Kazakh teen develops innovative ink from city s air pollution

Narminakhon Imangalieva / Collage by Kursiv.media, photo editor: Adelina Mamedova

Sixteen-year-old Almaty resident Narminakhon Imangalieva turns one of her city’s biggest problems — air pollution — into eco-friendly ink.

Narminakhon was inspired after learning that Almaty was ranked the world’s most polluted city. While researching smog’s causes, she found that it contains black carbon particles.

«I thought, why not make paint from it?» she said. «I consulted various experts and chemists. Some said it was impossible to grind smog so finely. Online, I found professors and scientists from abroad who helped me develop the formula.»

A bottle of eco-ink / Photo by Narminakhon Imangalieva

Turning pollution into paint

She explained her team collaborates with manufacturers of green filters at factories and power plants. These filters collect soot, which becomes the base of her ink.

«They provide up to three tons of soot and cover logistics,» Narminakhon said. «We crush it with an extruder to make black powder, purify it through magnetic filtration, then mix it with polymers and solvents to create paints and toners for printers or textiles.»

Production is still at the laboratory stage at EcoHub and Meta University in Almaty. However, Narminakhon said Germany’s Ministry of Energy is interested.

Drawing with eco-ink / Photo by Narminakhon Imangalieva

Her startup, AUALine, plans to go global and seeks investment for full-scale production.

Safety and profits

Following laboratory production, Narminakhon emphasizes that the smog-based paint is completely safe. The technology has passed laboratory tests and received approval from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology.

«Our profit margin is about 53%,» she said. «Companies using our products can cut their carbon footprint and boost ESG reporting. It’s profitable and eco-friendly.»

Narminakhon Imangalieva

Now in 11th grade, Narminakhon’s ambitions reach far beyond her years. She is inspired to build a company devoted to solving global challenges, aiming to lead her generation in driving meaningful change. Business shouldn’t just generate profit; it should also benefit society, she said.