Satbayev's scientists have developed valuable materials from agricultural waste

Scientists at Satbayev University have developed an innovative method for producing new-generation materials from sugar beet pulp, the main waste from sugar production, which accounts for up to 80% of the biomass produced.

Postdoctoral researcher Faisal Kholiya and PhD student Meruert Imanbek, led by associate professor Sana Kabdrakhmanova, using modern methods of hydrothermal synthesis, obtained high-quality pectin suitable for food and pharmaceutical purposes, cellulose with a yield of about 35%, as well as photoluminescent carbon quantum dots measuring 8-14 nanometers.

The obtained materials can be widely used in food preservation technologies, drug delivery systems, advanced visual medicine, and applied nanotechnology innovations.

"Our project is a prime example of transforming the agricultural waste into high-quality premium materials," said project manager Sana Kabdrakhmanova.

The scientific research was carried out at International R&D Center for advanced functional materials and their composites, operating on the basis of “Chemical Processes and Industrial Ecology” department at O.Baikonurov Mining and Metallurgy Institute at Satbayev University.

The study results proved that the processing of agricultural waste is a sustainable and cost-effective process that can be fully implemented at the industrial level. This creates opportunities for creating new jobs in rural areas, strengthening the potential of the industrial sector and developing the scientific and technological competencies within the country.