International Journal of Science for Global Sustainability
International Journal of Science for Global SustainabilityNot a member yet
578 research outputs found
Sort by
Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Liquid Biofuels: A Review
Get PDFThe realization that fossil fuels are fast depleting has accelerated the search for an alternative energy source that is renewable, economical, and environmentally friendly. The situation has been exacerbated by global warming which has brought it home to all that there is a need to conserve energy and reduce collectively man’s global carbon footprint. The instability in the regions from which the fossil fuels are sourced is another caused for concern, also higher oil price threatens the independence and security of nation states all this are unacceptable, hence there is need to search for more stable alternative sources of energy which is CO2 neutral fuels from biomass, Biomass is a renewable; CO2- neutral source of energy. Lignocellulosic biomass a biomass from grass, wood, and other non-food components is being considered by biofuel industries as a good agent for biofuel production, several methods are being used for this conversion, Hydrothermal liquefaction found to be the most suitable for this process, this is because the products from the hydrothermal liquefaction are insoluble in water, more deoxygenated, and have higher energy densities which are beneficial to their uses as the liquid fuels. The bio-crude produced by the hydrothermal liquefaction has also shown high stability in accelerated aging tests. This article reviews on the liquid biofuel produce from the hydrothermal liquefaction process of lignocellulosic material, including the material sources and composition and the mechanism of the process
Proximate Composition and Functional Properties of Some Defatted Calabash Seeds
Get PDFThe ever-increasing cost of animal protein coupled with poor standard living in terms of per capital income in developing nation has necessitated the search for alternative sources of dietary protein. Two local varieties of calabash seeds were extracted using soxhlet method and n-hexane as refluxing solvent. The defatted cakes were subjected to Isoelectric precipitation to obtain protein concentrate which was characterized by analysing their moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fibre, available carbohydrate, water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, Foam capacity and stability and Bulk density. The results of the analysis revealed high amount of protein (69-70%) and also high water and Oil absorption capacities (84.6-134.1%) and (87.2-129.8%) respectively
Oil Extraction and GC-MS Analysis of the Seeds oil of three Nigerian Cucurbits
Get PDFExtraction and quantification of the yield (percentage) of the seed oil was performed on the seeds of three species of Cucurbitaceae family. Analyses of the oil properties as well as the GC-MS analysis of the seed oil were carried out using standard biochemical procedures. Oil extraction was carried out using n-hexane as the solvent of extraction. The percentage seed oil obtained was subjected to Physico-chemical analysis which revealed the percentage oil yield to be highest in the seeds of Cucumeropsis mannii with (53.88±2.23), followed by Lagenaria breviflora with (51.43±1.20) while seeds of Cucurbita pepo had (44.92±0.98). With significant difference P≤0.05 between the oil yield in the seeds of C. mannii, L. breviflora and that obtained in the seeds of C. pepo. Acid value (mg/KOH/g) was evaluated and revealed the highest in the seeds of L. breviflora with (41.78±1.26) C. mannii and C. pepo had (40.93±1.21) and (37.03±0.78) respectively. With significant difference only between the obtained value in L. breviflora and the duo of C. mannii and C. pepo respectively. Saponification value was evaluated and results obtained indicated L. breviflora was the highest (41.78±1.26) while C. mannii had (40.93±1.21) while the least value of (36.52±0.97) was obtained in the seeds of C. pepo. Kinematic viscosity analysis also revealed the values as (0.75±0.06), (0.69±0.06) and (0.71±0.07) for C. pepo, C. mannii and L. breviflora respectively. There was no significant difference (P≤0.05) in the three specimens studied. For iodine value, (112.94±2.64) was recorded for C. pepo; (120.05±3.00) was for C. mannii while (104.06±1.78) was recorded for L. breviflora with significant difference (P≤0.05) among the three species. Analysis for specific gravity revealed that C. pepo had (0.9±0.09) while C. mannii had (0.92±0.09) and L. breviflora had (0.90±0.08). For Cetane number, (43.00±1.79) was obtained for C. pepo, while (41.00±1.50) was C. mannii while (39.99±1.21) with no significant difference (P≤0.05) in the specific gravity and Cetane number among the three species studied. Results of Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry analysis of the seed oils have been presented on retention