Lafia Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research
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Synsepalum dulcificum extract as green corrosion inhibitor for acid corrosion of mild steel in HCl solution
Get PDFAnticorrosive potential of Synsepalum dulcificum leaf extract on the corrosion of mild steel in HCl solution was investigated using chemical technique. The extract inhibited the deterioration of mild steel in HCl solution and the inhibition efficiency increased with increasing concentration of the extract at 30o C. The results obtained showed that inhibition was as a result of the adsorption of the inhibitor molecule onto mild steel surface and the adsorption obeyed Flory-Huggins adsorption isotherm
Physicochemical Properties of Oil Extracted from Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) Seeds
Get PDFPumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) is a member of the family Cucurbitaceae and its fruit parts are edible. This study evaluated the physicochemical properties of extracted oil from the seed of pumpkin. The results revealed a percentage yield of 41.08 ± 2.33, refractive index of 1.47 ± 0.18, relative density of 0.09 ± 0.02 g/cm3; saponification value of 184.60 ±1.67 mg/KOH/g, Acid value of 2.64 ±1.31 mgKOH/g, iodine value of 80.27±2.09 g of I2/100 g, and peroxide value of 11.0 ±1.0 mEq/Kg. The result shows that pumpkin seed oil may find application either in food industry as food addictive as it may pose a good quality shelf life or energy generation as biofuels
Redox Kinetics and Mechanism of the Reactions of µ –Oxobis [aquobis (2,2’ – Bipyridine)] diruthenium (III) Ion and some Aliphatic Alcohols in Acidic Medium
Get PDFThe redox kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions of μ – oxobis[aquobis(2,2’ - bipyridine)]diruthenium (III) ion, [(bipy)2(H2O)RuORu(H2O)(bipy)2]4+ (hereafter denoted as Ru2O4+ or [(H2O)2(bipy)4Ru2O]4+) and some primary aliphatic alcohols was studied in perchloric acid medium, [H+] = 5.0 x 10-3 mol dm-3, ionic strength (I), = 0.5 mol dm–3 (NaClO4), temperature (T) = 31 ± 1°C and wavelength ,λmax = 660 nm. The reactions, which led to the formation of corresponding aldehydes had a stoichiometry of 1:1, were all first order with respect to each reactant, and second order overall. The reactions proceeded in the absence of acid but when acid was added, the reactions ceased. Varying the ionic strength and dielectric constants of the reaction medium had no effect on the reaction. Added ions catalysed the reaction and free radicals were identified in the reaction mixtures in the course of the reactions. There was no evidence for the formation if intermediate complex in the course of the reaction. The order of reactivity is of the order CH3OH > C2H5OH > C3H7OH Based on the results, it is suggested that all the reactions proceeded through the outer – sphere electron transfer mechanism and a plausible mechanism that represented all the reactions is proposed
Fabrication and Characterization of Baobab Pod (Adansoniadigitata) FiberReinforced Polyester Resin Composite
Get PDFBaobab pod fibres were obtained from Sabo market in Zaria and sliced longitudinally, screened out from the baobab fruit, washed with water, dried under sun for fabrication and characterization. The fiber was extracted and treated with 5% NaOH solution. Important samples were fabricated with different fiber loading of 10wt%-30wt%. The samples were moulded using Hand Lay-up method followed by pressing and post cured at 60oC for 3 hours. The result showed tensile strength decreases as the loading of fiber increased from 20 wt% to 30 wt%. It was also observed that baobab composite has the highest tensile strength of 18.85 MPa at 20 wt% and least (16.45 MPa) at 15 wt%. The result also revealed the elongation at break increased from 20 wt% to 25 wt%. At 25wt% it has a maximum value (18.4%) elongation at break; at 30wt%. It was also observed that the density increased with increase in the fiber loading from 15wt% to 30wt% (1.23g/cm3 - 2g/cm3) respectively. At 15wt% shows a maximum water take-up of 6.53% while from 20 wt% to 30 wt%, Flexural strength increased from 10 wt% to 15 wt% (23.98MPa - 46.3Mpa). However, the bending stress decreases on increasing the fiber loading from 20-30 wt% (30.2 Mpa – 25.2 Mpa). The elastic nature of the composite generally increases with increased in fiber loading. This study, however recommend hybridization of baobab pod fiber with other natural fiber to investigate the mechanical and physical property of the hybrid composite for better result.
