During mining, only 4–8% is converted to final products, and the rest is accumulated in landfills. There is a lack of research on the study of various patterns and mechanisms of the formation of cement clinker minerals during the simultaneous distillation of zinc. This paper presents studies of thermodynamic stimulation of environmental and population protection by utilization of technogenic enrichment waste as secondary raw materials for clinker production and zinc extraction. In particular, a comparison of the Gibbs energy (ΔG) of clinker formation under standard chemical equations and under non-standard chemical equations is given. According to the results of the study, using thermodynamic simulation, the temperature intervals of mineral formation, the dependence of the Gibbs energy on temperature (ΔG_T°), and the approximation equations were found; it was established that the presence of zinc ferrite contributes to the intensification of the formation of clinker minerals and the extraction of Zn to gas.

A significant amount of energy waste has accumulated in the world, in particular, large-tonnage fine ash from central heating stations (coal ash), which can negatively affect the natural environment and the health of the population. However, at the same time, due to its chemical composition, this waste can be disposed of by complex processing as a secondary mineral component, thus reducing the anthropogenic load on the natural environment. This article presents a physico-chemical study of coal ash for its further use as a secondary mineral component, in particular, a component of a raw mixture with limestone to produce a composite Portland cement clinker. Coal ash and limestone were subjected to granulometric, chemical, differential thermal, scanning electron microscopy, elemental chemical and X-ray structural analyses, as well as modeling to assess the possibility of optimizing the raw material and mineralogical composition of the composite Portland cement clinker. During the research, the chemical and elemental compositions of the coal ash and limestone were determined and SEM images of the coal ash were obtained; it was found that 68.04% of the coal ash was represented by the fraction with granules <0.16 mm. Using X-ray diffraction analysis, the main limestone minerals were identified, which were represented by calcite and silica. Based on the results of mathematical modeling of the utilization of coal ash from a thermal power plant by processing with limestone, a two-component raw material mixture containing 23.66% fly ash and 76.34% limestone was optimized and the optimal mineralogical composition of the composite Portland cement clinker was determined. Utilization of coal ash by processing as a secondary raw material can be carried out at almost any ash storage facility anywhere in the world, taking into account the chemical composition of the processed ash. It was found that the replacement of natural raw materials with man-made raw materials in the form of coal ash contributed to a reduction in fuel consumption for firing (kg of conventional fuel) by 13.76% and a decrease in the thermal effect of clinker formation by 5.063%.

This paper provides a brief review of the ecologically and biologically significant marine protected areas in the Caspian Sea. As a result of the collaboration between the Tehran Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) the Regional Workshop to Facilitate the Description of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) in the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea took place from 25 to 29 April 2017 in Baku (Azerbaijan). The Regional Workshop compiled a list of areas in the above seas that meet the EBSA criteria with corresponding detailed description of each areas based on scientific information available at that time. We provide a brief information on each of these 16 EBSAs in the Caspian Sea in accordance with their descriptions. We discuss different definitions of specially protected areas given by different international organizations, as well as the fact that the EBSA is not a marine protected area by a definition. We discuss a possible evolution and transformation of the Caspian EBSAs in the modern period in connection with the continuing fall in the Caspian Sea level.

Four series of experiments were carried out to study the possibility of replacing clay and an iron-containing component with tefritobasalt and lead slag as part of the initial charge for Portland cement. The experiments were carried out at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 1350 °C. It was shown that the replacement of clay and an iron-containing component with tefritobasalt and lead slag as part of the initial charge in the cement industry will lead to a decrease in temperature by 100 °C in the technological scheme of production and a reduction in energy consumption, since the theoretical specific consumption of raw materials is 1.481 t/t of clinker, which is approximately 70 kg lower than in traditional mixtures. The content of non-traditional components in total was 24.69%. In addition, tefritobasalts improved clinker formation processes, contributed to a decrease in the firing temperature, and intensified the clinker firing process. A small amount of lead slag (5.06%) introduced into the mixture changed the structure of the clinker and improved the process of mineral formation while also improving roasting and reducing the anthropogenic impact on the environment through the disposal of man-made waste. The strength of the experimental composite cements was tested after 7 and 28 days on small samples measuring 2 × 2 × 2 cm. The physicomechanical characteristics and structure of composite cements were studied.

To study oil pollution on the surface of the Caspian Sea in the area of the ports of Aktau, Kuryk and Ersai, the archives of radar data obtained from the synthetic aperture radars of the Sentinel-1 satellite constellation belonging to the European Space Agency for the period 2013 - 2022 were selected. For this purpose, a specialized satellite information service “See the Caspian Sea” (STCS) (http://caspian.geosmis.ru) created in 2023 jointly by Space Research Institute and Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of Russian Academy of Sciences was used. This system is specifically designed for the Caspian Sea and is created on the basis of the existing “See the Sea” (STS) service, which is part of the “IKI-Monitoring” Center for Collective Use established in Space Research Institute. For a given polygon in the region of the ports of Aktau, Kuryk and Ersai, in the STCS system, time series archives consisting of more than 3,700 radar images were examined. Each image was manually analyzed to identify dark areas of reduced radar signal that could be identified as oil contamination. A total of 15 oil slicks were discovered, up to 89 km in length and up to 8 km2 in area. A satellite image of each oil slick is presented in the article, as well as its main characteristics. In addition, as part of the project “Satellite monitoring of the water areas of the ports of Aktau and Kuryk”, sea water samples were taken in the area of the ports of Aktau and Kuryk, which showed the content of oil products in the range of 0.014-0.1 mg/dm3. Thus, the resulting concentrations turned out to be less than the maximum permissible concentration of 0.1 mg per liter.

The Republic of Kazakhstan is one of the resource‐rich countries and is proactively embracing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) via different strategies. The country has also pledged to achieve significant reduction in the emissions of greenhouse gases by 2030 relative to 1990 level. One of the key approaches to achieving these goals in this country is the development of renewable energies. The present study provides a comprehensive review of existing reports, data and research on renewable energy in this country by analyzing sources obtained from scientific databases, as well as reports and data from international institutions. The aim is to assess the potential and current status of various energy sources and to identify related opportunities and challenges. Among different sources, wind energy has the most significant potential to be used for power generation. This evidenced by the fact that half of the country's territory has an average wind speed in the range of 4–6 m/s. Solar energy also has acceptable potential for power generation, especially in the southern and central regions of the country with an annual potential in the range of 1300–1800 kWh/m ² . Additionally, other sources of energy possess acceptable potential and could serve both power generation and other purposes, such as heating. Challenges related to the development of these systems can include poor infrastructures, the need for investment and technical issues like grid balance. Overall, renewable energies offer the country promising alternatives to fossil fuels, with a variety of advantages including job creation, environmental protection, enhanced energy security.