LAUTECH Journal of Engineering and Technology (LAUJET)
Not a member yet
571 research outputs found
Sort by
Impact of spay-dried banana powder incorporation and incubation duration on sensory attributes of yoghurt
Get PDFBanana is a widely consumed fruit known for its natural sweetness, rich aroma, and functional properties. Incorporating banana-derived ingredients into dairy products like yoghurt can enhance sensory quality while offering potential health benefits. This study investigates the effect of spray-dried banana powder incorporation (0%, 20%, 25%, 30%) and incubation time (4h, 6h) on the sensory attributes of yoghurt, including appearance, aroma, taste, texture, and overall acceptability. Sensory evaluation, conducted using semi-trained panelists, revealed that banana powder significantly enhanced all sensory parameters compared to control samples (0% banana). The best-rated formulations, A2 (20% banana, 6h) and C2 (30% banana, 6h), exhibited improved flavour balance, a creamy texture, and high overall acceptability. In contrast, yoghurts without banana powder (D1, D2) had the lowest scores, likely due to their higher acidity and lack of fruit-based sweetness. A longer incubation time (6h) further improved taste and aroma retention, possibly due to increased fermentation-derived volatile compounds. Additionally, banana powder contributed to enhanced thickness and viscosity due to its fiber and pectin content, improving texture. These findings suggest that banana powder at 20–30% with a 6-hour incubation period enhances yoghurt's sensory quality, making it a promising functional ingredient for dairy products
Evaluation of biogas yield from co-digestion of varying particle sizes of corncob with poultry manure and process parameters optimization study
Get PDFThe need to improve renewable energy generation, advance sustainable waste management techniques, and uncover beneficial agriculture methods, necessitated anaerobic co-digestion of grounded corncob (GC) biologically pretreated with cattle rumen (inoculum) and poultry poos (PP) for biogas generation, as discussed in this study, Corncob biomass (CB) and PP (substrates) were obtained at the teaching and research laboratory in LAUTECH Ogbomoso. CB was pretreated using mechanical grinding and sieving methods and then divided into two portions labelled A and B, using sieve sets of 0.30mm and 0.45mm. The ratio of the combination of substrates: GC: PP: inoculum is 1:0.5:0.5. Standard procedures were used to assess the physicochemical parameters of the substrates and digestates. Central Composite Design (CCD) was used to batch the experimental design of pretreated samples A and B with PP and inoculum to produce biogas which was analysed for methane content using a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to optimize data generated for temperature, pH, retention time, total solids, and volatile solids (VS) using the 'Design-Expert Application' version 11.
The biogas yields for experiments A and B were 1.368 L/kg VS and 1.221 L/kg VS, while the Methane compositions were 60.44% and 57.58%, respectively. The optimized data for A and B were; temperature (40 o C, 40 o C); pH (8.0, 6.0); retention time (30, 30 days); total solids (12, 4 g/kg); and volatile solids (12, 12 g/kg) respectively. The model's coefficient of determination (R2) was high (0.9267) for A, indicating strong modelling and prediction accuracy, thus, recommending the usage of corncob for bioenergy generation
Effects of velocity and battery arrangement on air-cooled lithium-ion battery thermal management
Get PDFThermal management of Electric vehicle (EV) batteries is essential to prevent overheating, which can lead to early battery degradation and safety risks such as thermal runaway. This study explores the impact of airflow velocity and battery arrangement on the thermal performance of air-cooled lithium-ion batteries. A Z-type battery pack was used as the battery casing, housing 15 lithium-ion batteries of 3.7-V and 3800 mAh. These batteries were arranged and connected symmetrically and asymmetrically, in both series and parallel to provide an output of 12-V and 19000-mAh. With the aid of a fan, airflow at 1, 2, and 3 m/s were supplied to the battery pack, and temperature measurements were recorded at these velocities. The symmetrical arrangement at 0 m/s under constant load had a temperature of 31.52°C, which dropped to 30.02°C, 29.87°C, and 29.22°C at 1, 2, and 3 m/s, respectively. In comparison, the asymmetrically arranged battery pack had a temperature of 30.92°C at 0 m/s, which dropped to 29.22°C, 28.87°C, and 28.57°C at 1, 2, and 3 m/s, respectively. The findings of this study can be used to improve the thermal performance, safety, and lifespan of lithium-ion batteries in various applications