Antibacterial Effect of Gongronema latifolium Leaf Extract on Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Skin of Human Subjects in Lafia Metropolis
Get PDFAntibiotics have been critical in the fight against infectious diseases. However, plants have also been used to treat diseases due to presence of some chemical compounds (active ingredients) that possess medicinal properties. This study investigated the antibacterial effect of Gongronema latifolium (amaranth globe) leaf extract on staphylococcus aureus isolates from the skin of human subjects in Lafia metropolis, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of G. latifolium were screened for antibacterial activity against S. aureus isolates using the agar disk diffusion method. A total of forty specimens were collected and S. aureus was isolated using standard biochemical methods. Hospital isolates had the highest lowest percentage sensitivities of 85.71% and 0.00% from 300 mg/mL ethanol and 200 mg/mL aqueous extracts respectively. Also, restaurant isolates had the highest percentage and lowest sensitivities of 83.33% and 0.00% from 300 mg/mL ethanol and 200 mg/mL aqueous extracts respectively. Both extracts showed significant differences observed in their concentration effects against S. aureus isolates from restaurant subjects (p<0.05). MIC was 75 mg/mL for the aqueous extract against isolates obtained from both sources and that for the concentration ranges of 300-9.375 mg/mL and 200-6.25 mg/mL ethanol extract was observed to be 37.5 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL respectively. The result of the study showed that both extracts of G. latifolium have an inhibitory effect proportional to concentration on the test organism S. aureus isolates obtained from both subjects. Hence, ethanol extract of G. latifolium may potentially control skin respiratory and enteric infections caused by S. aureus
Dynamical System Analysis of Reference Evapotranspiration using Chaos Models in Some Selected States in Northern Nigeria
Get PDFThis study analyzed the dynamical system of reference evapotranspiration using chaos and maximum entropy models in some selected states in Northern Nigeria. The study covered 16 states in Northern Nigeria which were selected using purposive sampling techniques. The materials used for the study consist of secondary data of daily mean records of air temperature, wind speed, solar radiation and relative humidity from 1st January 1984 to December 2022. From the data, the daily reference Evapotranspiration were computed using Penman-Monteith equation. The reference evapotranspiration obtained was further analyzed using Phase portrait, recurrent plot and Lyapunov exponent to characterize the dynamical system. The results showed that the dynamical system has a random and nonlinear trend which is aperiodic. The phase portrait exhibits sponge-like structures having distinct curves which indicates a low degree deterministic chaos. Also, the recurrent plots in 16 states had a dark short diagonal line diagonals and white ribbons which indicates seasonal variations. The largest Lyapunov exponents of the 16 states are all positive and range between 0.001983/day – 0.004419/day. This positive result indicated that the dynamical system is deterministic and chaotic in behavior
Evaluation of the Concentrations of Nitrate, Nitrite and Heavy Metals in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) Irrigated along the Amba Stream Lafia, Nasarawa State
Get PDFThe concentrations of nitrate, nitrite and heavy metals were evaluated in the soil and edible portion of Spinach, irrigated along the Amba stream, Lafia, Nasarawa State. Nitrate, nitrite and heavy metals in the soil and spinach samples were determines using Spectrophotometric method. The mean concentrations (± Standard deviation) of nitrate ranged from 3042.91±1.62mgkg-1 to 4977.26±9.57mgkg-1, for Spinach while 5899.20±58.98mgkg-1 to stipulated by WHO and EC respectively. Mean of nitrite concentrations (NO2) (± standard deviation) ranged from 0.00029±0.00002mgkg-1 to 00102±0.00001mgkg-1 for all the spinach, while 0.00332±0.00002mgkg-1 to 0.00903±0.00002mgkg-1 for all soil were all below the mg/kg maximum specified by WHO. NO3 levels were generally higher than NO2.The mean concentrations of heavy metals ranged from Cd (1.29±0.01 mg/kg) to Fe (281.60±1.65 mgkg-1) for spinach while Cd (0.93±0.32 mgkg-1) to Fe (1084.1±1.73 mgkg-1) for soil. The values in spinach exceeded the permissible limit set by FAO. Transfer factors for the anions between the soil and spinach identify the efficiency of a spinach species to accumulate a given anion. There was positive correlation at p = 0.05 between the anions in the spinach. The transfer factors calculated were lower for all metals except cadmium (1.39)
