of industrial waste from metallurgical and chemical industries in order to obtain building materials, in particular to create heat-resistant building mixtures from them. Special attention is paid to the technological processes of manufacturing heat-resistant construc-tion mixtures from overburden, enrichment tailings, slurries and slags. A critical analysis of the current state of the processing of these types of waste and the production of heat-resistant building mixtures from them is carried out. The article provides an overview of modern technologies and their practical examples in the field of creating environmentally friendly heat-resistant construction mixtures based on recycled materials. In addition, the results of an experimental study on the development of building mixtures for the production of heat-resistant building mixtures from industrial products of vanadium production are described. The industrial product of vanadium production was investigated by chemical and X-ray spectral analysis methods. The data obtained provides an overview of the material that can be used as a component of a mixture for the production of heat-resistant construction material, applicable in obtaining various types of construction mixtures and heat-resistant blocks. To obtain heat-resistant building mixes, cement M 400, liquid glass and chamotte were mixed in various proportions, and then dried at a temperature of 100°C for 24 hours. Further, the dried materials were kept at 1000°C for 10 hours, which, to assess heat resistance, were heated in the temperature range of 800-1800°C for 30 minutes, followed by abrupt cooling with water. The resulting building heat-resistant mixtures had high strength characteristics (compressive strength from 32 to 45 MPa) and good heat resistance/heat resistance.

In the context of increasing water resource scarcity, the search for alternative irrigation sources has become a key factor in the sustainable development of agriculture. One of the effective solutions is the reconstruction and creation of cas-cades of water accumulation ponds, which significantly improvethe reliability of the water reuse system.The implementation of this practice has notably enhanced irrigated farming conditions, especially during drought periods. In the villages of Bait-erek, Alga, and Koishibek, the water supply issue has been largely mitigated, leading to the return of 1420 hectares of previ-ously abandoned land to agricultural use. These lands are now actively used for growing crops, ensuring stable production.Over 300 farms now have access to a dependable irrigation water supply, which contributes to the development of the agricul-tural sector and reduces drought-related risks. Thus, the use of water accumulation systems demonstrates high efficiency and significance for food security and the resilience of agriculture in a changing climate.

The paper studies areas of coal seams in the Western Donbass (Ukraine), which can potentially be suitable for underground coal gasification (UCG) technology, which, in the conditions of the difficult energy situation in Ukraine, can significantly affect the consumer market of energy carriers. On the basis of a detailed research on the mining-geological and mining-technical conditions of ten sites according to the criteria for their suitability for UCG, the optimal site and coal seam have been chosen. The structures of coal seams, side rocks (roof, bottom), the location and size of tectonic disturbances, hy-drogeological conditions, as well as the technical and elemental composition of coal have been analyzed. Based on the con-ducted research, it has been determined that it is recommended to place the experimental underground gas generator on the C5coal seam of #4 site, located on the territory with the most developed infrastructure and optimal criteria for gasification suita-bility. The practical significance of the research is in the fact that the experience of mining the UCG #4 site of the experi-mental gas generator allows adjusting the technology parameters for subsequent industrial replication. The proposed approach to the selection of a site and a coal seam can also be tested in other coal deposits with similar mining-geological and mining-technical conditions.

When conducting engineering and geological surveys, one of the main tasks is to determine the physical and me-chanical properties of soils. The physical properties of soils are necessary for accurate soil classification, while the mechanical properties are essential for calculating the stability of foundations, as well as the foundations of buildings and structures. This article presents the results of a study on the physico-mechanical properties of cohesive soils in deluvial-proluvial and alluvial deposits of the Alakol depression. Modern geological processes and phenomena in this region are mainly influenced by human engineering and economic activities, particularly land reclamation and construction. Until the 1960s, the development of cer-tain UCPs (Unified Classification Points) was sporadic. The erosion activity of water flows was primarily observed during spring floods and heavy rains, leading to the washout and collapse of riverbanks. Deflation was evident in the Aeolian rework-ing of alluvial-lacustrine deposits, resulting in the formation of blow basins, sand dunes, wind ripples, and other microrelief features. Additionally, salinization and waterlogging led to the widespread development of salt marshes and puffin formationsin areas with shallow groundwater levels.