Statistical feature impact on synthetic palm vein image generation
Get PDFThis research work investigated the effect of statistical feature extraction on the generation of synthetic palm vein images. The study employed three statistical features: mean, covariance, and correlation coefficient. The features were used to generate synthetic images which were evaluated using metrics such as Equal Error Rate (EER), Recognition Accuracy (RA), and Recognition Time (RT). The study justifies the use of statistical features in the generation of synthetic palm vein images
Nutritional And Antinutritional Evaluation of Gluten-Free Pasta from Cocoyam Starch and Lima Beans Flour
Get PDFPasta is a wheat-based food product which has gained universal popularity in recent years due to its versatility, low cost, ease of preparation and nutritional quality. It is traditionally produced from wheat that is largely imported in Nigeria, placing a heavy burden on the dwindling financial resources of the nation. Wheat also contains gluten, which triggers a multi-system autoimmune disorder called celiac disease in genetically predisposed individuals. Treatment for celiac disease is complete exclusion of dietary gluten. Efforts are currently being made to develop gluten-free pasta from indigenous crops in order to reduce wheat importation and provide alternatives to consumers affected by celiac disease. Cocoyam and lima beans are gluten-free, underutilised indigenous tropical crops with a rich nutritional profile, which can be used to replace wheat flour in pasta production. This study, therefore, aims to develop gluten-free pasta from lima bean flour and cocoyam starch. Composite blends of pregelatinized cocoyam starch, germinated lima beans flour and xanthum gum (binder) were formulated in the following ratios: (100:0, 87.5:12:5, 75:25, 62.5:37.5 and 50:50) and used to produce pasta. The protein, moisture and carbohydrate contents of the gluten-free pasta ranged from 6.54 -18.82%, 9.06-10.56% and 59.29-74.30% respectively. Mineral content of gluten-free pasta ranged from 61.54-108.20 mg/100g for calcium and 0.94-6.09 mg/100g for iron. Lysine values increased from 2.63 (100% Wheat Flour Pasta) to 3.85 g/100 g protein (50% PCS, 50% GLBF & xanthum gum) while total amino acids ranged from 53.66-83.11 g/100 g protein. The antinutritional factors cyanide, oxalate and phytic acid ranged from 0.191-1.199mg/100g, 10.251-85.064 mg/100g and 0.01-1.66% respectively. The study concluded that pregelatinized cocoyam starch and germinated lima beans flour blends are effective in developing nutritious gluten-free pasta
Radionuclide Assessment and Estimation of Radiological Indices in Groundwater Samples from Selected Mining Sites in Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria
Get PDFThe radiological contamination of groundwater sources near mining sites has become a significant environmental concern due to the potential risks posed by elevated levels of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs). The study hereby assesses the radioactivity concentrations of 40K, 238U and 232Th in seventy-eight (78) groundwater samples collected from mining sites in the gold belt region of Osun State, Nigeria, using NaI(Tl) based gamma spectrometer and also estimates their associated radiological indices. The results indicated that the mean activity concentrations of all radionuclides exceeded the World Health Organisation's permissible limits of 1.0 Bq/L, raising significant concerns regarding the radiological safety of the water from the area under investigation. The radium equivalent values of 456.75 Bq/L and 272.87 Bq/L were obtained at Olowu and Iganga mining sites, respectively, where contamination levels were highest. The heightened exposure risks underscore the need for urgent interventions to protect public health and the environment in communities affected by mining activities
Evaluation of hot-air drying kinetics of prominent cashew (Anacardium occidentale) pomace in Ogbomoso: Abstract
