Optimization of canning process conditions for fermented African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) seeds in three different media

 Victor N. Enujiugha1, Charles T. Akanbi2(1. Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria;2. Department of Food Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria) Abstract: The thermal processing variables for starter culture fermented African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) seed product ugba in three media (brine, refined groundnut oil and tomato sauce) and at three temperatures (110℃, 116℃ and 121℃) were investigated.  Thermal inactivation studies using Bacillus stearothermophilus 1518 spores showed that the z-values for the thermal processing were 10.5℃, 12.5℃ and 11.0℃ for brine-, oil- and sauce-canned samples, respectively.  At 121℃ processing temperature, the D values of 2.2 min (brine), 3.5 min (oil) and 3.2 min (sauce) would give 5D process times of 11.0, 17.5 and 16.0 min, respectively, as the targeted F values, which are lower than the experimental F values obtained for the three media.  Heat penetration studies showed that process times according to general method were in the range 39.3–42.7 min at 121℃, 45.5–49.4 min at 116℃, and 51.4–57.2 min at 110℃.  Brine-canned samples had the shortest process times at 121℃.  The process times by the general method were higher than those by the formula method.  The heating rate index fh was lower in the sauce-canned samples than that in the other samples, especially at 121℃ also higher sterilization temperatures resulted in lower fh values for all the media employed in the canning process.  This was attributed to an increase in sterilization value due to faster heat penetration.Keywords: Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth, fermented product, canning process, Bacillus stearothermophilus spores, processing variables Citation: Victor N. Enujiugha, Charles T. Akanbi.  Optimization of canning process conditions for fermented African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) seeds in three different media.  Agric Eng Int: CIGR Journal, 2010, 12(2): 95-103. &nbsp

E-COMMERCE ADOPTION AND SMALL MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIA

Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce can be regarded as the utilization of electronic systems such as the internet and other computer networks to aid the sharing of business information among trading partners, coordination and implementation of business transactions. Existing studies in Nigeria concentrated on factors that limit Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in adopting e-commerce technology and most of these studies were examined from consumers perspectives, however, little or no study have examined the impact of e-commerce adoption on the performances of SMEs. This paper employed the use of a quantitative research approach to analyse the behavior, experience, perspective of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises operators towards electronic commerce adoption in Nigeria. Based on the quantitative approach imbibed in this study, questionnaire was used to capture data that examined the objectives of the paper. The questionnaire was distributed both manually and electronically to total sample of over 250 SMEs. Data collected were analysed using descriptive analysis. The study showed that e-commerce has potentials to improve the performance of SMEs operators if factors limiting the adoption of e-commerce like security issues, under developed infrastructures, poor delivery logistics and poor courier systems, infrastructure facilities, incompatibility of business with e-commerce etc. The paper recommended improved infrastructural facilities and better strategies that will improve consumers and business technological knowledge and ensure favourable environment for e-commerce adoption. JEL: O33, M113, M31  Article visualizations

Investigation into the Behaviour of Polymer-Aggregate Concrete under Compressive Loading Condition

The problem of Housing deficit has been a major problem in Nigeria owing to the perennial hike in prices of building materials in which cement, sand and granite form the nucleus of the materials in the built industry; hence the need to research into local available materials that could replace the conventional materials used in concrete production. This paper investigated the behaviour of a polymer concretes using Reprocessed Pure Water Sachet (PWS) as binder, laterite and clay as aggregates in separate mixtures with polymer for possible replacement of conventional cement concrete in some areas of application. The polymer aggregate concretes were prepared by mixing Reprocessed PWS with laterite and clay differently in different polymer-aggregate percentage replacements by volume (50%-50%, 60%-40%, 70%-30%, and 80%-20%) after sieve analysis had been carried out on aggregate samples. Compressive strength test was carried out on all samples after 28 days of air drying. It was discovered that polymer aggregate concrete compresses under a small applied load ranging from an average of 1.13KN to 1.88KN; and the loss in weight/height was alarming as the polymer (Reprocessed PWS) content in the concrete mix increases. It was also discovered that, the more the polymer content the lower the compressive strength in both cases, that is, laterite and clay aggregates but higher values were recorded in laterite but still a far cry from average compressive strength of reinforced concrete. The compressive strength ranged from 3.0N/mm2-1.0N/mm2 (50%-50% to 80%-20%) for laterite aggregate and 1.0N/mm2-0.5N/mm2 for clay aggregate. However, it was observed that polymer aggregate concretes behaved in such a manner that, under compression process, the samples didn’t break as always in the case of conventional cement concrete but a loss in weight and height were recorded owing to solvent oozing out of samples under compression process. Keywords: Polymer Concrete (PC), Pure Water Sachet (PWS), Polymer-Aggregate, Sieve analysis, Compressive Strength

