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Gravity survey of parts of SouthWestern Nigeria
No full textThis thesis is for the award of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) in GeophysicsGround gravity survey was carried out in the southwestern part of Nigeria within the areas underlain mainly by the Basement Complex rocks. The study area is precisely bounded by Latitudes 70 00’N – 8000’N and Longitudes 40 30’E – 6 00’E. The work is aimed at producing a comprehensive interpreted structural and geological models and maps from the gravity data as an aid to mineral investigation, structural and crustal studies. One thousand and ninety-three (1,093) gravity data points were established in an area of 18,150km2 giving a density of 1/16.6km2 . This is a positive improvement on the existing 1/9,075km2 gravity density in the area. Seventy-five (75) evenly distributed gravity base stations were established in the study area. These were tied to IGSN 71 through the PGNN Base station at Oshogbo and Akure base stations. This gives a gravity station density of 1/242km2 as against the existing density of 1/9,075km2 . The database was also saved in GIS platform for proper management and archiving. One hundred and forty-eight (148) rock samples were collected and their densities determined using a standard density determination procedure. The density values ranged from 2.526 to 2.871g/cm3 . The amphibolites have the highest mean density of 2.765g/cm3 , followed by the charnockites with 2.755g/cm3 . The processed data were presented as 2D maps with both contour and colour shaded maps. The maps include absolute gravity value map, Free-air anomaly map, Bouguer anomaly map, Regional anomaly map, residual anomaly map and rock density anomaly map of the area. The Bouguer anomaly field values range from about -19.087 to 16.914mGal, the free-air anomaly values range from 16.026 to 68.274mGal/m while the residual Bouguer Anomaly values range from about -10.577 to 19.805mGal. There is mostly a general NE/SW and few N/S trends in all the anomaly fields. Four gravity profiles across the study area were chosen for modelling and interpretation. Six major bouguer anomalies with unique characteristic features were identified. These maybe related to the contrasting lithological and structural features. These include the Ifewara-Ilesha-Ilaorogun High, AkureIkere-Igbaraoke High, Ikare-Ogbagi-Ajowa High, Ute-Uzebba High, IjeshaIsu-Ikole-Ponyan Low and Ondo-Bagbe Low. The elongated NE/SW trending bouguer anomaly at the western part of the study area termed the Ifewara-Ilesha-Ilaorogun High coincide with the geologically established shear zone associated with Ifewara-Zungeru fault system in orientation and location. Hence, the gravity data have confirmed the existence of the mega fault system which is related to gold mineralization within the Ilesha Schist belt. In the same vein, the relatively high oval shaped bouguer anomaly “Ikare–Ogbagi-Ajowa high” at the NE part of the study area can be a new frontier for mineral exploration. Such anomaly needs further exploration using other geophysical and geochemical techniques to determine its mineral potential
Oil conflict and nationness in the Niger Delta: a review of crude realities in Helon Habila’s oil on water
Get PDFThis article was done in collaboration with a FUTO staffThe discovery of oil in commercial quantity in the Niger Delta region in the 1950s was heralded with resounding joy. This was because of the anticipated resources which were expected to engender rapid human and infrastructural development of the region and Nigeria at large. Unfortunately, after over six decades of this discovery, the region remains perennially impoverished and underdeveloped amidst pervasive environmental degradation, displacement, and wanton dehumanization of the people. This unfortunate reality has continued to incite discontent as the people of this region relentlessly struggle for fairness and equity in the nation's scheme of things. Over the years, this struggle has assumed different currents, including kidnapping, illegal oil bunkering, peaceful and militant protests as well as pipeline blowouts and vandalism. These unfortunate realities have been variously expressed through literary creativities of many Nigerian writers, including Helon Habila. In Oil on Water, Habila paints a vivid picture of the individual and collective predicaments of these dispossessed people, as well as the conscious steps they have taken in order to retrieve their lost rights and entitlements from the Nigerian nation and her multinational oil company collaborators. Adopting HomiBhabha's Dissemination strand of the postcolonial theoretical framework, this paper examines how Helon Habila has deployed the technicalities of voice, action, character, setting and imageries in order to appeal to our sensibilities on the unfortunate individual and collective dispossession of the people of this devastated region. This is with the aim of lending our voice to the numerous calls on the Nigerian nation and her multinational oil company collaborators to shun humiliation, intimidation, rituality and annihilation of the people and consider dialogue and more humane alternatives in proffering an urgent development of the people and their region