No full textCashew pomace is a byproduct of cashew fruit after the extraction of juice from its apple. Therefore, this study assessed drying kinetics of hot air drying using cabinet and solar drying methods on the prominent Cashew Pomace (CP) in Ogbomoso.Ripe cashew apples were sorted, washed and their juice squeezed out to obtain pomace. The pomace was sliced to a thickness of 2 mm and dried in the cabinet (55, 65 and 75 ?C) and solar dryers. The drying processes were evaluated for the CP through appropriate modelling considering six thin layer drying models. The considered models had values of R2 (coefficient of determination) that ranged from 0.510 to 0.998 and 0.866 to 0.996, ?2 (chi-square) ranged from 0.001 to 0.225 and 0.002 to 0.124 for the cabinet and solar drying respectively. The Deff (effective moisture diffusivity) ranged from 3.716-277.666 x 10-5 m2/s. The Page model was the preferred drying model for pomace amongst the investigated kinetic models, and drying by cabinet produced samples with better industrial potential. Overall, the investigation indicates the possibility of sustaining CP for industrial growth and source of additional income for the small holder farmer
Development of IoT-based smart gas leakage detection with alert system
No full textGas leaks present significant and persistent danger, continually threatening lives and properties. Traditional gas leak detection methods often depend on manual inspections and assessments, and they are inherently vulnerable to various shortcomings. This work addressed the challenge of gas leaks by creating an IoT-based gas leakage detection and smart alerting system. This automation, remote and real-time solution provides significant benefits compared to traditional gas detection methods, greatly enhancing safety and reducing the likelihood of gas-related accidents.
By incorporating real-time monitoring capabilities through the MQ-135 sensor, the system continuously tracked gas levels and detected abnormal concentrations. Automated alerts were immediately sent out to users and emergency responders, allowing for a swift response to potential hazards. Additionally, the system’s remote accessibility enables users to monitor gas levels and receive alerts from anywhere, enhancing safety and convenience.
This approach significantly enhances environmental safety by quickly identifying and responding to hazardous gas leaks, thus protecting public health by preventing exposure to toxic gases. Additionally, by reducing the need for manual inspections, the system decreases labour costs and minimizes the potential for human error, leading to more accurate and timely responses to gas leaks
Development of internet of things (iot) based waste management system
Get PDFIn response to the global challenge of improper waste disposal and solid waste management an Internet of Things (IoT)-based waste management system was developed to address the challenge of inappropriate garbage disposal. Three systems were designed using ultrasonic sensors connected to NodeMCU to measure garbage levels in bins. Data was transmitted to an online database via Firebase and an Android app was developed to display real-time information on a Google Map. Bins exceeding 70% capacity were highlighted in red color and green color otherwise. The system provided efficient, real-time waste management, allowing users to access information remotely, locate nearby bins, and contribute to improved cleanliness and sanitation in urban areas
Development and Performance Evaluation of a Palm Kernel Oil Extraction Machine
Get PDFOil palm is a valuable crop and of considerable commercial importance because of its major products which are red palm oil and palm kernel oil. The processing of the palm fruit locally is crude and tedious for the local processors in Nigeria. The drudgery and time spent in extracting palm oil discourage the youth and affect the productivity of palm oil in rural communities. The primary objective of this work is to design and fabricate an efficient palm kernel oil crushing machine. This machine, featuring high torque and low rotational speed, incorporates an adjustable choke mechanism. This mechanism allows precise regulation of back pressure, controlling the thickness and dryness of the pressed cake as it passes between the barrel and the crushing shaft. Key components, including the hopper, crushing chamber, shaft, pulleys, and belts, were designed and then fabricated using standard techniques such as cutting, welding, drilling, bending, and casting.The innovative design processes cold palm kernel seeds without pre-treatment; the crushing shaft within the barrel performs both breaking, cooking, and palm oil extraction process. Driven by a 10hp electric motor, a processing capacity of 100 kg per hour gives an oil extraction efficiency of 87.10%. The developed machine has a high oil extraction efficiency and material discharge efficiency. Machine processing of palm oil extraction will alleviate the rigor of manual processing and enhance product quality.