Investigation into Strength Properties of Polymer-Sand Aggregate Concrete

Polymer concrete (PC) is a composite material formed by combining mineral aggregates such as sand or gravel with a monomer. This study investigated the strength properties of a polymer concrete using reprocessed Pure Water Sachet (PWS) as a binder and sharp sand as aggregate for possible replacement for conventional cement concrete in some areas of application. The polymer sand aggregate concrete was prepared by mixing reprocessed PWS with sand in different polymer-aggregate percentage replacements by volume (50%-50%, 60%-40%, 70%-30%, and 80%-20%) after sieve analysis had been carried out on the sand while the control specimen, that is, conventional cement concrete was prepared from a mix ratio of 1:2:4. Compressive strength test was carried out on all samples after 28 days curing in air and water for both polymer aggregate concrete and conventional cement concrete respectively. It was discovered that, the more the polymer (reprocessed PWS) content the lower the compressive strength. The compressive strength ranged from 2.0N/mm2-0.5N/mm2 (50%-50% to 80%-20%) at an average of 1.2N/mm2; but very low compared to conventional cement concrete strength as specified in BS 8110 1-1997. However, modifying cement formulations with polymers provides many important properties that make a variety of applications possible, including concrete patch and repair, decorative cement overlays, ceramic tile adhesives, and many others. Keywords: Polymer Concrete (PC), Pure Water Sachet (PWS), Polymer-Aggregate, Sieve analysis, Compressive Strength

Rain Induced Cross Polarization on Satellite Communication in Nigeria

Microwave systems performance on satellite communication link operating above 10 GHz is increasingly degraded by rain when designing telecommunication systems. Cross polarization is one of the major source of signal degradation that affectthe frequency reuse when employed to boost capacity of the channel. The effect of cross-polarization in thirty-seven (37) stations in Nigeria were carried out using 10 years data obtained from Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) at the look angle from Nigeria Communication Satellite (NigComSat). International Telecommunication Union-Recommendation (ITU-R) model was used to for this study. The stations were grouped into six geopolitical zones in Nigeria which are Southwest (SW), Southeast (SE), South-south (SS), Northcentral (NC), Northwest (NW) and Northeast (NE). The results reveal that cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) become very poor as frequency (at Ku-band, Ka-band, V-band) increases especially at lower percentage of time (such as 0.001%, and 0.01%) unavailability. Hence XPD, at all frequencies is poorer in the southern part of Nigeria SE, SS and SW due to high rainfall rate. The results also show that only Northern part of the country will experience no interference at 0.01% as XPD is over 30 dB ITU-R base line for Ku-band transmission. However, for Ka-band and V-band at 0.001% and 0.01% unavailability of time interference will occur in all stations in Nigeria, but at 0.1% and 1% XPD is over 30 dB for all stations. This study will help in the adequate planning and designing of satellite telecommunication expansion in all the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria

Colour and Fatty Acids Analysis of Fermented and Canned African Oil Bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) Seeds

The variations in the colour and fatty acid profiles as influenced by the processing steps and changes in canning media during thermal processing of fermented African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) seeds were investigated. The seed cotyledons were prepared as slices and fermented at 30oC for 72 h. The fermented product was then filled into cans containing the selected media and processed using conventional canning procedures. Cooking and canning steps slightly darkened the light brown colour of the cotyledons. However, overall, thermal processing did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect the colour profile of the fermented seed product ‘ugba’ as shown from a*/b* ratios, hue and chroma values. Although fermentation significantly (p > 0.05) affected the composition and concentrations of fatty acids in the seed oil, the effect of canning of the fermented seed product in three different media (tomato sauce, refined groundnut oil and brine solution) on the fatty acid profiles of the seed oil was not significant (p > 0.05). Linoleic acid, which was the major fatty acid in the raw seed oil (67.20 wt.-% of total fatty acids), increased significantly during fermentation, but further thermal processing in lacquered cans did not affect the fatty acids profile. Keywords: Oil bean seed; fermented product; thermal processing; colour; fatty acid

Development of a Machine for Expressing Vernonia amygdalina Leaf Juice

Vernonia amygdalina leaf juice is known for its nutritive value and as food supplement. There is therefore, a need for a simple processing device for the leaf juice expression. This study developed a machine for producing contamination-free V. amygdalina leaf juice. The design of the machine was based on the principle of a pressure deferential applied to the incoming leaf mash compared with that applied to the discharged material. Macerated leaves were compressed through a tapered screw conveyor; whose shaft terminates as a rising but short conical kink. The maximum juice yield of 41.39% was expressed from the leaf mash at pressing pressure and residence time of 6.09 MPa and 11 min, respectively. The throughput of the machine was 9.60 kg/h and the juice extraction rate was 1.86/h at leaf to water ratio of 1: 0.8. The maximum juice expression efficiency was 15.54% at 1: 1.2 leaf to water ratio, 60 rpm constant rotational motor speed and 11.99 kg/h feeding rate. Approximately 26.38% of the inherent moisture content of the leaf was expressed by the machine. It is expected that the machine may be used to express juice from other plant leaves having comparative physical properties. The machine therefore provides a viable technique for mechanical expression of good quality V. amygdalina leaf juice.