Improvement of the pseudocapacitive performance of cobalt oxide-based electrodes for electrochemical capacitors

Cobalt oxide nanopowders are synthesized by the pyrolysis of aerosol particles of water solution of cobalt acetate. Cobalt nanopowder is obtained by subsequent reduction of obtained cobalt oxide by annealing under a hydrogen atmosphere. The average crystallite size of the synthesized porous particles ranged from 7 to 30 nm, depending on the synthesis temperature. The electrochemical characteristics of electrodes based on synthesized cobalt oxide and reduced cobalt oxide are investigated in an electrochemical cell using a 3.5 M KOH solution as the electrolyte. The results of electrochemical measurements show that the electrode based on reduced cobalt oxide (Re-Co3O4) exhibits significantly higher capacity, and lower Faradaic charge–transfer and ion diffusion resistances when compared to the electrodes based on the initial cobalt oxide Co3O4. This observed effect is mainly due to a wide range of reversible redox transitions such as Co(II) ↔ Co(III) and Co(III) ↔ Co(IV) associated with different cobalt oxide/hydroxide species formed on the surface of metal particles during the cell operation; the small thickness of the oxide/hydroxide layer providing a high reaction rate, and also the presence of a metal skeleton leading to a low series resistance of the electrode

A Framework of Building Sustainability Assessment System for the Commercial Buildings in Kazakhstan

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/17/4754Many building assessment tools exist for guiding building facilities toward sustainability. Some tools are internationally recognized while others are for specific countries based on local needs. This study endeavored to develop a building sustainability assessment framework for Kazakhstan. The framework was developed based on the review of building performance assessment methods such as leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED), building research establishment environmental assessment methodology (BREEAM), comprehensive assessment system for building environmental efficiency (CASBEE), and international initiative for sustainable built environment (SBTool), and considering the local conditions in Kazakhstan. A two-round Delphi survey was employed to develop the assessment categories and indicators by local experts from the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Mean and standard deviation values were used to analyze the survey data and to make the decision on the level of agreement amongst the Delphi panelists. The proposed framework consists of nine assessment categories, 46 assessment indicators, and 142 parameters covering the four climatic regions in Kazakhstan and considering the environmental, social, and economic perspectives of the country’s sustainable development goals. The introduction of the framework is expected to serve as a reference for establishing the regional building sustainability assessment tool that will aid to increase the awareness of the public and help policymakers to solve sustainability-related issues in Kazakhstan

Greenhouse gas emissions from residual municipal waste combustion

Imperial Users onl

BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING (BIM)-BASED BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK: CASE OF KAZAKHSTAN

The building industry has a myriad of adverse effects on the environment that raises the demand for sustainable buildings. Several Building Sustainability Assessment Systems (BSAS) have been developed globally to identify and evaluate the building sustainability level concerning these effects. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is one of the leading directions within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Despite the various research approaches to facilitate and simplify building sustainability assessment with BIM support, limited research is available on BIM implications of building sustainability assessment methods in developing countries. By considering the regional variations and country-specific differences in terms of assessment factors, this research investigated the integration of BIM and building sustainability in assessing new buildings' sustainability levels. This thesis proposes a conceptual framework that illustrates how BIM can assist in building sustainability assessment. The research concentrated on Kazakhstan's Building Sustainability Assessment Framework (KBSAF) to demonstrate how BIM tools can help assess BSAS compliance projects. This study used the following four-stage methodology to develop the conceptual framework. Firstly, the study reviewed the relevant literature, existing building sustainability assessment methods, and building codes in Kazakhstan to identify the assessment items. Secondly, the research developed a framework for BSAS for commercial buildings in Kazakhstan. In this stage, the study identified nine assessment categories and forty-six indicators applicable in Kazakhstan's built environment. These nine categories are: Construction site selection and infrastructure, Building architectural and planning solutions quality, Indoor environmental quality, Water efficiency, Energy efficiency, Green building materials, Waste, Economy and Management. The identified assessment items were validated using the Delphi technique. In the third stage, weights were allocated to the identified assessment items using the Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) technique. The assigned weights were validated through sensitivity analysis for the categories of the assessment framework. Moreover, certification levels were identified and proposed in this stage. In the fourth stage, the research developed a conceptual framework demonstrating how BIM can assist the BSAS. The research methodology to develop the conceptual framework included linking BIM with identified assessment factors and mapping them to previous work. Moreover, it evaluated the BIM potential in assessing the sustainability criteria. The developed framework was validated using a three-round Delphi study with experts from Kazakhstan's AEC industry. The Delphi Experts verified the components of the proposed framework and validated its structure and feasibility. The proposed conceptual framework consists of the following phases: BIM Modeling Phase, Building Sustainability Analysis Phase, and Building Sustainability Assessment Phase. Delphi panelists' overall evaluation feedback indicates that the proposed framework clearly illustrates the phases and BIM functions used to build the sustainability assessment. They also agreed that the implementation sequence is easy to follow and understandable, logical, and practical. Thus, the proposed framework could serve as a systematic guide to BIM application for building sustainability, thus facilitating the assessment process and saving considerable time and effort

