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Effect of chemically modified cissus populnea fibers on mechanical, microstructural and physical properties of cissus populnea/high density polyethylene composites
Get PDFA short Article on Effect of chemically modified cissus populnea fibers. It contain tables, pictures and graphsThe effect of chemically modified Cissus populnea (C. populnea) fiber using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) on mechanical, morphological and physical (density and water absorption behaviour) properties of C. populnea fiber/recycled HDPE composites was aimed to be investigated. The composites of unmodified and modified C. populnea fiber/HDPE were prepared using injection molding machine. The mechanical properties (tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus, hardness and impact strength), interfacial shear stress, density, water absorption behaviour and microstructural properties using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscope were characterized. The results shows that C. populnea fiber increased the mechanical properties of HDPE matrix with reduced impact strength of the composites. The NaOH and SLS treatments, respectively, improved the mechanical properties of C. populnea fiber/HDPE composites, although NaOH treated C. populnea fiber reduced the tensile modulus. The change in morphology and functional group, respectively, due to the modification was observed in SEM and FTIR. The density and water absorption of the composites, respectively, reduced when SLS modified C. populnea fiber was used
compared to untreated C. populnea fiber/HDPE composites. The SLS treated C. populnea fiber prove to be superior for reinforcement, stiffness and light weight material
Assessment of simulator adaptability in West African Maritime Institutes: A data envelopment analytical approach
Get PDFThe article has tablesThe work analyzed the role of simulators and technical laboratories in influencing curriculum development strategies of West Africa’s maritime educational sector. The application of IMO’s STCW requirements on simulator based education were also analyzed in juxtaposition with the educational programmes in the higher education maritime programmes of West African institutions. Development knowledge gaps were identified and recommendations made accordingly. The gains of implementing a port simulator training programme for the region’s expanding port sector were emphasized. The focus of the work remains creation of officers with shorter sea time exposure during training
1D resistivity inversion technique in the mapping of igneous intrusives; A step to sustainable quarry development
No full textA research article on "geophysical mapping techniques" This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). The article contains maps, graphs and tablesThe use of trial pits as a first step in quarry site development causes land degradation and results in more failure than success for potential quarry investors in some parts of the world. In this paper, resistivity, depth and distance values derived from 26 Vertical Electric Soundings (VES) and 2 profiling inversion sections were successfully used to evaluate a quarry site prior to development. The target rock Diabase (Dolerite) was observed and it had a resistivity range of 3.0 104 e7. 8 106 U-m, and was clearly distinguishable from associated rocks with its bright red color code on the AGI 1D inversion software. This target rock was overlain by quartzite, indurate shale and mudstone as overburden materials. The quartzite, with its off-red colour, has a resistivity range of 2.0 103 e2.9 105 U-m, while the indurate shale, with a yellowish-brown colour, showed resistivity values ranging from 6.1 102 e 2.8 105 U-m. Topsoil was clayey, with a resistivity range from 8 e 8.6 102u U-m and depths of 0.3e1.8 m, often weathered and replaced by associated rocks outcrops. The diabase rock, in the three prospective pits mapped, showed thicknesses of between 40 and 76 m across the site. The prospective pits were identified to accommodate an estimated 2,569,450 tonnes of diabase with an average quarry pit depth of 50 m. This figure was justified by physical observations made at a nearby quarry pit and from test holes. Communities were able to prepare a geophysical appraisal of the intrusive body in their domain for economic planning and sustainability of the natural resource
Characterization of selected honey in SouthEast Nigeria: Theoretical translation
Get PDFA research article with tables and figuresWith the vast honey bee species producing honey for international export and consumption in Nigeria, there is need for theoretical translation of quality assessment and characterization of honey for human consumption. The physicochemical and mineral contents of some selected honey in the five South east geopolitical states of Nigeria was performed for above mentioned application. The results were evaluated with 3D plot to identify the statistical significance of the parameters analyzed. The levels of glucose and fructose were accepted by codex alimentation standard and rejected samples B, C, and G. A correlation of similar botanical origin was demonstrated in sample B, C and G and similarly observed in their moisture content been > 21%. The pH and electrical conductivity showed no significant variation. The codex hydroxyl methyl furfural standard identified samples B, E and L to be “aged honey” or falsified honey in circulation. The 3D plot showed the significant variation of hydroxyl methyl furfural content of samples. A hypothesis was observed when the samples and previously analyzed Nigerian samples were compared; metal concentration levels of Group 1 elements > Group 2 > transition metals in Nigerian honey and formed an identification trend
Novel linearized kinetic modeling of starch hydrolysis
Get PDFThe research article is an original paper with figures and tablesThe hydrolysis of starch into glucose by acid and enzyme techniques has recorded higher glucose recovery and optimization of processes, but lacks the fitting of the results into a kinetic linear model. The application of kinetic linearized model effect of temperature on pH and acid concentration during hydrolysis of starch into glucose was studied. The experiment was conducted at different durations using reported preparatory techniques and average values of triplicates were reported. The maximum glucose yield of 18.20 mg/ml was observed on 4 hours at 60°C from acid hydrolysis and similarly observed at 4 hours at 100°C for enzym e hydrolysis. The lowest glucose yield of 10.0 mg/ml and 11.1 mg/ml were both recorded at 30 minutes duration for acid and enzyme hydrolysis respectively. The correlation coefficient of acid hydrolysis when starch was hydrolyzed for 2 hours at 80°C had a value of 1 (line of best fit) while the w eakest linear relationship (0.715) was obtained was in enzymatic hydrolysis when starch was hydrolyzed at 4 hours for 80°C Hence, the highest glucose yield was not automatically the most efficient process. The linear model equations showed that acid hydrolysis of starch had a positive energetic interaction while enzymatic hydrolysis had a negative energetic interaction. The slope and intercept of acid hydrolysis were all positive and indicated a positive relationship with parameters. All enzymatic hydrolysis had negative slope and indicated inverse relationship with the parameters. Therefore, the model allows researchers to make well interpretations of their results using linearized kinetic model
