BR27199301 – Development of climate-neutral new materials, advanced technologies and methods for the protection environment from anthropogenic pollutants and climate change.

Objective of the project – To develop climate-neutral new materials, advanced technologies and methods to protect the environment and human habitat from man-made pollutants and climate change.

Relevance: Contamination of drinking water and soil is a critical global health challenge that requires urgent, cost-effective, and user-friendly solutions to reduce pathogenic, chemical, and radiological pollutants to safe levels. Climate change and natural disasters, such as the 2024 floods in Kazakhstan, further increase risks of waterborne diseases and toxic exposure, while the complex nature of pollution demands integrated, multifunctional approaches. This project aims to develop climate-neutral materials and technologies, including a biocompatible enterosorbent system, to protect human health and ensure long-term environmental resilience.

Scientific supervisor: Ph.D., Professor, Toktarbay Zheksenbek

Expected and achieved results: Methods for producing carbon, inorganic, bio-, and hybrid sorbents from fruit, vegetable, and wood-processing waste will be developed, along with supermacroporous polymer-based gel hybrid materials containing nano- and microparticles for wastewater and drinking water treatment. Laboratory prototypes of advanced water purification technologies will be created and tested using integrated approaches such as sorption, ion exchange, photocatalysis, and advanced oxidation processes (plasma, ozonation, cavitation) for various applications, including decentralized and municipal systems. The project will investigate purification mechanisms, synergistic effects, pollution monitoring (including microplastics), soil remediation methods, and develop new catalytic materials and enterosorbents, alongside life cycle and carbon footprint assessment. The outcomes will include scientific publications, a monograph, patents or intellectual property registrations, and practical recommendations for transitioning to circular, environmentally sustainable technologies..

List of publications with links to them

1. Guo X., Yeszhan Y., Bexeitova K., Toshtay K., Toktarbay Z., Lee J., Azat S. Photocatalytic degradation of microplastics in aquatic system using metal and non-metal-doped TiO₂ catalyst // Journal of Water Process Engineering. – 2025. – Vol. 79. – P. 108956. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.108956
2. Yeszhan Y., Bexeitova K., Yermekbayev S., Toktarbay Z., Lee J., Berndtsson R., Azat S. Photocatalytic degradation of microplastics in aquatic environments: materials, mechanisms, practical challenges, and future perspectives // Water. – 2025. – Vol. 17. – P. 2139. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w17142139
3. Bissenova M., Idrissov N., Kuspanov Z., Umirzakov A., Daulbayev Ch. Hybrid adsorption–photocatalysis composites: a sustainable route for efficient water purification // Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy. – 2025. – Vol. 14. – P. 44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40243-025-00319-5
4. Altynov Y., Tlektesova D., Sapargali I., Azat S., Toktarbay Z., Kudaibergenov K. Performance comparison of agricultural waste-derived carbonized sorbents for phenol adsorption // Engineered Science. – 2025. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.30919/es1840
5. Кунарбекова М., Алипулы М., Сеймуханова Л., Сапаргали И., Каныкешова А., Азат С. Synthesis and characterization of N-doped activated carbon/TiO₂ composite // Combustion and Plasma Chemistry. Physics and Chemistry of Carbon and Nanoenergetic Materials: материалы XVI международного симпозиума. – Алматы: Институт проблем горения, 2025. – С. 126–128. ISBN 978-601-323-422-9.