«Eco-Friendly Solutions Using Biochar Derived from Sheep Wool: Software-Based Modeling of Adsorption Processes»

As part of the grant-funded project BR24992867, titled "Development of Resource-Saving Technologies for the Advancement and Management of Water Resources and the Processing Industry in Kazakhstan, and the Establishment of an Innovative Engineering Center," junior researcher Ulzhan Galymzhankyzy Kanatbek from the Water Quality Laboratory is conducting a study aimed at producing biochar from sheep wool, a resource abundant in Southern Kazakhstan.

The main goal of this work is to explore the potential of wool-derived biochar as an adsorbent for water purification, particularly targeting contaminants such as heavy metals and pharmaceutical residues.

To enhance the accuracy and efficiency of the research, advanced software tools are employed:

• AutoDock Simulation – used to model molecular interactions between pollutants and the biochar surface, allowing prediction of adsorption behavior at the molecular level;
• PyMOL – utilized to visualize the structural and spatial arrangement of molecules, providing insight into how pollutants bind to the biochar;
• RSM Expert – applied for the optimization of biochar production conditions and to analyze experimental data through statistical modeling and response surface methodology.

This research contributes to the development of effective and environmentally sustainable water purification technologies by utilizing readily available organic waste materials, showcasing a circular economy approach where agricultural by-products are repurposed into high-value environmental solutions.