One of the most interesting and poorly studied carriers of medicinal substances is the polymer clay composite material (PCCM). Bentonite clays are used in pharmacy for the manufacturing of various dosage forms, as well as in the adsorption of drugs to slow their release. Polymer–clay nanocomposites have demonstrated significantly improved properties compared to pure polymers. A review of recent scientific advances has shown promising results regarding the application of polymer–clay materials in medicine and bioengineering, particularly in the development of carrier sorbents with prolonged action for controlled drug release. As a result, interest in polymer–clay systems is steadily growing and gaining momentum. This paper focuses on the structure and properties of bentonite clays, including their sorption, ion exchange, binding, and rheological properties. The methods for preparing intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites, such as radical intercalative polymerization in situ on clay surfaces, are reviewed. Furthermore, the improved efficacy and exposure times of PCCMs, combined with their enhanced bactericidal properties, are analyzed for the creation of universal and multifunctional preparations for medical use.

Bentonite materials are widely utilized across various industries due to their unique physicochemical properties. This study presents a qualitative and comparative analysis of mineral substances derived from ben tonite clay deposits in East Kazakhstan. The montmorillonite content in the samples ranges from 75.5% to 88%, with adsorption capacity (determined by the methylene blue method) varying between 119 and 204 mg/g. The pH of the samples lies within the range of 7 to 10. FTIR and XRF analyses confirmed the presence of major components such as silicon and aluminum oxides, while X-ray diffraction identified montmorillonite as the dominant crystalline phase. Textural characterization revealed specific surface areas of 94–104 m²/g, pore volumes of 0.03–0.05 cm³/g, and pore sizes between 0.8 and 1.04 nm. SEM analysis demonstrated a flaky, layered, and porous morphology typical of bentonite. Based on these properties, the bentonite samples exhibit strong potential for industrial use. They are applicable in oil production (as components of drilling fluids) and construction (as insulating and sealing agents). Additionally, their high sorption capacity makes them promising candidates for pharmaceutical applications, particularly as carriers in topical formulations such as ointments and pastes for wound healing and inflammatory skin conditions. Keywords: bentonite clays, montmorillonite, mineral composition, surface area, physico-chemical properties.

Dark fermentation of organic waste offers a means of coupling molecular hydrogen (H₂) production with the bioconversion of wet organic feedstocks. However, its practical performance remains limited by unstable carbon and electron-flow distribution, substrate heterogeneity, and dynamic shifts in microbial community structure. This review critically evaluates microbial consortium engineering as a strategy to improve the selectivity, stability, and controllability of dark-fermentative H₂ production. Available experimental evidence indicates that H₂ productivity is determined not by a single high-performing strain but by the coordinated activity of microorganisms responsible for hydrolysis, fermentation of soluble compounds, and conversion through H₂-producing pathways. Disruption of this coordination redirects carbon and electrons toward lactate, alcohols, methane, and homoacetogenic pathways. Synthetic microbial consortia enable more targeted control over community composition and the allocation of metabolic functions; nevertheless, their operational performance and reproducibility may decline substantially when defined model substrates are replaced by chemically heterogeneous, non-sterile waste-derived substrates. The most reproducible performance is achieved when community composition is matched to feedstock chemistry and reactor operating conditions. Further progress will require a transition from empirical culture selection to substrate-specific engineering of microbial functions supported by metabolite profiling, molecular analyses, and mass- and electron-balance data.

In this work was investigated the methods of acid modification of bentonite clays from the Kalzhat and Orta Tentek deposits located in the Almaty region of Republic Kazakhstan with sulfuric and nitric acid in various concentrations and determined the effective concentration. In this study, the effective concentrations of 20% H ₂ SO ₄ and 10% HNO ₃ were selected, because bentonite was modified with 10–98% H ₂ SO ₄ and 10–65% HNO ₃ acids during the study. Among these concentrations, according to the results of various studies, 20% H ₂ SO ₄ and 10% HNO ₃ acids were found to be effective, and the concentrations given in this work were considered effective. The obtained results were studied by the IR-spectroscopy FTIR, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometer and scanning electron microscope methods. Bentonite modification has a positive effect on opening the interlayer space of clay and improving its properties. After purification and modification, bentonite clay can be used in agriculture, manufacturing, medicine, and various fields such as drilling, construction and water purification.

This article emphasizes that the transportation of heavy crude oil is accompanied by asphaltene deposition in pipelines, which leads to increased hydraulic flow resistance and, consequently, higher energy consumption for pumping. This, in turn, contributes to an increase in the carbon footprint of the oil production sector. The results of this study, aimed at developing energy- and resource-efficient technologies for the synthesis of a green inhibitor based on deep eutectic solvents (DESs), demonstrate the feasibility of preventing asphaltene precipitation during crude oil transportation. Within the framework of the study, asphaltenes were isolated from crude oils of the Zhanaozen and Karazhanbas fields of the Republic of Kazakhstan, model oil systems were prepared, and an environmentally friendly inhibitor based on betaine and ethylene glycol was synthesized. The model oil and the deep eutectic solvent were mixed at a 1:1 volume ratio, after which 0.15 mL, 0.25 mL, 0.45 mL, 0.65 mL, and 0.85 mL of n-heptane were sequentially titrated into the resulting mixture. Each sample was analyzed using ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. In samples containing the deep eutectic solvent as an inhibitor, a significant reduction in the degree of asphaltene aggregation was observed, as the inhibitor effectively slowed the agglomeration process. Accordingly, a decrease in UV absorbance intensity was recorded, indicating improved dispersion stability of the system. This effect was particularly pronounced for crude oil from the Zhanaozen field: upon the addition of 0.45 mL, 0.65 mL, and 0.85 mL of n-heptane, the absorbance values approached zero, indicating a near-complete absence of asphaltene aggregation that would otherwise hinder light transmission. The synthesis of an inhibitor based on betaine and ethylene glycol, biodegradable and low-toxicity compounds, represents a practical implementation of the "green inhibitor" concept, as confirmed by UV spectroscopic analysis and laboratory testing.