One of the most pressing environmental problems worldwide is sewage sludge (SS) management. Every year, wastewater volume increases and thus, the amount of SS produced increases as well. The disposal of SS in landfills, as practiced in many countries, is not a sustainable solution. Instead, SS, rich in organic matter and other nutrients, can be used as an alternative soil additive or fertilizer. The properties of these materials depend on their chemical composition and the method of treatment. Experience from a number of countries, such as the US and Europe, has shown that SS can be transformed from a waste into a valuable resource, provided that the final product fulfils the relevant regulatory standards. This review examines the sustainable conversion of SS to sustainable fertilizers, the impact on waste minimization, and the potential benefits in agriculture.

Biochar has emerged as a promising soil amendment for mitigating heavy metal contamination in agricultural systems. This study investigates the effects of biochar on cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) uptake, plant growth, oxidative stress, and physiological responses in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) plants exposed to different metal concentrations. Results indicate that biochar significantly influenced Cd bioavailability, reducing its accumulation in plant tissues by up to 31.9% and alleviating oxidative stress, with malondialdehyde and proline levels decreasing by up to 51.0% and 60.2%, particularly at higher application rates (5%). Cd-exposed plants treated with biochar exhibited an improved fresh weight (+22.6%), lower malondialdehyde and proline levels, and enhanced the chlorophyll content (+14.9% to 24.1%) compared to untreated plants. The bioaccumulation factor for Cd decreased (up to 31.8%) while the immobilization index (II) increased, confirming the role of biochar in limiting Cd mobility in soil. In contrast, Cu uptake remained consistently low across all treatments, with a significant reduction observed only at higher contamination levels (up to −34.2%). Biochar contributed to Cu immobilization, reflected in increased II values, and enhanced the plant biomass and chlorophyll content under Cu exposure (+15.4% and up to +24.1%, respectively), suggesting a partial alleviation of Cu toxicity. These findings highlight biochar’s potential in heavy metal remediation, particularly for Cd, by reducing bioavailability and improving plant resilience. However, its role in Cu-contaminated soils is mainly through immobilization rather than uptake reduction.

Agrogels, a hydrogel applied in the soil that collects water during irrigation or rainfall and distributes moisture to plant roots during drought, are a solution to water shortage concerns. Extending the release of low molecular weight chemicals has the potential to minimise mineral fertiliser losses as well as water and soil pollution. Thus, the aim of the research is to obtain chitosan from insect chitin, to synthesize a hydrogel based on chitosan with included mineral and organic fertilisers, and to report on experiments with agrogels in the field. In this study, chitosan was obtained from the adult beetles Zophobas morio. IR spectroscopy was used to examine chitosan. The existence of absorption lines typical of primary amines was demonstrated. In one step, a technique for the manufacture of chitosan-based hydrogels containing embedded mineral fertilisers was established. Hydrogel has a swelling coefficient of 60g/g. Agrogels were evaluated while planting spruce seedlings on Semei Ormany LLP experimental locations. The survival rate of seedlings was found to be 40 higher in the experimental group than in the control group.

This paper presents a modern spectroscopic characterization of the synthetic oil from oil sands of Beke, Munaily-Mola, and Dongeleksor. The pyrolysis process was carried out at temperatures up to 580 °C with a controlled heating rate, and the products obtained were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MSD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The FTIR spectra showed a predominance of aliphatic hydrocarbons in the sample from Munaily-Mola synthetic oil, while the content of aromatic compounds was higher in the sample from Beke. GC–MSD analysis revealed significant differences in the distribution of hydrocarbons between the samples, with the Munaily-Mola sample containing a higher proportion of heavy hydrocarbons. NMR spectroscopy provided additional information about the structural composition of the extracted oil. The results indicate the potential of pyrolysis as an effective method for processing oil sands, while the composition of the product varies depending on the geological origin of the raw materials. These findings provide valuable information for optimizing oil sands processing technologies and improving the efficiency of synthetic oil production.

In Kazakhstan, the issue of providing the population with quality drinking water remains one of the topical and important issues. Despite significant efforts in the field of infrastructure and water treatment technologies, many regions of Kazakhstan still face problems of pollution and insufficient water resources. In this regard, the development of effective water treatment methods is of particular importance. This study considers the issue of wastewater treatment by the combined method of forward and reverse osmosis, which is a key direction in modern water treatment. The relevance of the work is the use of integration of forward osmosis methods with the process of adsorption by powdered activated carbon in wastewater treatment. The use of powdered activated carbon in the process of wastewater treatment leads to a reduction in the content of organic matter, which are water pollutants. As a result of the experiment with pretreatment of wastewater with powdered activated carbon, a decrease in the level of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in wastewater from 538 mg O/dm3 to 256 mg O/dm3 was observed, as well as a relative decrease in the concentration of other indicators. The draw solution in the form of 1.5 M NaCl gradually drawing water molecules from the feed solution pretreated with activated carbon on the tenth day had a concentration of 0.425 M absorbing 2.529 liters of water entering through the membrane that is 27.6% more than the control version of the experiment. The effectiveness of integrated methods lies in the successful combination of different technologies to improve water treatment processes and ensure the availability of clean water not only in Kazakhstan, but also in different parts of the world.