Aigerim Ospanova’s research while affiliated with Nazarbayev University and other places

The hydrogen (H2) energy industry has continued to expand in recent years due to the decarbonization of the global energy system and the drive towards sustainable development. Due to hydrogen’s high flammability and significant safety risks, the efficient detection of hydrogen has become an increasingly hot issue today. In this work, a new type of relatively fast and responsive conducting polymer sensor has been demonstrated for tracing H2 gas in a nitrogen environment. Inspiration of unique properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphene, polyaniline (PANI) hollow nanotubes, PANI thin films are fabricated to study for structural-properties investigation. The PANI hollow nanotube sensor ensures the 1 ppm hydrogen gas detection at room temperature, and exhibits high sensitivity (29%) and fast response and recovery times of 15 and 17 s, follows by PANI thin film sensor (20%), response and recovery times of 65s and 45s. This conducting polymer-based hydrogen sensor holds promise for the early detection of H2 leaks in a wide range of industries.

The removal of sulfur compounds, particularly thiophene derivatives, from oil is crucial due to concerns about environmental issues. Therefore, the deep desulfurization of transportation fuels is currently an urgent problem, and numerous attempts have been made in this direction. Membrane-based desulfurization can be a good alternative to the traditional hydrodesulfurization method, which has several limitations. In this work, the use of membranes containing a metal–organic framework, MOF-5, doped with transition metals (Ag, Cu, Ni), in the adsorptive desulfurization process was studied. The efficiency of membranes was evaluated based on selective removal of thiophene and dibenzothiophene from model oil. Characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopic (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), confirmed the successful synthesis and incorporation of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) into mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). Desulfurization experiments showed that MOF-5/Ag exhibited the highest thiophene adsorption efficiency (86.8%), outperforming MOF-5/Cu and MOF-5/Ni. The enhanced performance is attributed to the strong interaction between silver and sulfur. These findings demonstrate the potential of MOF-based MMMs for efficient and selective desulfurization, offering a viable alternative to traditional hydrodesulfurization (HDS) methods.

Pervaporative desulfurization is a potential method for removing sulfur compounds from liquid hydrocarbon streams, having many advantages over existing methods. This overview covers the fundamentals, recent breakthroughs, and different applications of pervaporative desulfurization. The paper begins by explaining pervaporative desulfurization's core concepts, focusing on how polymeric membranes selectively separate sulfur molecules from liquid hydrocarbons. It explores membrane properties, operating conditions, and feed composition in pervaporative separation. It highlights how pervaporative desulfurization may reduce sulfur content to ultra-low levels and meet strict environmental and fuel quality standards. Finally, this comprehensive review paper concludes with a discussion on the future prospects and research directions in the field of pervaporative desulfurization. It highlights the need for continued innovation in membrane materials, module design, and process optimization, as well as the importance of addressing challenges related to scale-up and industrial implementation. Overall, this review paper provides valuable insights into the advancements, challenges, and potential applications of pervaporative desulfurization, offering a comprehensive understanding of this technology for researchers, engineers, and all parties involved in the development and implementation of sustainable sulfur removal processes