Evaluation of physico-chemical properties of re-refined lubricating oils obtained from fabricated packed bed reactor

This study aimed at fabricating a packed bed reactor (PBR) and evaluating its performance on improving physico-chemical properties of used lubricating oils. The sorbent used was a composite of bentonite, limestone, diatomite, quartz, and wood charcoal in the same ratio by mass. Samples of used lubricating oils from two brands (Mobil Super SAE 20W-50 and Total Quartz 5000 SAE 20W-50) were run through the fabricated PBR. The mean values of the analyzed physico-chemical parameters (kinematic viscosity, viscosity index, flash point, pour point, acid number, base number, iodine value, ash content, density, and refractive index) of the exuded (treated) oils were compared with those of used and virgin oils of the same brand. Apart from the iodine value, the mean values obtained for the treated oil samples are close to those of virgin oil samples. Thet-test results indicated that most of the parameters showed significant difference between their mean values in the used oils indicating distinct properties and hence, good treatment effects, while a good number showed no significant difference between their mean values in the treated Mobil and treated Total oils, indicating similar properties and that the treatment had similar effects on the two brands of oils. Also, various results of cross plots hadR 2 values greater than 0.96, indicating high linear relationships of the impact of the treatment on the various oil samples. The overall results established the high effectiveness of the fabricated PBR for the treatment of used lubricating oil

Removal of metals from flat lubricating oils using a fabricated packed-bed reactor

Packed bed reactor (PBR) was fabricated and its performance in removing metals from used (flat) lubricating oils was evaluated. A blend of locally produced diatomaceous materials was employed as sorbent. Flat lubricating oils from two brands (Mobil Super SAE-20W-50 and Total Quartz 5000 SAE-20W-50) were run through the PBR. Concentrations of the analysed metals in the used and treated oils were measured using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and the results compared with those of unused (virgin) oils. Zinc, Mg, Ca, Na and K were detected in virgin oils; while all the analysed metals were detected in the treated and used oils but are of higher concentrations in the used oils. Cross plots have R2 values > 0.96, indicating high linear relationships of the impact of the treatment on the used oils. T-test results indicated that most of the metals showed significant differences between the mean values of the treated and used oils, indicating good treatment effects; while most of them indicated no significant differences between the mean values of the brands of oils used, indicating similar treatment effects on the two brands of oils. These results confirmed the high efficacy of the fabricated PBR for the purpose of recycling used oils

Typhoid fever in children presenting to paediatric medical wards of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria: A 13-month review

Typhoid fever is a systemic infection caused by the Gram-negative bacilli Salmonellae, transmitted via the feaco-oral route. It commonly affects children, leading to complications and death if untreated. This is a reportof typhoid fever admissions as seen at ABU Teaching Hospital Zaria over a 13-month period. Objectives: To describe the clinical presentation and management outcomes of children admitted with typhoid fever during a13-month period.Materials and methods: A retrospective review of demographic, clinical presentation and treatment response of children managed for typhoid fever was conducted. Results were presented as means with standard deviation, proportions, tables, figures and Chisquares with p values. The prevalence of typhoid fever admissions was obtained over the period from2008-2011.Results: A total of 779 children were admitted from 1st January 2011 to 31st January 2012, out of which 39 (4.9%) had a diagnosis of typhoid fever. There was a significant difference in prevalence of typhoid fever admissions from 2008-2010 compared to 2011 (X2 = 5.6651; p <0.019). The mean age was 7.2 (SD ± 4.3) years and 71.8% resided in the sameneighbourhood. All the children had pre-admission antibiotics, while 93.3% had abdominal pain, 64.1% had diarrhoea, 89.7% had fever and 69% had hepatomegaly. Widal test and blood cultures were positive in 46% and 10.3% respectively. Poor treatment response led to antibiotic switch for 61.1% started on chloramphenicol. Bowel perforation occurred in four(10.3%) who had laparotomy but there was no mortality, and all were discharged after recovery.Conclusion: A surge was observed in typhoid fever admissions associatedwith widespread use of preadmission antibiotics. Low rates of pathogen isolation and unaffordable costs precluded appropriate antibiotic choice for many at admission, and led to poor treatment response. Public health education should emphasize water hygiene and judicious use of antibiotics.Key words: Typhoid fever; Enteric fever; Children; Hospital admission

Evolution of 5G Network: A Precursor towards the Realtime Implementation of VANET for Safety Applications in Nigeria