A comparative analysis of productivity and fare variations of Nigerian Airlines
Get PDFThe article has tables and figures. The Department was formerly in SMATThis paper examined productivity variations occurring among different airlines In the study, quantitative techniques such as The pair-wise t-test was utilized in the analysis of the available seat kilometrage (ASK) performed by the various airlines within the study period. The study shows that, there were significant relationships between aircraft utilization, passengers operation and airline productivity, at 0.05 level. The relationship between fare and productivity was statistically insignificant at 0.05 level. There were also productivity variations occurring between different airlines selected for the study. We recommend that efforts should be made to quicken the time spent on the ground by aircrafts of various airlines operating in Nigeria, as less time spent by aircraft on the ground enhances aircraft utilization, which will in the main, boast productivity
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No full textA Catfish short Research Article.This study aimed to analyze catfish entrepreneurship in Imo State with specific objectives to identify
the socio-economic characteristics of catfish entrepreneurs, estimate the cost and returns of catfish
entrepreneurs and factors influencing their returns, Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select
120 fish farmers. Primary data was collected with the aid of well- structured questionnaire. The data obtained
was analyzed using descriptive statistical technique, cost and return model, multiple regression analysis, The
result of the descriptive statistical technique showed that 37.50% of the cat fish entrepreneur’s fall within the
age bracket of 35–45years and mean age was 43 years, 58.33% of the cat fish entrepreneurs are men while only
41.67% of them are women, 50% of cat fish entrepreneurs have attended primary education, 40% of the cat fish
entrepreneurs have between 2- 5 persons in their households and the mean household size was 7 persons. The
result of the cost and return showed that total variable cost was estimated as N2573041.25 which is about
73.32% of the total cost. The total fixed cost was N937226.58 which is 26.70% of the total cost incurred. The
total cost was 3510267.83 and the total revenue was 4673521.25.Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Analysis of air traffic capacity in Nigrian airports
Get PDFThe article has tables and figuresThe paper is aimed at determining the capability of the airside facilities to accommodate aviation operational demand. The USA FAA methodology was utilized for the measurement of airfield capacity in this study. In consideration of the existing runway configuration, runway utilization patterns and 52506 operation counts, Lagos airport domestic wing Nigeria has been determined to have a daily demand ratio (D) of 240 operations and an hourly demand ratio (H) of 20 operations, and thus, an ASV of approximately 63006 operations. Capacity calculations indicated that a Nigerian runway configuration accommodates an ASV of 247, 123 annual operations. Based on the aircraft fleet mix currently utilizing Nigerian airports, this ASV seems appropriate through the planning period. The ASV during the period under study was highest at the domestic wing of Lagos Airport followed International wing of the same airport. Abuja domestic wing was next followed by Port Harcourt domestic wing. It is considered, therefore, that no significant increase to existing peak-hour runway capacity may be possible in the short term although there is spare capacity during the off-peak (shoulder) periods. Nigeria has, in theory, the option of having two additional runways available, to enhance the overall runway capacity of the airport. In practical terms, simultaneous operational use of these runways is unlikely to provide significant and consistent capacity benefits
Performance assessment of monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panel types used in Owerri, South Eastern Nigeria
Get PDFThis thesis is for the award of the Degree of Master of Science (MSc.) in Physics (Solar Energy Option)The performance assessment of monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar panels was conducted in Owerri. The solar panels made in Germany were produced by Flames Company and rated 100W. Both solar panels were subjected to the same weather conditions. The solar panels were placed side by side on the roof top and the outdoor testing was carried out in both the raining and dry season for 28days. Each of the solar panel was connected to 12V, 15A charge controller and to a load of 40Ohms. The open-circuit voltage (VOC), short-circuit current (ISC), load voltage (VL) and load current IL were measured using a digital multimeter. The maximum power (PM) and load power (PL) were calculated from the VOC, ISC, VL and IL. The results indicated that VOC for monocrystalline silicon solar panel was high during the early and late hours of the day while VOC for polycrystalline silicon solar panel increased as the insolation increases for both season. The monocrystalline silicon solar panel produced more current than the polycrystalline silicon solar panel. It was observed that both panels had high performance between 10am and 3pm of the day in the rainy season. The polycrystalline silicon produced the highest maximum power output of 96.80W while the monocrystalline had a maximum power output of 94.24W. The solar panels had a low performance during the dry dusty harmattan season as low sunlight weather condition was observed. (maximum power of 52.06W for the monocrystalline silicon solar panel and 50.95W for the polycrystalline silicon solar panel). Cloudy weather conditions affected the solar panel performance as both the voltage and current dropped whenever it rained. The polycrystalline silicon solar panel also has a fairly constant voltage (between 16.06V to 17.98V) while voltage for the monocrystalline silicon fluctuates (between 15.01V to 17.99V). The study showed that the polycrystalline silicon solar panel is widely used and cheaper even when the users may not have known the advantage of higher power output than the monocrystalline silicon panel