The current study provides a new leaching method for extracting valuable metals, such as uranium, vanadium, molybdenum, and rare earth metals (REMs), from black shale ores. Initial characterization indicated that these metals are encapsulated in hard “carbon-silica shells,” presenting severe extraction challenges. A novel low-temperature sintering process is considered in this work with ammonium hydrosulfate at 350 °C for 60 minutes, much lower than the conventional process of over 800 °C. The devised treatment effectively ruptures the protective shell, converting metal constituents into soluble forms. Subsequent leaching yielded good recovery rates: uranium (93.3%), vanadium (81.7%), molybdenum (82.2%), and REMs (78.3%). Thermogravimetric analysis revealed the stepwise decomposition mechanism and emission profiles upon sintering. The leaching parameters (solid-liquid ratio, temperature, time, and solution concentration) were optimized for maximum metal recovery, along with selective sorption conditions (pH, redox potential, and duration) and desorption variables. Additionally, the cost-effective production routes for vanadium concentrate were specified as ammonium metavanadate, molybdenum concentrate as calcium molybdate and REM concentrate as carbonates, instead of depending on high-pressure or high-temperature processes. Solid residue carbon flotation enrichment was accompanied by a recovery yield of 89.0% by weight of carbon, enabling enhanced utilization of the entire resource. Altogether, the adopted approaches offer a closed-loop, energy-saving pathway to the efficient recovery of the rare and essential metals from the black shale ore

In Kazakhstan, more than 70 engineering anti-sedimentation protective structures are operated, most of which were put into operation in the period 1974–1985. During the same time, more than 30 mudflows were registered in the basins of mudflows, many of which were accompanied by the removal of a large amount of solid material to the protective structures, and the issues of cleaning mudflows by excavators are annual planned work of the operational divisions of Kazselezashchita. The main type of engineering protection is the construction of capital dams with village storages capable of accommodating from 100 thousand m3 to 15 million m3 of mudflow. The types of structures are different: dams of settling tanks and sections of stabilized channels within cities and settlements, for safe passage of post-mudflows and nanowater flows. In connection with their long-term operation, the issue of frequency, methods and means of mechanization of cleaning of silos, settling tanks, selesbass paths, and the amount of annual costs for work becomes more and more urgent. However, the issues of operating dams in the conditions of annual nanowater floods, the development of modern technologies and means of mechanization of cleaning silos from coarse clastic soils are very relevant. The value of the work consists in the development of the design and manufacture of a prototype, methods for calculating and selecting the parameters of the bucket of an excavator with a hydraulically controlled jaw for excavation during the development of large-fragment inclusions of mudslides.

This study aims to develop a responsible and sustainable framework for implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in business process management (BPM), with a focus on aligning technological advancement with strategic economic transformation. It addresses the need for ethical, sector-sensitive AI adoption in emerging economies undergoing digital modernization and diversification. The research integrates enterprise information system considerations, privacy-preserving modular architectures, and national regulatory frameworks related to data localization and cybersecurity. A sectoral analysis is conducted to assess global AI adoption maturity and its implications for economic transformation, using Kazakhstan as a contextual reference point. The results reveal that consumer-facing sectors such as retail and financial services exhibit high near-term adoption potential, while healthcare requires gradual infrastructure and talent development. More significantly, mid-term opportunities in manufacturing, logistics, and transportation sectors present Kazakhstan with a comparative advantage. AI adoption in manufacturing is projected to grow by 83% within three to seven years, underscoring the importance of timely investments in automation, smart technologies, and workforce upskilling. This study contributes a context-aware framework for responsible AI-enabled BPM. It offers actionable insights for policymakers and business leaders in emerging economies, advocating for sectoral prioritization, strategic timing, and capacity-building to ensure sustainable digital transformation.

The study addresses the development of an envi ronmentally sustainable and economically efficient technol ogy for processing low-grade molybdenum ore. Methodol ogy: Particular attention was given to the effect of roasting temperature on the phase composition of intermediate prod ucts and the subsequent recovery of molybdenum. Experi ments were carried out in 2023 using ore from a Kazakh stan molybdenum deposit. Results: The results showed that roasting at 550 °C provided the most favorable conditions, yielding up to 88.28% molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) and ensuring a high extraction rate of molybdenum into solution (97.79%). From the purified solution, calcium molybdate (CaMoO4) was obtained that complied with MDK-2 grade requirements, with molybdenum content of 47.6%, phospho rus 0.0317%, and sulfur 0.253%. These findings demonstrate that even low-quality ores can be efficiently processed to produce a commercially valuable product, while minimizing both material losses and environmental impact.

В условиях цифровизации и растущей глобальной конкуренции крупные организации Республики Казахстан, такие как «Казатомпром» и «КазМунайГаз», активно внедряют современные подходы к управлению проектами. Использование международных стандартов и моделей таких как Stage-Gate и Project Management System, и интеграция собственных нормативных документов позволяют этим компаниям повышать эффективность реализации проектов, минимизировать риски и обеспечивать устойчивое развитие. В статье сопоставляются две ключевые модели проектного управления c анализом практик управления проектами двух ведущих компаний Казахстана.