  A crucial requirement for the successful real-time design and deployment of Vehicular Adhoc Networks (VANET) is to ensure high speed data rates, low latency, information security, and a wide coverage area without sacrificing the required Quality of Service (QoS) in VANET. These requirements must be met for flawless communication on the VANET. This study examines the generational patterns in mobile wireless communication and looks into the possibilities of adopting fifth generation (5G) network technology for real-time communication of road abnormalities in VANET. The current paper addresses the second phase of a project that is now underway to develop real-time road anomaly detection, characterization, and communication systems for VANET. The major goal is to reduce the amount of traffic accidents on Nigerian roadways. It will also serve as a platform for the real-time deployment and testing of various road anomaly detection algorithms, as well as schemes for communicating such detected anomalies in the VANET.   &nbsp

Recent Advances in Solar Drying of Agricultural Produce in Nigeria: NSPRI Experience

Agricultural products are dried to enhance storage stability, in order to reduce post harvest losses, minimize packaging requirement and reduce transport weight. Crop drying through the sun is the most common practice in the country due to its no energy cost but often result in poor quality, unhygienic and contaminated products. This has been a major threat to food safety. Energy consumption and quality of dried products are critical parameters in the selection of drying process. An optimum drying system for the preparation of quality dehydrated products is supposed to be cost effective with less drying time and damage to the product. To reduce the energy utilization and operational cost as well to further produce high quality safe products, new trends in solar drying system were developed by the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) in order to proffer solutions to the threat in food safety as well as farmers and processors quest for drying with minimal energy cost.  The technologies include mobile solar tent dryers, green house solar tent dryers and parabolic solar tent dryers. These entire dryers have great scope for the production of quality dried products and powders. These advancements have taken the advantage of material selection, design calculations to improve on the technology in order to achieve quality output in terms of environmental parameters and product quality. The advancement has also taken care of times of low solar irradiance especially during the rainy season which is highly humid. The temperature range obtained from the mobile, green house and parabolic solar dryers are 20 – 59.5°C, 21.5 - 68°C, and 25-78°C respectively while their respective  average relative humidity are 71.64%, 60.21%, 49.77%. The ambient temperature range and relative humidity are 20 – 42.5°C and 74.88%. Experimental studies on the performance of the varied solar tent dryers were conducted using Chilli Pepper, Yam, Meat, Fish, Vegetables and plantain have been carried out the Beef meat, Chilli pepper and Telefeiria occidentalis vegetable were dried in the mobile solar tent dryer, greenhouse  solar dryer and parabolic solar dryer. The beef of 71.243% initial moisture content was dried to 12.15%, 12.01% and 10.09% in the aforementioned respective dryers within a period of 5 days. Also the chilli pepper of 89.40% initial moisture content was dried to 12%, 11.3% and 9.3% moisture content respectively in the dryers within a period of 8 days; while the Telefairia occidentalis vegetable of 11.0% initial moisture content was dried within a period of 5 hours to 6.0%, 5.5% and 4.0% moisture content

Effect of different storage conditions on analytical and sensory quality of thermally processed milk based germinated Foxtail millet porridge

Foxtail millet porridge was prepared using germinated grains and milk and was evaluated for its storage stability after thermal processing at Ultra High Temperatures (UHT) of 142 oC for 5 s and Retort processing temperatures of 121.5 oC for 15 min. Various physical, chemical and microbial changes of the porridge were studied for a storage period of 180 days at 25 ± 1 oC. Using consumer perception and survival analysis, the predicted shelf life of the UHT treated and retort processed foxtail millet porridge samples stored at 25 ± 1 oC was found to be 186 ± 9 days and 245 ± 15 days, respectively. Also, data from consumer liking, profiling, physical, chemical and microbial parameters showed significant changes (p < 0.05) in the thermally treated packaged porridge samples over time. As the consumer overall acceptability decreased, the detection of positive attributes (Thick and uniformly coloured texture and appearance; grainy mouth texture; caramel taste and aroma) in the porridge decreased, while the detection of negative attributes (Uneven, decoloured, and curdled texture and appearance; sticky mouth texture; cooked, sour and off smell; cooked, sour and off taste) increased. The present study could establish a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the storage induced properties of UHT and retort processed porridge samples. The analytical evaluation of foxtail millet porridge found that UHT treated porridge was better in quality, but consumers preferred retort processed porridge