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32nd Convocation Ceremony of Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO)
No full textAn Address Delivered By Prof. John Omini Offem, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of 11th Governing Council FUTO, on the Occasion of the 32nd Convocation Ceremony
Mathematical model for time of Leak estimation in natural gas pipeline
No full textThe research article contains tables, mathematical equations and figuresThe ability to detect leak is crucial in pipeline fluid transport operations. Leaks will inevitably occur in pipelines due to wide range of uncertainties. A good leak detection system should not only be able to detect leak but also accurately estimate the actual time of leak occurrence. This will enable proper estimation of the fluid loss, from the pipeline before shut-in of the pipeline or before remedial actions were carried out on the pipeline which ultimately will help quantified the degree of financial or environmental implications resulting from the leak incidence. This paper gives a new model for the estimation of the time of leak in natural gas pipeline. The idea for the model hinges on the notion that the time of response of most pipeline alarm are not necessarily the time actual time the leak occurred. Period of lapse depends on the accuracy, sophistication of the alarm system and volume of leak it is capable of detecting. Most alarm systems respond at later times than the time the leak occurred. Quantification of fluid loss volume demands that the actual time of leak occurrence be determined, this means that the time the leak occurred must be calculated accurately. The model was simulated using the Matlab software. The results show that the model is highly accurate when tested with field dat
Optimization and characterization of the properties of treated avocado wood flour-linear low density polyethylene composites
No full textThis research was conducted in collaboration with a staff of FUTO and contains tables and figuresAbstract The research was carried out to investigate the optimization of surface modification for avocado wood flour (ACWF) and the characterization of the treated and untreated of avocado wood flour–linear low density polyethylene composite (ACWF-LLDPE). The variation of treated filler on the mechanical and water sorption properties was investigated. The untreated and treated ACWF-LLDPE composite was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Central Composite design of response surface model (RSM) was used to forecast the mechanical and water sorption properties of ACWF-LLDPE composite. The properties of ACWF-LLDPE composite was statistically analysed and found to be significant. The optimal treatment was particle size of 100 mesh and filler content of 22.97%. At optimum particle size and filler content, the mechanical properties were 24.972 MPa tensile strength (TS), 6.195% elongation (E), 0.863 GP a tensile modulus (TM), 62.664 MPa flexural strength (FS), 0.809 GP a flexural modulus (FM), 699.918 Pa Brinell hardness (BH), and 91.619 kJ/m2 impact strength (IM). The corresponding water sorption (WS) at this condition was 3.338%
Assessment of sullage chemical properties treated with activated carbon from selected agrowastes
Get PDFThe article contains tables and figureSullage was treated with selected carbonized Agro-wastes (rice husk, corn cob and coconut husk). The Agro-wastes were first carbonized at 600oC and chemically activated using phosphoric acid (H3PO4). They were then used as adsorbents for the removal of chemical compounds: pH, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), nitrate (NO3-), phosphate (PO4-), chloride (Cl-) and sulphate (SO4 2-) from sullage using titration and spectrophotometer methods. Initial concentration of the chemical parameters of sullage samples showed COD to be 486.2±87 mg/l; BOD: 175.0±3.1 mg/l; pH: 7.33±0.1; Cl-: 31.0±5.5 mg/l; NO3-: 28.6±24 ppm; PO4-: 7.08±3.2 ppm and SO4 2-:347.08±67.1 ppm. After treatments, COD ranged from 122.2±10 - 190.5±25 mg/l; BOD: 44.0±3.5 – 68.6.0±9.0 mg/l; pH: 7.08±0.1 - 7.18±0.1; Cl-: 17.28 - 21.13 mg/l; NO3-: 0.0 - 12.79 ppm and SO4 2-: 117.7 - 251.7 ppm. There was significant difference (p≤0.05) between the untreated and the treated sullage samples. The efficiency of the individual adsorbents in absorbing the chemical parameters was of this order: ricehusk>corncob>coconut husk. In combination it was, rice husk+corncob+coconuthusk > ricehusk+corncob > corncob+coconuthusk > ricehusk+coconuthusk. High percentage reduction observed of chemical properties revealed that activated carbons from rice husk, corn cob and coconut husk can be used singly or combined for the purification of sullage.Department of Biotechnology, FUT
Effects of agroforestry on household food security as perceived by rural women farmers in Imo State, Nigeria
