The utilization of African mesquite (Prosopis africana) as potential feedstuff for monogastric animals: A review

The keen competition between the human populace and livestock industry for grains as well as the problem of grain scarcity because of the decline in production has led to the search for unconventional feedstuffs. In light of this challenge, this paper presents a review of research work on the utilization of African mesquite, a potential non-conventional feed resource (NCFR) for animal feeding. Utilization of non-conventional feedstuff is one way of achieving sustainable livestock production, to cushion the effect of shortages in animal feedstuff and thereby ensuring a level of nutritional security. The proximate composition, as well as the successful inclusion of the pulp and the processed seed meal of African mesquite in animal diets, have been reported by some researchers. The proximate composition of the seed; crude protein for raw seeds is in the range of 20.50 to 27.67% while that of the processed seeds is from 20.54 to 23.60 %. Crude fibre is within the range of 6.90 to 12.10% and 3.03 to 6.51% for raw and processed seeds, respectively. Ether extract value for raw seeds is between 4.56 and 6.46% whereas the processed seeds range from 3.60 to 12.93%. Ash value is from 4.04 to 6.05% and 4.40 to 5.67% for raw and processed seeds, respectively. The crude protein for the pulp is between 10.00 to 13.83% and for crude fibre ranged from 17.36 to 23.00%. The ether extract value ranged from 1.35 to 3.30% and the ash content of the pulp is from 3.00 to 6.28%

Phase evolution of vanadium oxides obtained through temperature programmed calcinations of ammonium vanadate in hydrogen atmosphere and their humidity sensing properties

The possibility of obtaining vanadium dioxide (VO2) [wherein the vanadium ionic state is 4þ] from a precursor of ammonium metavanadate (NH4VO3) bearing the ion V5þ is investigated. The reduction is carried out by calcining the NH4VO3 powders in similar concentrations of H2 flow at varying temperatures. The resulting powders have been studied by several techniques including XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM, BET and DSC. It is found that remnants of bright yellow V5þ still exist up to calcination temperatures of 100 C after which the sky-blue VO2 dominates at calcination temperatures of 150 C e250 C. There is a population surge of metastable dark-blue V6O13 (where V is in between V4þ and V5þ ionic states) between 250 C and 300 C. However above 350 C the material reverts to the stable V5þ in the yellow-orange V2O5. XPS/EDS and VSM confirm the order of appearance to be VO2(150 C) / V6O13(200 C) / V2O5 (350 C).India-Brazil-South Africa trilateral cooperation under the National Research Foundation (NRF) grant number HGER24X.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/matchemphyshb201