time, compounds names, chemical formulae, molecular weights as well as the respective peak area percent of each of the compounds identified. A total of four compounds have been identified as present in Cucurbita pepo with oleic acid and 9, 12-Octadecanoic acid and Squalene being the predominant. In Cucumeropsis mannii, five compounds have been identified with 1, 8, 11-Heptadecatriene, 10, 13-Octadecanoic acid methyl ester, Linoelaidic acid and Oleic acid being present. In Lagenaria breviflora, eight compounds have been found to be present. nHexadecanoic acid, Conjugated Linolaidic acid, 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid and 2-Hydroxy-1-(hydroxyl methyl) ethyl ester. Others were 9-Heptadectriene, Saturated Tetradec-13-en-11-yn-1-ol, Squalene as well as gamma-Tocopherol. Based on the obtained results on oil yields and the Physico-chemical analysis and the Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the seed oils, it can be said that the studied cucurbits have exhibited an excellent status in serving the quest for alternative biofuel that gives them unique characteristic for use as they could greatly help reduce overdependence on the fossil fuel. More so, the GC-MS analysis of the seed oils revealed a number of active compounds with wide applications that could be harnessed to better the lots of humanit
Application of Linear Programming Technique for Optimal Production in Profit Maximization
Get PDFIn this paper, we are concerned with applying linear programming technique to determine optimum product mix of Gusau Sweet Factory Limited to maximize profit. Data on the quantity of major raw materials used in the production of the three different sweets: Toffee. Lollipop and Candy, cost and selling prices and the profit of each product were collected from the extract of the financial record of the company. The problem was formulated as a linear programming problem (LPP) and solved using the revised simplex algorithm. The results show that Toffee and lollipop should be produced daily for the company to realize an optimum profit
Tuwo Consumption and Preferences in Cosmopolitan Cities of Nigeria: A Consumer Response Survey
Get PDFTuwo is the most common food prepared from sorghum, millets, maize etc., with several variations in the details of preparation and preferences in various localities. The wide differences in the properties of tuwo and the wide cultural/regional differences in the preferences of the product impose great difficulties in the adoption of standard quality, which in turn, impose difficulties in raw material specification, process design and in finished product quality control. Consumer response survey to identify common quality preferences and consumption pattern is the starting point to reduce such difficulties and pave way for tuwo standardisation, mechanisation and possible industrialisation. It was found that there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the quality perception of tuwo between native consumers, frequent consumers and casual consumers. Maize is the most preferred grain among the three grains studied followed by sorghum and millet in that order, which were generally obtained from the local markets. Tuwo consumption as a family diet ranged from three times a day to two or three times a week depending on the consumer status. Majority of the respondents indicated preferences for soft textured tuwo (soft 40%, very soft 23.4%, n=290) and white coloured tuwo (51%, n=290), while taste of tuwo do not seem to matter for the majority (55.9%, n=290)
Program Model-Based Regression Tests Selection Approaches: A Review
Get PDFRegression testing is about running the entire test and is very important activity in software testing. Regression Test Case Selection (RTCS) aims to reduce regression testing cost by only selecting and running the tests that may be affected by code changes. Various RTCS techniques analyzing at either statement, method of class levels has been proposed. This paper presents the result of the study conducted on different Regression Test Case Selection approaches showing mostly stressed areas by researchers and the areas where there is a future scope. Papers related to Regression Test Case Selection techniques in regression testing are reported and documented to find the current trends and future scope for the researchers to work upon
Productivity of Tribolium Species (Coleoptera; Tenebrionidae) within Flours Derived from Edible Tubers and Effects on Proximate Composition