This article considers modern methods of increasing wear resistance and reliability of machine parts using com-posite materials, especially in the field of powder surfacing and synthesis of metal-matric composites. One of the effective methods is self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS), which allows obtaining composite coatings with improved mechanical and thermal properties. Powder surfacing methods, such as electron beam surfacing (EBF), provide wear-resistant, heat-resistant and hardening coatings on a titanium base. Powders of titanium and its alloys are obtained by reduction of oxides with calcium hydride, which contributes to the formation of materials with high strength and good flowability. Special atten-tion is paid to titanium boride as a strengthening phase for composites. The use of these technologies contributes to a signifi-cant increase in the durability and reliability of machines and mechanisms, which leads to resource saving and reduction of operating costs. The studies include the analysis of structural characteristics of the obtained powders and coatings, as well as the determination of their physical and mechanical properties. The variations in these properties as a function of the titanium binder content in the composite powder are analyzed. The descriptionof the microstructure of powders and coatings, as well as the influence of composition on their characteristics, allows us to draw conclusions about the possibility of using these materi-als to create functional coatings with improved performance characteristics, such as increased wear resistance and heat re-sistance. The results of the study can be useful for the development of new materials with improved operational properties for use in various industries.

The smelting of off-grade ilmenite concentrates from the Obukhovskoye deposit results in the generation of sig-nificant quantities of reduced iron, which presents an opportunity for itsutilization in the production of iron oxide pigments. The transformation of industrial waste into value-added materials aligns with contemporary trends in sustainable materials science. This study investigates the precipitation of divalent iron from sulfuric and hydrochloric acid solutions using ammonia to form goethite, focusing on the influence of magnesium impurities on the precipitation process. The presence of magnesium was found to inhibit the formation of goethite, leading to a significant reductionin pigment yield and quality. A ferriferous solution was prepared by dissolving finely divided reduced iron in sulfuric acid, followed by the precipitation of iron oxides using a 25% ammonia solution. The synthesized iron oxide pigment was further refinedthrough hydrogen peroxide treatment, ensuring a more uniform pigment composition and improved color stability. This approach offers a viable method for the recy-cling of industrial by-products while simultaneously addressing environmental concerns related to waste disposal. The findings contribute to the advancement of resource-efficient pigment synthesis techniques, demonstrating the potential for utilizing metallurgical waste as a precursor for high-quality iron oxide pigments suitable for various industrial applications.

This work presents an economic analysis of processing various titanium-containing raw materials-titanium slag and synthetic rutile-through chlorination in a molten salt medium in the presence of carbon. The processing of titanium-containing raw materials is carried out using a chlorination technology in molten alkali metal salts (MgCl₂, NaCl, KCl) with high-concentration gaseous chlorine in the presence of a carbon-containing reducing agent. Anthracite is used as the reducing agent, while waste sludge from magnesium electrolysis is used as the molten medium. The processing takes place in cylindri-cal chlorination furnaces lined with fireclay bricks at temperatures of 720-800°C. The chlorination products are directed to a condensation system. The work provides a description of the Satpayev ilmenite deposit in East Kazakhstan and presents the chemical composition of Satpayev ilmenite concentrate, titanium slag, and synthetic rutile obtained through various processes. A correlation is established between the vanadium, niobium, and tantalum content in ilmenite concentrates and their preva-lence in the Earth's crust. Based on this correlation, the order of transition metals in Group V of the periodic table is deter-mined according to their decreasing concentration in the concentrates. Technological challenges associated with processing titanium-containing raw materials with elevated levels of certain components are described, along with some methods for pro-ducing synthetic rutile. A cost comparison is provided for the production of titanium slag and synthetic rutile. Material balance calculations for the chlorination process of titanium slag and synthetic rutile from different production methods are performed to assess raw material costs and waste disposal expenses. The study concludes that producing synthetic rutile from Satpayev ilmenite concentrate is economically feasible.

The study performs an analysis and comparison of two completely different, but in some cases similar regions of West and East Kazakhstan. The influenceof climate data changes, soil structure and its sensitivity on desertification in Ka-zakhstan over the decades of the 2000s, 2010s and from 2020 to 2024 is described using the example of West and East Ka-zakhstan. The author compared and detected that the soil types: Zg, XI, So, WR and KI are found both in the West and in the East of Kazakhstan exposed to degradation of soil structure. Climatic parameters, such as the temperature of the area fixed range between 3.6-4.9°С, humidity change significantly, all the time within 64% and 77%, and precipitation in different time periods changed from 416 mm to 605 mm. Using remote sensing data, the author analyzed changes in the natural environment, created visualizations and 3D modeling during the monitoring process. Thus, a set of existing research papers, statistical in-formation and own experience were presented, since in the course of the work the results of scientific research on desertifica-tion were presented. The results of the study showed that there is an accelerated process of land desertification in Kazakhstan.