Improving the durability of reinforced concrete sleepers is essential for railway infrastructure exposed to dynamic loading, moisture, and repeated freeze–thaw action. This study proposes a material-level modification approach for heavy concrete for type 2 reinforced concrete sleepers based on the combined use of activated microsilica, a ferroalloy-production byproduct, electrolyzed mixing water, and a polycarboxylate superplasticizer. The novelty of the work lies in the preliminary electrochemical activation of microsilica in an alkaline medium and in the optimization of its joint use with KN-5 by means of second-order experimental design. The concrete was evaluated by compressive and bending strength tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water-penetration testing, and freeze–thaw resistance testing. All modified mixtures outperformed the reference concrete. The highest 28-day compressive strength reached 67.0 MPa, while bending strength reached 7.26 MPa. SEM observations showed a denser and more homogeneous cement matrix with reduced capillary porosity and improved interfacial transition zones. Water resistance improved from W8 for the reference mixture to W10–W14 for the modified concretes. Most modified mixtures achieved a frost resistance grade of F500, and the composition containing 15% activated microsilica and 1.0% superplasticizer reached F550. The proposed approach is effective at the material level for producing heavy concrete with enhanced strength and durability characteristics for reinforced concrete sleeper applications.

Оқулықта алюминий металлургиясының негіздері, оның қасиеттері, қолдану салалары және алюминий тотығы мен түпкілікті өнім – тауарлық алюминий өндірісінің теориясы мен технологиясының негізгі ережелері келтірілген. Алюминийді сынықтар мен қалдықтардан, алюминий өнеркәсібінде жолай түзілетін аралық өнімдерді қайта өңдеу сұрақтары қамтылған. Сонымен қатар, алюминий тотығы мен металдық алюминийді өндірудің негізгі процестерінің материалдық баланстарының егжей-тегжейлі есептеулері ұсынылған. Оқулық 6В07203 – «Металлургия және пайдалы қазбаларды байыту», 6В07219 – «Түсті металдар металлургиясы», 6В07212 – «Металлургиядағы рециклинг» білім беру бағдарламалары бойынша оқитын білім алушыларға арналған. Сонымен қатар, зауыттардың инженерлік-техникалық қызметкерлеріне пайдалы болуы мүмкін. Кесте 70, сурет 71, әдебиеттер атауы 14.

This study presents the level of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) pollution in the transboundary Ile River in 2015, 2018, 2019, 2023, and 2024. PCB contamination of water, as well as the presence of a large number of individual congeners, including strictly controlled ‘marker’ and dioxin-like congeners, were detected along the entire length of the river within Kazakhstan. Water samples were analyzed using a Chromos GH-1000 gas chromatograph. Significant interannual variability of river water contamination and a noticeable decrease in 2023 and 2024 compared to the previous periods have been identified. The study examined the PCB concentration transformation in the Ile River, from the transboundary section to the river’s confluence with Lake Balkhash, assessing not only fluctuations in total PCB concentration, but also their congener composition. The main natural and anthropogenic PCB sources and factors causing the transformation of the toxicant along the river course were identified. The total amount of transboundary PCB discharge both into Kazakhstan and into Lake Balkhash was calculated. The results can be used by state and local environmental protection agencies for the development of measures to protect rivers from pollution by these highly toxic pollutants, which is in line with the requirements of the Stockholm Convention on POPs. © 2025 by the authors.

The key objective of this study is to determine the effect of interphase boundaries, the formation of which is caused by the variation of Li2ZrO3/MgLi2ZrO4 phases in lithium-containing ceramics based on lithium metazirconate, on the resistance to near-surface layer destruction processes associated with irradiation with He2+ ions. During the observation of the deformation effects that have an adverse impact on the volumetric swelling of the near-surface layers of ceramics, the thermal expansion factor caused by high-temperature irradiation was considered, simulating conditions as close as possible to the operating conditions of these materials as blankets for tritium propagation. During the studies conducted, it was established that an elevation in the contribution of MgLi2ZrO4 in the composition of ceramics leads to a rise in resistance to deformation swelling caused by structural distortions of the crystal lattice, due to a decrease in the effect of thermal expansion, alongside the presence of interphase boundaries. The established dependencies of the change in the hardness of the near-surface layer of the studied ceramics made it possible to establish the kinetics of softening caused by the deformation distortion of the crystalline structure, as well as to determine the relationship between volumetric swelling and softening (change in hardness) and a decrease in crack resistance (change in the value of resistance to single compression).

Additive manufacturing technologies can offer a cost-effective alternative to the production of metal parts of complex geometric shape compared to traditional production or expensive methods of melting powder coatings. In this work, the starting materials were developed by adding 75 % by volume to 316 L stainless steel powder and 25 % by volume from LDPE materials as a binder. Methods of burning and sintering were carried out in a hydrogen atmosphere at a temperature of 1387°C. The resulting metal sample was described mechanically and microstructurally. After sintering the metal samples have a powder size of ~ 7 μm, a level of 250 MPa and a nanoindentation hardness of 4.87 GPa, which are the characteristic features of burnt steel.