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Studies of mechanicl properties of watermelon ring/pawpaw peel reinforced polyethlene composites
Get PDFThis thesis is for the award of Master of Science (M.Sc) in Polymer Science and EngineeringSome mechanical properties of water melon rind and pawpaw peel reinforced Low density polyethylene (LDPE) and Linear Low Density, (LLDPE) composites have been studied. Two sets of filler loaded LDPE and LLDPE composites were prepared using the injection moulding techniques at a processing temperature of 190 0C Dispersing agent, silicon oil, was added to the composite as a plasticizer to improve flow, processability and to reduce the brittleness of the product. A comprehensive range of mechanical properties: tensile strength, (modulus of elasticity, elongation at break, elongation at yield), impact energy test and hardness test were carried out. Tensile properties of the composite showed an increase in tensile modulus, impact energy test, hardness test, a decline, in elongation at yield and break with increasing filler loading. The tensile strength was enhanced with the incorporation of the two fillers up to 20% filler loading and then decreased with further addition of filler. The result obtained showed that pawpaw peel and water melon rind can be used as reinforcing fillers in thermoplastics and secondly, development of composites, enhances their mechanical properties
Optimization of biodegradation of anthracene by corynebacterium sp and pseudomonas putida
No full textA research article with figures and tablesThe carcinogenic potential of industrial effluent discharged of anthracene on the ambient environment withcontamination to soils and aquifers is not only environmental concern but difficulty in implementation of biodegradation of anthracene due to inability to optimizing the process parameters. The optimization of process parameters for biodegradation of anthracene with the activity of Corynebacterium sp and Pseudomonas putida using response surface methodology was aimed to be investigated. A 23 of full factorial central composite design was employed for developed quadratic polynomial model to achieve optimal performance of the process. Statistically,high correlation coefficient (R2 ) for quadratic polynomial model for biodegradation of anthracene by activity of Corynebacterium sp 0.9659 (p<0.05)and Pseudomonas putida 0.9939 (p<0.05)were obtained. The optimum conditions for anthracene degradation by Corynebacterium sp were 69.99g/L, 83.20hours and 3.4735vvm with about 98.48 percent of anthracene degraded while Pseudomonas putida were 69.989g/L, 83.58hours and 3.5vvm with 89.51percent of anthracene degraded
Constraints and extent of access to productive resources and agricultural services among women farmers in Awka and Aguata agricultural zones of Anambra State, Nigeria
No full textThis article contains tablesThe study investigated constraints and extent of access to productive resources and agricultural services among women farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria. Specifically, it identified income generating activities of women farmers in the state, identified the productive resources and agricultural services available to them and determined the extent of availability of the resources and services and constraints to accessing the resources. Purposive random sampling technique was used to select a total of 120 women farmers. Data were collected with aid of a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using mean, percentages and frequencies. Results showed that majority (60%) of the respondents are married and a majority (50%) has formal education. It was further revealed that the respondents had diversified income generating activities with a majority engaging in processing of agricultural products (98.3%) and farming (95.8%). The results also showed that majority of the respondents indicated labour as the most available productive resource in the area. On the extent of access to productive resources, the result revealed that labour (x=3.0) and processing facilities (x = 2.50) are the accessible productive resources. Finally, the result revealed sharing of knowledge (x = 2.56) and marketing facilities (x = 2.98) as the only agricultural services accessible to the farmers. Constraints encountered lack of capital, poor electricity connection, lack of access roads, poor radio signals, illiteracy among others. It was recommended that the existing land ownership policies in the country should be reviewed to promote ownership be improved as well
Bacteriological quality of water contaminated with faecal wastes from livestock
No full textThe research article is a special issue and has a tableWater is very important to life but when contaminated, it can be deleterious to life. Livestock from various farms produce large amount of faecal wastes. Most cattle farmers move their animals from place to place around Imo State, Nigeria, in search of pasture, these animals defeacate indiscriminately. Again, many farmers indulge in indiscriminate disposal of
animal wastes. These faecal wastes can be carried by runoff water into surrounding water sources causing them to become contaminated. This study was therefore carried out to determine the prevalence of possible pathogenic bacteria in water contaminated with poultry litters, cow and pig dungs. Faecal samples from poultry, cows and pigs were collected from School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (SAAT) farm in the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Imo State, Nigeria. The contaminated water samples were examined for the prevalence of bacteria. Isolation and characterization of bacteria were done using standard microbiological protocols. Results revealed the presence of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Serratia marcescens, Erwinia amylovora, Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus faecalis and Salmonella typhi. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most prevalent isolate followed by Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae. The presence of these organisms of public health importance in water contaminated by livestock faeces calls for continuous surveillance of various water sources prone to faecal contamination. Appropriate treatment and disposal methods of these faecal samples as well as appropriate treatment of water source prone to such contaminants should be adopted so as to avert the possible health hazards resulting from use of water from such contaminated sources
Equilibrium, thermodynamic and kinetic studies on adsorption of zinc (II) from solutions using different low-cost adsorbents
Get PDFA research article on "Equilibrium, thermodynamic and kinetic studies on adsorption of zinc (II) from solutions using different low-cost adsorbents". It contains graphs, tables and pictures.Many industrial wastewaters contain numerous toxic metals such as zinc, which must be removed before reuse of the water or discharge into the environment. In this present study, unripe plantain peel activated carbon (UPPAC), pineapple peel activated carbon (PPAC) and commercial activated carbon (CAC) were utilized as low cost adsorbents for the removal of Zn (II) from aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption methodology was used to evaluate the effect of solution pH, initial metal ion concentration, adsorbent dose, contact time and temperature on adsorption. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR) were used to characterize the adsorbents. The equilibrium isotherm data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm model. The kinetic data were analyzed using the pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order equations, Elovich equation and intraparticle rate equation. Maximum adsorption of Zn (II) on UPPAC, PPAC and CAC (82.45%, 89.95% and 93.45%) was observed at pH 6 and pH 7. The adsorbed amount of Zn (II) increased with increase in contact time and reached equilibrium within 180 minutes. The maximum adsorption was found to be 200 mg/L in the studied range (200 – 1000 mg/L). The adsorption capacity and percent removal of Zn (II) were found to increase with increase in temperature. The Freundlich isotherm models provided the best fit to the experimental data for Zn (II) as indicated by the
regression coefficient values (R2> 0.97). The pseudo-second order equation gave the best fit to the experimental data for the metal ion (R2 > 0.99). Thermodynamic analysis showed a spontaneous adsorption process as negative values of ∆Go (-1.269 to -5.530) were obtained at all temperatures. The positive enthalpy change ∆Ho, 18.00, 20.46 and 23.45 kJ mol-1 for UPPAC, PPAC and CAC indicated an endothermic process. A highly disordered process was indicated by the positive entropy change ∆So