http://repository.enu.kz/handle/enu/17492 2026-04-03T23:18:18Z 2026-04-03T23:18:18Z Fedeli, Riccardo Zhatkanbayeva, Zhanna Loppi, Stefano http://repository.enu.kz/handle/enu/29976 2026-03-06T19:01:32Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Wood Distillate as a Solution for Growing Crops Under Water Deficiency Fedeli, Riccardo; Zhatkanbayeva, Zhanna; Loppi, Stefano This study investigated if the foliar application of wood distillate (WD, a byproduct of biomass pyrolysis, containing bioactive compounds, including organic acids and phenols) influences some key parameters (fresh weight, photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant compounds, stress-related biochemical markers, and mineral content) of basil plants, used as a model crop, grown under water-limited conditions. The experimental setup included control and WD treatments (applied via foliar application at 0.2%) under three drought levels: no stress, moderate, and high stress. The results indicated that the application of WD contributed to improving the fresh weight, chlorophyll, reduced oxidative stress, and stable levels of essential nutrients across varying drought intensities. These outcomes highlight the potential of WD as an effective biostimulant for enhancing drought tolerance in basil plants under water deficiency.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Postma, Kevin Mane, Siddhesh Shen, Meicheng Kussainova, Maira Beisenova, Raikhan Nanda, Arunav Dong, Gang Chen, Jiquan http://repository.enu.kz/handle/enu/29975 2026-03-06T19:04:43Z 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z

Water loss through evapotranspiration after precipitation events in bioenergy crops grown in similar climatic conditions Postma, Kevin; Mane, Siddhesh; Shen, Meicheng; Kussainova, Maira; Beisenova, Raikhan; Nanda, Arunav; Dong, Gang; Chen, Jiquan The relationship between precipitation and evapotranspiration (ET) is critical to understanding water cycle related dynamics in ecosystems, including crops. Existing studies of bioenergy crops have primarily focused on annual or seasonal ET rates, with less attention given to the immediate ET response following precipitation events. This study examines the variation in ET rates in the days subsequent to precipitation events across various bioenergy crops—corn, switchgrass, and prairies—utilizing 13 years (2010–2022) of growing season data. Meteorological and eddy covariance flux data were collected from seven eddy covariance flux towers as part of the GLBRC scaleup experiment at the Kellogg Biological Station Long Term Ecological Research sites. The analysis revealed that average ET peaked the day after precipitation and declined linearly over the following days, with a statistically significant relationship (p-value = 0.00027, R2 = 0.96). Neither the type of biofuel vegetation nor the historical land use significantly influenced ET post-precipitation events (p-values = 0.53 and 0.153, respectively). Key predictors of ET following precipitation events include shortwave radiation, season, day of the year, ambient temperature, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), long-wave radiation, precipitation amount, soil moisture, and annual variability. These findings enhance our comprehension of ET responses in bioenergy crop systems, with implications for water management in sustainable agriculture.

2024-01-01T00:00:00Z Zharkenov, Yerkebulan Mkilima, Timoth Abduova, Aisulu Zhaksylykova, Lailya Turashev, Agzhaik Imambayeva, Raikhan Imambaev, Nurlan Jaxymbetova, Makpal Smagulova, Aizada Beysenbaeva, Elmira http://repository.enu.kz/handle/enu/29974 2026-03-06T19:02:00Z 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z

Utilizing biofilm-enhanced coconut coir for microplastic removal in wastewater Zharkenov, Yerkebulan; Mkilima, Timoth; Abduova, Aisulu; Zhaksylykova, Lailya; Turashev, Agzhaik; Imambayeva, Raikhan; Imambaev, Nurlan; Jaxymbetova, Makpal; Smagulova, Aizada; Beysenbaeva, Elmira The pervasive presence and detrimental impact of microplastics in the environment pose a multifaceted and urgent challenge requiring innovative solutions and comprehensive mitigation strategies. This study investigated the efficacy of biofilm-enhanced coconut coir in removing microplastics from wastewater, addressing the pressing issue of microplastic pollution. Through comprehensive experimentation, the adsorption capabilities of coconut coir across various types and sizes of microplastics under different operational conditions were exam ined. The addition of biofilm significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of coconut coir, leading to improved microplastic removal efficiencies, with typical specific surface area values increasing from 1000 m2 /g to 1200 m2 /g and pore volume from 0.5 cm3 /g to 0.6 cm3 /g with biofilm augmentation. Moreover, the study revealed consistent improvements in microplastic removal efficiency across different types and sizes of microplastics with biofilm presence, ranging from 85 % to 95 %, compared to removal efficiencies varying from 72 % to 82 % without biofilm enhancement. Langmuir analysis revealed that coconut coir exhibited favorable adsorption of microplastics, with and without biofilm, demonstrating high correlations between observed and predicted values (R2 = 0.999). These findings underscore the potential of biofilm-enhanced coconut coir as a promising solution for mitigating microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.

2024-01-01T00:00:00Z Mkilima, Timoth Zharkenov, Yerkebulan Abduova, Aisulu Sarypbekova, Nursulu Kudaibergenov, Nurlan Sakanov, Kuandyk Zhukenova, Gyulnara Omarov, Zhumabek Sultanbekova, Parida Kenzhaliyeva, Gulmira http://repository.enu.kz/handle/enu/29973 2026-03-06T19:04:32Z 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z

Utilization of banana peel-derived activated carbon for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater Mkilima, Timoth; Zharkenov, Yerkebulan; Abduova, Aisulu; Sarypbekova, Nursulu; Kudaibergenov, Nurlan; Sakanov, Kuandyk; Zhukenova, Gyulnara; Omarov, Zhumabek; Sultanbekova, Parida; Kenzhaliyeva, Gulmira Metal plating industries generate wastewater containing heavy metals, necessitating effective treatment methods to mitigate environmental contamination. This study investigated the potential of banana peel-derived activated carbon (BPAC) and commercial activated carbon for heavy metal removal, addressing a pressing environmental concern. The analysis encompassed diverse pH levels, crucial for real-world applicability, offering valuable in sights into adsorption capacities and kinetics. The results revealed competitive performance of both materials, with typical lead (Pb) removal ranging from 4 to 6 mg/g and cadmium (Cd) from 3 to 5 mg/g. Commercial activated carbon exhibited slightly superior adsorption kinetics and capacities, highlighting its efficacy in heavy metal removal. Throughout the study, optimizing dosage proved essential for maximizing removal efficiency, emphasizing the practical implications of this research. Furthermore, the time-dependent behavior of adsorption kinetics underscored the importance of extended contact times for enhanced removal. Generally, BPAC emerged as a promising solution for heavy metal removal from industrial wastewater. It consistently achieved removal efficiencies typically ranging from 75 % to more than 90 %, making it a viable alternative in the realm of wastewater treatment. At pH 4, BPAC demonstrated significantly higher adsorption capacity, with lead (Pb) at 5.50 ± 0.20 (mg/g) and cadmium (Cd) at 4.10 ± 0.15 (mg/g), compared to slightly lower values for commercial activated carbon, Pb at 5.20 ± 0.25 (mg/g) and Cd at 3.90 ± 0.20 (mg/g). This study contributes significantly to wastewater treatment methodologies, offering sustainable and efficient approaches to address heavy metal contamination in industrial effluents.

2024-01-01T00:00:00Z