Comparative Studies on the Nutritional Composition of Three Commonly Sold Leafy Vegetables in Lafia Modern Market, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Get PDFSamples of three healthy, diseases free, commonly consumed vegetables in Nasarawa State, Nigeria were studied for comparative nutritional evaluation with respect to proximate and amino acid compositions. The samples (Piper guineense, Spinacia oleracea and Gongronema latifolium) contained moisture in the ranged between 4.19 and 9.25%. Highest values were recorded for Spinacia oleracea and Piper guineense. Ash value was higher in S. oleracea (25.38%) comparable to G. latifolium (13.15%) and P. guineense (14.25%). The dietary fiber content ranged from 8.52% in S. oleracea to 15.18% in G. latifolium. The protein content was within the range of 18.61 to 26.12%. The amino acid analysis revealed that all the samples contained nutritionally useful quantities of most of the essential amino acids. Leucine (7.35 to 8.16 g/100 g crude protein) was the outstanding essential amino acid in this research. The total essential amino acids (with His) ranged between 38.67 g/100g cp (52.41%) in P. guineense to 40.53 g/100g cp (54.82%) in G. latifolium. The limiting AAs were Met + Cys, Thr and Met + Cys for P. guineense, S. oleracea and G. latifolium, respectively. The dietary formula based on this report showed that some essential amino acid supplementations such as Lys, Met + Cys, Thr and Val will be required in all the studied samples
Comparative Studies on Nutritive and Antinutritive Values of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) and Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Get PDFThe study was carried out on proximate, mineral and antinutritional compositions of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) in order to compare the nutritional and antinutritional composition of these two important food crops. The standard analytical techniques were used for all the determinations and analyses. The calculated parameters were metabolized energy, mineral safety index (MSI), mineral ratios of some minerals. The results of the proximate composition (%) revealed that crude fat (2.46 ± 0.07), moisture (5.85 ± 0.03) and total energy (1539.25 kj/100g) contents were higher for rice than cowpea (1.61 ± 0.06, 4.58 ± 0.10 and 1489.27 kj/100g), respectively while cowpea had higher level of crude protein (10.10 ± 0.14) and crude fiber (4.67 ± 0.17) than the crude protein (9.10±0.13) and crude fibre (2.37±0.08) of rice. No mineral had a deleterious value in the MSI because they had their table value (TV) > calculated value (CV). The phytate, tannin and oxalate concentrations were higher in rice (90.08±0.52 %, 6.01±0.01 mg/100g and 5.05±0.18 %) compared with that of the cowpea (40.45±2.68 %, 3.11±0.08 mg/100g and 4.37±0.09 %) while cowpea had higher concentrations in total phenol (24.79±2.55 %) and flavonoids (4.55±0.07 %) than rice. Antinutritional analysis showed that rice had higher levels of phytic acid and tannins, which can reduce the bioavailability of minerals, while flavonoids were higher in cowpea. This study concludes that both rice and cowpea are important sources of nutrients and should be consumed in combination to ensure a balanced diet.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAHs) Levels in Treated Spent Engine Oil Contaminated Soil from Automechanic Workshop Site in Wukari, Nigeria
Get PDFSpent engine oil contaminated soil samples were collected and divided into three portions along with uncontaminated soil sample collected 10 meters away from the contaminated site. Two of the contaminated soil samples were treated with 0.5M NaOH and heat at 2500C respectively. All the samples were extracted with appropriate solvents using sonication, cleaned up and then analyzed with gas chromatograph coupled to flame ionization detector. The results show that total PAHs concentration of contaminated soil sample was 333.6820 mg/kg, contaminated soil sample treated with 0.5M NaOH, 104.8540 mg/kg, contaminated soil sample treated with heat at 2500C was 180.0905 mg/kg and the uncontaminated soil sample, 0.7084 mg/kg. The results showed that Wukari mechanic village is contaminated with PAHs through indiscriminate disposal of spent engine oil. Furthermore, treatment with 0.5M NaOH was a more effective means of remediation relative to treatment with heat at 250oC for two hours. The study will be an appropriate guide for the artisans following enlightenment about the possible threat that contact with PAH contaminated soils could have on their health.