Knowledge, attitude and practice of malaria control among FUTO students
Get PDFA research article with figures and tablesThis study to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of malaria control among students of Federal University of Technology of Owerri living in and outside the campus, was carried out between July and September 2018. A total of 160 students were randomly sampled with the use of structured questionnaires as well as giemsa stained thin and thick films to determine the prevalence of malaria. Among this number, 25% (40/160) of the students were infected with Plasmodium falciparium. The highest prevalence of 52% (13/25) was recorded among students living in the school hostel. Based on the questionnaire analysis, 96.25% of the students indicated mosquito bite as the cause of malaria, while 3.13% of them said malaria is caused by too much consumption of oil. There is a great disparity on the knowledge of the method of diagnosis with a total of 29.38% of the students preferring self-diagnosis, 17.5% stated microscopy, 11.88% RDT, while a greater percentage of them 41.25% do not have idea about any method of diagnosis. For control measures, 46.9% of the students do not practice any control measure against malaria. A whopping 56.9% of the students’ population takes antimalarial only when they are diagnosed. Some of the students do not fancy the relevance of going for laboratory diagnosis. Based on that, a total of 29.38% of the students rated that it is “barely important” going to laboratory, while 10.63% rated “not important”, although a good number (60%) believes on the importance of going for laboratory diagnosis by rating “very importance”. However, there seems to be a high level of knowledge about the cause of malaria among the students but the attendant knowledge of diagnosis and practice of control measures are lacking, as a result, this could impact negatively on the health of the students. Greater awareness is needed in order to improve knowledge on the importance of laboratory diagnosis and malaria control which can take care of their attitudes towards malaria. Attitude basically is always influenced by beliefs and existing bodies of knowledge
Extraction of bioethanol from pretreated sawdust
No full textThe article has tables and figuresIn this study, optimization of brix conversion of wood shavings by Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. Wood shavings were collected from timber shade at Naze, Owerri Imo state. Chemical pretreatment and hydrolysis was evaluated. Brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was used as the isolate for fermentation. A five factor box behnken design was used. The effect of incubation temperature(30-40oC), inoculum size(0.85),incubation time (72-120hours), wood concentration( 10-20g), and NaOH concentration (3.5-4.5%) were studied using response surface methodology (RSM). Brix concentration was used as a response in the resulting experimental design. The statistical analysis of the constructed model developed by RSM suggested that linear effects of NaOH concentration and wood concentration were both significant (p<0.05) for biomass converted. The optimum conditions for the conversion of brix are wood concentration of 15.66g, NaOH concentration of 4.47%, inoculum size of 0.85, incubation time of 72hours and incubation temperature of 40oC. Ethanol yield obtained was 1.68-2.25%. At these conditions, the isolate used was able to convert 60.97% of the brix in the wood extract to ethanol
Thermodynamic and adsorption evaluation of codiaeum variegatum brilliantissima - Zanzibar as inhibitor of mild steel corrosion in 1 M HCl