Get PDFThe productivity of Tribolium species within flours derived from edible tubers and effects on proximate composition were assessed. Population of adults T. castaneum were obtained from infested product of flour commodities by grain merchants at Samaru Zaria Market. The experiment was carried out in the Laboratory in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with triplicates. Four edible tubers yam (Dioscorea sp.), cassava (Manihot esculenta), sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batata), and cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) were flake and sun dried and then pulverised to powdered form, 8g of each were then measured. Proximate analysis was conducted. The level of moisture in the flours ranges from 7.10% - 12.50%, ash (0.16% - 1.27%), lipid (0.10% - 0.58%), crude protein (2.50% - 12.00%), crude fiber (0.10% - 1.10%), carbohydrate (86.05% - 96.52%). It was concluded that low amounts of ash, lipid, moisture and proteins in cocoyam flour compared to other flours can explain why T. castaneum was not able to develop and multiply faster on this flour. Cocoyam flour showed the lowest level of total weight loss, thus it is considered as the least susceptible to infestation, while sweet potatoes and yam had the highest level of total weight loss, thus they were the most susceptible. It was therefore recommended that when considering T. castaneum management on stored flours, more attention and concentration should be directed towards comparing of cereals flours with root and tubers flours in order to determine which flour has the highest vulnerability to infestation
Heritability Studies in Different Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.,] walp) Varieties
Get PDFThe heritability studies in the three Selected Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.,] Walp) Varieties (IT87D941 - I, IT97K 499 - 35 and Dankurmi) were conducted at the green house of the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Many traits recorded a high estimate of phenotypic coefficient of variation ranging from 42.20% for pod length to 71.06% for number of seeds per pod in parents and F1. Low estimates were however recorded for genotypic coefficient of variation for all the traits except for pod length (40.07%) in the parents and F1. Similarly, relatively low Broad sense heritability estimates ranging from 0.04 to 0.02 were obtained in the parents and F1 and 0.09 to 0.17 in the F2population.It is recommended that synchronization of flowering dates for genetic studies to be February, March and October, November plantings in studies involving photo-sensitive and Photo-insensitive varieties during which both photo-sensitive and photo-insensitive varieties flower early that coincide with short day length, 12.5 hrs. Besides these, the plant cowpea should be improved through hybridization and the necessary cross combination through selection using traits with high phenotypic coefficient of variability (PCV), genotypic coefficient of variability (GCV) estimates. Characters with low broad sense heritability may not easily be inherited. Also, selection using these traits with high phenotypic coefficient of variation and high genotypic coefficient of variation is suggested to improve productivity
Assessment of the Antimicrobial Activities of Ximenia caffra (Sour Plum) Leaf
Get PDFThe antimicrobial activities of sour plum (Ximenia caffra) leaf extracts was investigated against Staphylococcus Aureus, Bacillus Subtilis, Escherichia Coli and Pseudomonas Aurignosa, using Methanol, n-Hexane and Chloroform as solvents for extraction. The agar wall diffusion method as described by Irobi et al., (1994) was used for the determination of antimicrobial activity. The results showed that the extracts were all bacterial static with the methanol and chloroform extract, having the highest and least activities, respectively. Ximenia caffra leaves are therefore recommended for use as antimicrobial agents
Evaluation of Drought Tolerance Indices in Selected Rice Genotypes of Nigeria
Get PDFDrought is one of the main problems of rice cultivation and production especially during period of low rainfall which affect the vegetative growth rate and yield. This study was aimed to evaluate drought tolerance indices of the selected rice accessions of Nigeria. The research was conducted in the Biological Garden of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. The released rice accessions were collected from Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR Zaria), International Fund on Agricultural Development (IFAD) Sokoto and Maslaha Seed Gusau, while that of the landraces were collected from local farmers in Talata Mafara. Seeds were sown in the nursery bed and later transfered to plastic pot containing clay soil. The experimental design used for this research was completely randomized design and each treatment was replicated three times. The drought tolerance indices was evaluated using the formulars of Mean Productivity (MP), Tolerance index (TOL), Stress Susceptibility Index (SSI), Stress Tolerance Index (STI) and Geometric Mean Productivity (GMP). Results on drought tolerance indices indicated that, Wita-4, SDR-2, Faro-44 and Oryza glaberimma had the highest tolerance indices. It was observed that Faro-44, SDR-2, Wita-4 and O. glaberimma could be adapted by farmers in semi-arid regions based on their drought tolerance indices