Get PDFThis thesis is for the award of Master of Science (M.Sc) in Agricultural ExtensionThe study was designed to analyze the effects of agroforestry on household food security status as perceived by rural women farmers in Imo state Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to: describe the socioeconomic characteristics in the study area, identify agroforestry practices women farmers are involved in the study area, identify products which women farmers obtain from their agroforestry farms, determine reasons for practicing agroforestry as perceived by women farmers, determine the food security status of rural woman farmers in the study area, ascertain rural women farmers perceived effects of agroforestry on household food security status in the area, identify constraints to agroforestry practices in the study area as perceived by women farmers. Agroforestry farmers in Imo State formed the population for the study, and a sample of 270 rural women farmers were selected through Multi stage sampling techniques. Data for the study were collected using structured and validated questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools such as mean, frequency, score, percentage, Ordinary least square (OLS) and analysis of variance (Anova) were used to analyze the data. The study revealed that rural women had a mean age of 51years. About 77 % were married, with a mean household size of 6 persons. Average farm size and mean monthly income were 1.8 ha and ₦34,426 respectively. About 63.3 % were not members of social organizations and 34.4 % had farming as their major occupation. Majority (79.6%) were particularly involved in the practice of leaving few fruit bearing trees on farm land when clearing. The women were found to have positive food security status. The result also showed that the effect of agroforestry on household food security status of rural women farmers was high with a grand mean of 2.95; rural women farmers considered the following factors, viz: land security, lack of processing machineries, lack of control overland, high cost of farm inputs, unfavorable agricultural policies, lack of incentives, incidence of pest attack, high mortality of tree seedlings and high incidence of bush fire as the major constraints that affect agroforestry practice among rural women farmers. The hypothetical analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the rural women farmers and the perception of rural women farmers about the effect of agroforestry on food security in Imo state; rural women farmers do not differ significantly in their perceived effect of agroforestry on food security status in the three agricultural zones in Imo state. The study recommended that land being used for agroforestry practice should be secured through measures like perimeter fencing, local fencing with woods and bamboos and mobilizing youths to keep constant watch along the boundary lines so as to prevent encroachment as revealed from the study
Effects of glyphosate and 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on the hatchability and larval development of african catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
Get PDFMaster’s thesis on "hatchability and larval development of african catfish (Clarias gariepinus)"The effects of the exposure of glyphosate and 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, on the egg hatchability and larvae development ofCatfish (Clarias gariepinus)were evaluated using standard methods. Acute toxicity,hatchability of eggs, survivability of larvae, biochemical and histological parameters of reproductive organs and skin were evaluated. The acute lethal study of glyphosate and 2, 4-D on catfish fingerlings showed that no fish died within 24 hrs.
However, for the mixture of glyphosate and 2, 4-D, at higher concentrations death occurred, and the LD50was less than 2500mg/kg (2154.07mg/kg). There was a change inwater quality resulting from application of the toxicants compared to the control. There wasalso decrease in the hatchability of the eggsand reproductive success for the mixture of glyphosate and 2, 4-D treatments. The highest percentage mortalityand least percentage survivability(after fourteen
days) were recorded in the mixture of glyphosate and 2, 4-D-treated eggs (72±60 and 20±16.67 respectively). The mean weight gain value and the instantaneous growth rate, expressed as Specific Growth Rate (SGR), werelow in the mixture of glyphosate and 2, 4-D (0.75 ± 0.08g and 0.71 respectively) compared with control (2.24±0.22). Physical examination showed the larvae of the mixture of glyphosate and 2, 4-D to be smaller and lighter (tail region appeared transparent) relative to those from other treatments and control. Biochemical parameterson the liver revealed elevation in the activities of stimulating liver enzymes (GSH and GST)in all experimental groups (1.06/6.88E-06, 1.67/5.72E-06, 1.73/5.88E-06) compared with control (1.53/4.28E-06). There werealso elevation in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes such as Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), and lipid peroxidation compared with control. There was reduction in the total protein level for the glyphosate treatment (15.46g/l) compared to control (25.60g/l). The histological changes observed in this experiment revealed that glyphosate, 2, 4-D and their mixtures caused negative effects on the skin, testes and ova of Clarias gariepinus brood stocks. The fish organs examined showed varying degrees of pathological alterations/degenerations to the skin, testes and ova in all the treatments compared to the control. These results show that the herbicides, glyphosate and 2, 4-D, have toxic effects on the hatchability and survivability of Clarias gariepinus. These toxic effects were more deleterious when the two herbicides were mixed, as the synergistic effects greatly impeded fish reproductio