No full textThis research was conducted in collaboration with staff of this universityThis study evaluated the thermodynamic and adsorption properties of aqueous extract of Codiaeum Variegatum Brilliantissima - Zanzibar (Wire Croton) as an inhibitor of mild steel corrosion in 1 M HCl base stock solution using gravimetric measurement focused on the effect of immersion time, inhibitor concentration and temperature. The result showed that the adsorption of the cold aqueous extracts of Wire Croton on mild steel surface favored Langmuir adsorption isotherm as supported by an overall correlation coefficient (R2) close to unity. The equilibrium constant of adsorption process (Kads) for Wire Croton inhibitor evaluated mathematically is 0.0106, 0.0131, 0.1276, 0.1171 and 0.0269 (mg/L) with free energy of adsorption (∆Goads) values of 1.345, 0.821, -5.256, -5.182 and -1.445 kJ/mol for concentrations of 73.6, 147.2, 220.8, 294.4 and 368 mg/L exposed to 303, 313, 323, 333 and 343 K respectively. The small values of Kads suggest weak adsorption which is corroborated by the low negative values of the free energy of adsorption, ∆Goads, values obtained from thermodynamic measurements. The adsorption of Wire Croton inhibiting particles on the mild steel surface was favorable from thermodynamic point of view since values of ∆Goads for more concentrations of the inhibitor were negative and provided proof that aqueous extract of the inhibitor is an efficient inhibitor. 1 Zanzibar as Inhibitor of Mild Steel Corrosion in M HCl. Journal of Newviews in Engineering and Technology. 2(4), 1 – 13. 1. INTRODUCTION: Corrosion continuous to pose serious challenge to infrastructure causing loss in revenue (Izionworu et al., 2021; NACE, 2016). The use of inorganic and organic inhibitors such as volatile inhibitors, Passivating inhibitors, Film inhibitors and Cathodic inhibitors has been welcomed in the past, particularly in the oil and gas field operations where they have yielded positive results in terms of reduced failure of installations and hence increased revenue. Although some level of successes has been recorded in the use of inorganic and organic inhibitors in corrosion control according to Chauhan et al. (2021), there are issues around their environmental suitability and health implications (Finsgar & Jackson, 2014; Umoren & Solomon, 2014)
Effect of organic and inorganic manure on the nutritional value and heavy metal uptake of upland rice in Imo State Nigeria
No full textThis article contain figures and tables.A research was conducted to assess the nutritional value and heavy metal uptake of upland rice grown using organic and inorganic fertilizer on an Ultisol at the Centre for Agricultural Research and Extension, Federal University of Technology, Owerri. The experiment comprised of Control (Cl), Urea (Ua) at 400kg.ha-1, Rumen digesta (Rd), Poultry dropping (Pd) and Pig slurry (Ps) at the rate of 40t.ha-1 each. The 5 treatments were replicated five times to give a total of 25 plots. Each plot measured 2×2 m with a 1 m alley between plots. The test crop was CP 306 upland rice variety. The proximate analysis and heavy metal content of the rice grain were conducted. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design. The data resulting from the experiment was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant differences were separated using fisher’s least significant difference at P = 0.05. The nutritional value of the rice (%Mc, %Fat, %Protein, %Fiber, %Ash and, %CHO) showed significant difference when the control was compared with the treatments and when the treatments were compared with one another. The rice grown on pig slurry treated plot had the highest value of % Mc, %Fat, %Protein, %Ash and significantly higher concentration of CHO while the largest % Fiber content was recorded from the rice grain grown on urea fertilizer. The heavy metal content of the rice grain also showed significant difference when the control was compared with the treatments and when the treatments were compared with one another. Relative comparison of these metals with standards showed that none of them were present in concentrations exceeding the permissible limits
Genotoxicity of hairdressing salon effluent using allium cepa
Get PDFThe article contains tables and figuresGenotoxicity of hairdressing salon effluent using Allium cepa was carried out using different concentrations of 12.5%, 25%, 50% and 100% of hairdressing salon effluent obtain from different outlets. The presence and concentrations of some heavy metals such as lead, Mercury, Zinc, Cadmium and Arsenic in the effluent were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Chromosomal aberration assays were used to determine the mitotic index and chromosome aberration rate. There was an increase in the mitotic inhibition as the concentration increased whereas there was a decrease in the mitotic index, indicative of an inverse relationship shared by the two properties. The effluent induced chromosomal aberrations in the meristematic cells of the A. cepa root tip, and laggards were the most frequently recorded aberrations induced. Morphological abnormalities were also recorded in the roots of the Allium cepa. The genotoxic effects of hairdressing salon effluent on Allium cepa indicates that it contains toxic substances which may constitute environmental risks particularly on soils and plant crops planted near hairdressing salon facilities