Complex restoration of oil-contaminated soils with new organomineral reagents

Spills, discharges, and leaks of petroleum hydrocarbons are an environmental problem. Oil hydrocarbons can cause changes in the physical and chemical properties of soil, lead to a decrease in the functional activity of soil biocenoses microbiota. The aim of the work is to remediate oil-polluted soils with new generation sorbents based on organomineral biofertilizer "Kazuglegumus" and aluminum alloys activated by indium, gallium, tin.Modern instrumental methods of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry were used to prove the structure and composition of organomineral reagents as well as soils with different degrees of pollution.The method of complex recovery of oil polluted soils with the organomineral reagents containing activated aluminum alloys and humic fertilizer "Kazuglegumus" has been developed.The comparative analysis of the degree of purification of the oil-polluted soils with the samples of the soil free from oil has been carried out. Desorption of crude oil from the soil by the activated aluminum alloy and its complex with the humic fertilizer Kazuglegumus has been confirmed. The reduction of oil concentration in soil samples by 12-22%, depending on the concentration of the introduced reagents and the oil content in the soil, was revealed. Phytotoxicity of uncontaminated and non-oil-contaminated soils was studied under laboratory and field conditions with sowing seeds of leguminous crops (alfalfa, sainfoin, melil)

Basics of innovative professional training in the field of foreign trade activities and world economic relations

The article is devoted to the contemporary conditions of development of foreign trade activity andworld economic relations, whichconfirms the need to establish the innovative system of specialists training, based on practice and competence approaches. The aim of the innovative educational programs of universities is to improve communication of the future obtaining business (professional) qualifications. An important component of the training of students of a specialty «World Economy» is used in the process of training professional oriented technologies, the use of assignments using the method of simulating the professional activity, the analysis of work situations. This stimulates cognitive motivation in the field of professional activity, which leads to conscious acceptance of students personal qualities that define the success of future professional activity and increase their level of formedness. Relevant to the future speciality is largely determined by the nature of academic work, which is believed by many researchers should be modeled in a certain way to design the future professional activity. Organization of educational process is to make the transition from student to specialist positions, followed by transformation into a professional training activities. Key words: innovative education, innovative educational programs, social partnership model, practice-oriented approach, the competence approach

Complex restoration of oil-contaminated soils with new organomineral reagents

The effectiveness of the treatment of oil-contaminated soil with organomineral reagents containing activated Rau-85 aluminum alloy, which makes it possible to reduce the concentration of ethoxins and neutralize the effects of oil and oil products on the soil, has been evaluated.Humic and fulvic acids were used as organomineral reagents. Organomineral reagents were characterized by FT-IR absorption spectra, as well as by thermogravimetric analysis methods. It has been established that complex compounds are formed during the interaction of humic acid with activated aluminum alloys. The peak in the region from 2100-2400 cm-1 is typical for the complex compound of aluminum with humic acids.The physicochemical properties of the oil-contaminated soil were studied, the morphological and structural features were characterized, as well as the surface elemental composition of the soil before and after treatment. The desorption of crude oil from the soil using the Rau-85 alloy and its complex with humates was confirmed by SEM and EDX methods.A decrease in the concentration of oil by 22.6% was revealed after the treatment of soils with Rau-85 alloys. The use of the Rau-85 alloy complex and organomineral fertilizer demonstrated a decrease in oil concentration by 12.18% and the germination of seeds of the legume family on the 7th day after sowing, and on the 14th day - active growth.The combination of Rau-85 alloy and organo-mineral fertilizer can be used as an effective soil washing agent for crude oil components, which is an effective solution for remediation of oil-contaminated soil.THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV

Complex restoration of oil-contaminated soils with new organomineral reagents

Spills, discharges, and leaks of petroleum hydrocarbons are an environmental problem. Oil hydrocarbons can cause changes in the physical and chemical properties of soil, lead to a decrease in the functional activity of soil biocenoses microbiota. The aim of the work is to remediate oil-polluted soils with new generation sorbents based on organomineral biofertilizer "Kazuglegumus" and aluminum alloys activated by indium, gallium, tin.Modern instrumental methods of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry were used to prove the structure and composition of organomineral reagents as well as soils with different degrees of pollution.The method of complex recovery of oil polluted soils with the organomineral reagents containing activated aluminum alloys and humic fertilizer "Kazuglegumus" has been developed.The comparative analysis of the degree of purification of the oil-polluted soils with the samples of the soil free from oil has been carried out. Desorption of crude oil from the soil by the activated aluminum alloy and its complex with the humic fertilizer Kazuglegumus has been confirmed. The reduction of oil concentration in soil samples by 12-22%, depending on the concentration of the introduced reagents and the oil content in the soil, was revealed. Phytotoxicity of uncontaminated and non-oil-contaminated soils was studied under laboratory and field conditions with sowing seeds of leguminous crops (alfalfa, sainfoin, melil).THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV