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Assessment of Cassava Processing Techniques on the Livelihood of Agro-Forestry Farmers in Edo State, Nigeria
Get PDFPost harvest losses resulting from inadequate processing have been one
of the problems affecting farmers\u2019 income. This study was carried
out to examine the contribution of cassava processing techniques on the
livelihood of agroforestry farmers in Edo state. A purposive sampling
technique was used to select 125 respondents which served as sample
size for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and
inferential statistics. The results showed that 90.4% were aware of the
cassava processing techniques such as the peeling, slicing, grating,
sieving and frying machines. Furthermore, majority of the farmers
agreed that the processing techniques were effectively in increasing
productivity and 45.6% of the farmers had an increase in their annual
income of up to \u20a6200,000. All the farmers attested that their
income increased thus resulting in an increase in their livelihood.
Chi-square results (p > 0.05) revealed that there was no significant
relationship between the personal characteristics of the farmers and
the constraints faced in the utilization of the technique. Results of
correlation showed that there was a significant relationship between
the processing techniques and the constraints faced in the utilization
of techniques. Thus, it was recommended thatthe technologies be made
simple for effective utilization in order to increase productivity
Mathematical Modeling of Effect of Pumping Rate on Contaminant Transport in Riverbank Filtration System
Get PDFRiverbank filtration (RBF) is a natural technology that is used for
river water treatment. This research seeks to investigate the effect of
pumping rate on the transport of colloids in RBF. However, this work
considered Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) as a nutrient for bacteria.
The mathematical model consists of groundwater flow equation and
colloids concentration equations. The equations were solved
analytically using parameter expanding method and Eigen function
expansion techniques. The results obtained are presented graphically
and discussed. It was observed that increase in pumping rate value
enhance both the hydraulic head and concentration of colloids which
slightly reduces the quality of pumped water from RBF
Characterization of Sugarcane Bagasse and Moringa Oleifera as Potential Adsorbent for the Treatment of Wastewater containing Heavy Metals
No full textActivated carbon from sugarcane bagasse and moringa oleifera were
prepared and their textural properties were evaluated using Fourier
transform infra-red (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The
chemical composition of sugarcane bagasse and moringa oleifera was
determine with the aid of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) while the surface
area, micropore volume and total pore volume were estimated with the
aid of structural characterization (SCAC) software using the iodine
value and methylene blue number as the input parameters. The calculated
iodine value and methylene blue value of sugarcane bagasse was
24.56mg/g and 2.27g/100g while for moringa oleifera, it was 29.48mg/g
and 3.02g/100g. Based on these values, the surface area and total pore
volume of sugarcane bagasse was estimated as 234m2/g and 0.14cm3/g, for
moringa oleifera it was 277.4m2/g and 0.21cm3/g. Results of the
textural analysis revealed the presence of O-H stretching (which is the
site for adsorption) in both the sugarcane bagasse and moringa
oleifera. In addition, significant morphological differences were
observed between the sugarcane bagasse and moringa oleifera with
moringa oleifera exhibiting better irregular and porous surface
characteristics of different lamellae sizes
Effects of Information and Communication Technology Platforms on University Students Academic Performance
No full textThis study investigated the effects of social media and its influence
on the academic performance of the students in the National Open
University (NOUN), Benin Study Center using a self-developed structured
questionnaire called \u201cSocial Media and Academic Performance of
Students Questionnaire (SMAAPOS)\u201d with 395 student respondents.
Data obtained shows that 597 (46%) of the participants\u2019 responded
Strongly Agree that students addictiveness to social network has a
significant influence on their academic performance, while 312 (24%)
Agree, 262 (20%) Disagree, and 125 (10%) Strongly Disagree, and that
there is a significant influence on student\u2019s usages of social
media network by age
Bioactive Compounds in Herbal Bitter Drinks and Effects on selected Hepatic Biomarkers in Albino Wister Rats in Lagos, Nigeria
No full textRecently in Nigeria, the use of natural products described as herbal
bitter drinks presumed to cure all except death has been on the
increase. This paper therefore evaluates the bioactive compounds of
three herbal drinks and their concomitant effects on selected hepatic
biomarkers in albino Wister rats in Lagos, Nigeria using standard
methods. A total of 31 bioactive compounds were positively identified
in the three bitter drinks analyzed, Out of which are: Yoyo (
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (6.8%), Coumaran (1.7%), Octamethyl
cyclotetrasiloxane ( 4.5%), Squalene(3.2%) -
2,4-Dihydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furan-3-one(1.7%),3,3-Dimethyl-2butanol(1.1%),2-Hydroxy-2-
cyclopenten-1-one (0.7%)). Swedish (Camphor (82.9%), Cinnamic acid
(0.2%)). Living (5-Hydroxymethylfurfural 57.4%), Coumaran (1.6%), 3,
4-dihydroxy-3-cyclobutene-1, 2-dione (0.3%). The three bitters had no
common bioactive compound between them. Five common bioactive compounds
were detected present in both Living and Yoyo bitters. Only 11 (about
35%) of the 31 compounds identified have established and documented
pharmacological use. Some of the bioactive components in each of the
bitters support the advertised usage of the formulations. The three
bitters orally administered to rats from data gathered were not
dangerous to the liver over the 40day period of the experiment
Photocatalytic Degradation of 4-Chlorophenol by Titanium Dioxide: Role of Annealing Temperature and Morphology
No full textThis work investigates the degradation rate of 4-cholorophenol using
Titanium dioxide photocatalysts. Chlorophenols and their compounds are
a nuisance as they are recalcitrant to degradation in the environment.
Three morphologically different Titanium dioxide catalysts, A, B and C,
were immobilized on microscopic glass at a layer of 0.5 mg/cm2 and
annealed between 500-700\ub0C. The three different TiO2 powders were
characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-Ray Diffraction and
Brunauer Emmett Teller to determine their specific surface area,
crystalline and particle sizes. A four\u2013position photocatalytic
reactor illuminated by two Ultra violet lamps of wavelength range
320-400 nm and intensity I = 27.87 mW/m2 was used to degrade the
4-Chlorophenol in 2 hrs. Aliquots of the degraded 4- chlorophenol were
drawn every 30 minutes and analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy at
\u3bb=226 nm. The optimum annealing temperature of all TiO2 was found
to be 650\ub0C, with type B of hexagonal morphological structure and
particle size of 28\ub12nm having the highest 4-chlorophenol
degradation rate, of 71.21%
Household Energy Consumption in Nigeria: A Review on the Applicability of the Energy Ladder Model
No full textHousehold energy consumption dynamics in developing countries is often
conceptualized through the Energy ladder model and assumes that with
increasing income, householders will have a preference to cleaner
energy. This paper reviewed various energy sources for household
consumption and examines the implications of their dependence on
traditional energy sources as well as the energy ladder model as a
concept widely used by scholars in describing the role of income in
determining energy use and choices. It further explains the consumption
behaviour of households in relation to the major assumptions of the
model. The paper posits that the dependence on energy sources at the
lowest rung of the energy ladder by most households in Nigeria is
accentuated by rising poverty level consistent with the energy ladder
hypothesis but disagrees with the notion of complete fuel substitution
given that most households tend to have a mix of energy sources for
their activities It recommends that government and other stakeholders
should formulate policies that will foster the use of modern energy
sources with a view to mitigating the environmental and health
externalities of traditional energy use as well as improving the
quality of human lives
Terpene Rich Essential Oil of Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss as Efficient Alternative to Synthetic Chemicals in Management of Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius
No full textThe application of plant-derived essential oils has been revealed to
proficiently insect pest control agents, meaningfully decreasing the
side-effects caused by chemical insecticides. In the present study, the
toxicity of essential oil isolated from Dracocephalum kotschyi has been
assessed against cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius) as
one of the most damaging and cosmopolitan insect pest of stored beans.
The other objective of current study was to identify the chemical
composition of D. kotschyi essential oil as one of the medicinal plants
endemic to Iran. Bioassays results revealed sound fumigant toxicity of
essential oil, in which a concentration of 16.41 \u3bcl/l produced up
to 50% insect mortality after 72 h. Increases in concentrations of the
essential oil and exposure times augmented the insect susceptibility so
that the highest mortality (96.25%) was achieved at a highest tested
concentration (44.12 \u3bcl/l) after 72 h. A concentration of 44.12
\u3bcl/l was enough to achieve the 50% mortality of tested insects
within 10.761 h. The 24 h-LC50 value of essential oil was 24.947
\u3bcl/l which decreased to 17.794 \u3bcl/l after 72 h. Gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the essential oil
exposed terpenes including geranyl acetate, citral, z-citral, methyl
geranate, limonene, \u3b1-pinene and \u3b1-campholenal were the main
components. Based on the results of present study, the terpene rich
essential oil of D. kotschyi may be considered as promising alternative
to the synthetic chemicals for C. maculatus management
Contamination and Pollution Studies of Heavy Metals in Sand Filter Media Waste Dumpsite in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
No full textThe contamination and pollution level of five Heavy Metals in spent
Sand Filter Media [SFM] waste dumpsite was investigated to ascertain
the contamination, pollution and possible migration in that
environment. Samples were collected at the surface, 0.1m depth and 100m
away from the dumpsite and analysed using Flame Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer (FAAS) for concentration of Cr, Fe, Mn. Ni and Pb
ions. Geochemical Pollution Indices were used to evaluate the
contamination and pollution level of the HMs comparatively using the
world shale average values and the experimental control value. Results
obtained showed highest concentration of 12.50mg/kg for Fe and lowest
detectable concentration of 0.2mg/kg for Ni at the top of the dumpsite.
All five heavy metals had low concentrations compared to WHO and
national standards for soil quality both at the top and 0.1m depth of
the dumpsite. Percentage concentrations of the heavy metals at the top
showed 78.81, 12.04, 7.88, 1.26% in the order Fe >>> Cr >
Mn > Ni > Pb with the values of Ni and Cr at 0.1m depth slightly
higher indicating some level of migration. Contamination Factor Cf,
depicts very severe contamination to slight pollution at the top with
minimum of 0.714 and maximum of 1.471. Degree of Contamination Cd, of
<8 and Modified Degree of Contamination mCd <1.5 showed low
contamination. The pollution load index, PLI values of < 50 depicts
that no drastic rectification measure was needed which concludes that
the SFM dumpsite was contaminated but technically not polluted
Profitability, Marketing Efficiency and Value Addition of Timber Industry in Ife East Local Government of Osun State, Nigeria
No full textThe study focused on marketing and value of additions of timber in Ife
East Local Government, Osun state Nigeria. Specifically, the study
examined the market efficiency, determined the profitability of the
timber business, examine the level of value addition and the
constraints facing the timber industry. Data were collected with the
use of primary and secondary data. Primary data needed for the study
were generated from structured questionnaire. Fifteen sawmills were
randomly selected and one hundred and fifty questionnaires were
distributed to the timber marketer and furniture m firm. One hundred
and forty eight were retrieved. The data collected were analyzed using
descriptive and budgetary analyses. The result showed that males had
the highest percentage (89.2%). Majority of the respondents were within
the age range of 40 -50 years (83.8%) and most were married (81.8%) it
was further revealed that (67.6%) had regular supply of their product
and the means of transportation was lorry (44.6%). The study also
revealed that benches with 42% added more value addition to the
industry. It showed that the year 2013 had the highest efficiency with
2.6. The budgetary analysis showed that the average revenue for the
industry for the year 2012-2018 ranged between N2, 285,108.45,
889,107.12. It also revealed that the total profit for the timber
ranged between 7, 340, 54.59 and 2,304,897.47.government policy,
inadequate facilities in the market, inadequate facilities in the
market, inadequate credit facilities, inadequate power supply and high
cost of transportation were some of the constraint faced by the timber
industry in Ife East Local Government