Modification of waste tire pyrolytic oil as base fluid for synthetic lube oil blending and production: Waste tire utilization approach. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management (Online First)
Get PDFThis research was conducted in collaboration with a staff of this institution. It also contains tables and figuresThis study provides an environmentally friendly process for the production of waste tire pyrolytic oil from fast pyrolysis for use in lube oil production. The produced waste tire pyrolytic oil was further distilled to provide an almost pure base fuid for production of lube oil. The distilled pyrolytic oil was further transformed to lube oil via polyol synthesis. Characterization of the distilled pyrolytic oil from waste tire pyrolysis shows that the oil after distillation contained 2.04 g/100 g of Aliphatic hydrocarbons, 1.96 g/100 g of naphthalene, and 5.99 g/100 g of parafn. The synthetic base fuid was blended with additive to obtain the desired lube oil. Based on the results obtained, the properties of the produced lubricant fall within the accept able criteria for standard lube oils/commercial lubricants. Six diferent blends (A–F) were produced using varied percentages of the selected additives and the base fuid, however, sample C gave the best lube oil blend considering its average density (0.97 kg/L), average viscosity which compares favourably with ISO viscosity (68 mm2/s) of class 68 oil at 40 °C with a fash point above 200 °
Spatio-temporal study of criteria pollutants in Nigerian city
Get PDFAn original research article with figures and tablesAims: An investigation of characteristic long term air pollutants known for temporal and spatial behaviors was conducted due to increased pollution scenarios in Nigerian cities as a result of deprived environmental enforcement of statutory obligations. Study Design: One of the worlds’ most polluted cities (Onitsha lower basin) in Nigeria was selected for spatio-temporal study of three criteria pollutants combined with GIS and MATLAB alongside associated meteorological conditions during harmattan. Methodology: 72-hourly analyses of the nine different locations having 4 sampling sites and 500 meters apart were done from December to February which generated over 19, 440 experimental data per quarter of each annual study.
Results: Upper Iweka/Nitel area recorded the highest concentration of SO2 pollutant at (94.2 µg/m3) due to longer residence times and low wind mixing height. Borromeo hospital showed the least active NO2 region but converges at points 1 due to North-east wind dissimilar to sampling points 1 having the lowest PM10 distribution. Measured temperature parameter correlates inversely with relative humidity and precipitation. The GIS spatial representation corresponded to temporal variability of gaseous and particulate pollutants.
Conclusion: All sampled areas had AQI above 50; hence the study identified SO2, NO2, and PM10 as Primary pollutants of Onitsha lower basin
The efficacy of antioxidant (Vitamin C) in the treatment and management of malaria
No full textThe article contains tables and figuresThe study examines the effects of Vitamin C on malaria parasitamae and the biochemical parameters which is an indicative of the liver function. Twenty wistar Albino rats were by average weight of 100 – 250g divided into 5 groups, Groups 1) served as normal control(NC), group 2 as experimental groups (PC), (Group 3 & 4 ) served as Vitamin C and group 5 served as Artesunate control. All the groups were inoculated with a chloroquine-sensitivestrain of Plasmodium berghei NK-65 following the administration of vitamin C and artesunate drugs. The Animals were treated for 4 days after 24 hours, post infection with P. berghei. Parasitemia levels were assessed by examining Giemsa-stained thin blood smears from each animal via an optical microscope on days 4 and 7. Blood samples collected from the animals via cardiac puncture with the aid of a capillary tube, was allowed to clot for 45 min at room temperature. Serum was separated by centrifugation at 6,000rpm for 15 min and analyzed for liver function parameters. There was a significant suppression (P<0.05) in total parasite count (205.00 & 137.00 and 242.25 & 157.00) on days 4 and 7 when compared with the other controls (300.75 & 403.25), as well as a reduction in liver function parameters with Vitamin C at 15mg & 7.5mg. This study however shows that vitamin C administration to P.berghei infected rats resulted in reducing parasite count as well as reduced malaria related alteration of liver function markers