The preservative potentials of sweet orange seed oil on leather products in Nigeria

Orange seed oil was extracted using the steam distillation method. The fungi isolated from the leather samples were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Paecilomyces sp., Penicillium sp., Rhizopus nigricans and Alternaria sp. However, the fungal species vary from person toperson. The orange seed oil was active against Paecilomyces sp., Penicillium sp. and Rhizopus nigricans at a minimum concentration of 2.0, 3.0 and 3.0%, respectively, whereas the other isolates were inhibited at higher concentrations. There was considerable reduction of the mycelia growth when3% oil extract was introduced into the medium as against growth on only Czapek’s Agar medium. There was no inhibition against Alternaria sp

Zinā in the Criminal Legislation Act (1999-2000): An Evaluation of the Implication for Muslim Women\u27s Right in Nigeria

The research engages in an exploration of human rights in Islam. Human rights issues are then contrasted with international law positions. The data gotten is then used for investigating women’s human rights issues in Shariʾa penal tradition regarding zinā (adultery) in Nigeria. The re-emergence of Sharia penal codes adopted by 12 Northern states in Nigeria in 1999 as an operative Islamic law has sparked concerns about rulings amounting to stoning to death in several cases of zinā. These events raised concerns about Shariʾa penal traditions’ legality and relationship with other legal traditions operational in Nigeria, a secular political space. (Chapter I) Another element presented is the discrepancy between the theoretical viewpoint on women’s human rights. How is this perspective applied to Muslim women\u27s jurisdictions? The research uses the example of Shariʾa court cases with regard to zinā in Nigeria to illustrate the branching between theory and practice of Shariʾa penal laws. Our essay shall consider Shariʾa court proceedings and rulings of Safiyatu Hussaini and Amina Lawal cases of zinā for our research.[1] We shall focus on some of the infringed women’s rights violations articulated in the primary court sources and other secondary sources. (Chapter II) Chapter III is dedicated to evaluating the development of the court cases and ruling from the zinā, as mentioned earlier in chapter II. The analysis provides an insight into areas of human rights violations, especially against women. It demonstrates that where women and men had been prosecuted for zinā, mostly women, have been charged and convicted of the crime. Therefore, illustrating the gender biases exhibited in the court convictions and procedural neglects against the women charged. However, the paper’s research will also proffer that women’s rights in Shariʾa are not completely at odds with principles of international human rights standards of the United Nations. The argument’s postulation stems from asserting that the Islamic penal tradition is not inflexible. Based on its primary sources the Shariʾa lends itself to various explications in jurisprudence (fiqh) to help circumvent issues bordering on abuse of women’s rights in Islam. The jurisprudence of the Maliki Shariʾa Courts of Appeal in zinā cases will help illustrate this fact. (Chapter III) The research concludes by addressing the possibility of discerning the reconciliation between international rights standards and Islamic women’s rights concerns. This thesis acknowledges that there are aspects of women\u27s violations present in zinā-related cases and establishes that there is room for reforms. However, in a pioneering manner, the essay considers a more exhaustive review of the zinā cases above to argue against the notion that it is impossible to attain any form of human rights or justice in Shariʾa courts for women. In order words, it challenges the proposition that Shariʾa penal laws are incompatible with international human rights. This research attempts to refute the position that Shariʾa penal codes are not dynamic. The Shariʾa Appeal Courts in Nigeria are saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding Shariʾa against a reductionist approach to a holistic form that is multi-valued and teleological rather than causal. Such a consideration bridges Shariʾa with regards to women\u27s rights issues in zinā cases with the spirit of international set norms for all human rights. (Chapter IV) This thesis proposes that the Shariʾa Courts of Appeal ruling could be set as a benchmark forum for further evaluative projects of the Shariʾa criminal and penal codes procedures. Adhering to such reforms will be following the legacy of the Shariʾa committee of 1958-1962 set at bridging Shariʾa law in the penal code of 1960 with human rights concerns. The 1999 Shariʾa committee failed to meet this salient mark as discussed in chapter I. The paper ends on a note of suggestions for some considerations for Shariʾa criminal and penal reforms at ordering and safeguarding women’s rights in Nigeria.[2] [1] In 2002, Safiya Hussaini was sentenced to death by rajm under the new Shariʾa criminal codes in Sokoto. Amina Lawal was sentenced to be stoned to death for zinā in 2002. These two cases gained international recognition. [2] Before 1960 (Nigeria’s independence), Shariʾa law was fully applied in the Sokoto caliphate, northern Nigeria. It was affected by colonial rule. Shariʾa penal codes were revoked at the dawn of Nigeria’s independence in 1960. From then on, Islamic sharia law was limited to the law of family relations and personal rank. The settlement in 1960 brought these changes: The Northern courts in which her qadis (judges) administered Islamic law witnessed changes in the court systems and their judges become more Western-trained and less traditionally Muslim. In response to this trend, the program of “implementation of Shariʾa” started in 1999 in 12 Northern states. It was an attempt at restoring the status quo ante of Shariʾa before 1960

Antimicrobial screening of Terminalia avicennoides and Acalypha wilkesiana

The antimicrobial activities of extracts of Terminalia avicennoides (Mexican tea) and Acalypha wilkesiana (copper leaf) were screened against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Salmonella typhi, Staphyloccus aureus and Candida albicans. The extracts showed a better activity against all organisms but T. avicennoides showed high activity against C. albicans. The antimicrobial activities for both plant extracts were more pronounced at a high concentration than at low concentration of the extracts. The extracts of the two plants can be used in the treatment of diseases where the test organisms are implicated.Keywords: Antimicrobial activities, Terminalia avicennoides, Acalypha wilkesian

Utilization of Nkpuma-Akpatakpa clay in ceramics: characterization and microstructural studies

Nkpuma – Akpatakpa clay was analysed for its ceramics suitability. Chemical, mechanical and spectral characterization of the clay was carried out to obtain more information from this clay found in commercial quantity at Ebonyi State Nigeria. The XRD analysis showed that the principal minerals in the clay are quartz, qandilite, aragonite, Muscovite and anatase. FTIR showed the stretching vibrations for Si – O at 685.8cm –1 showing the presence of Quartz. The frequency at 1431cm-1 is due to (CO3)2- stretching mode vibration or C – O stretching of Aragonite and the band at 2467.6 is due to OH- stretching. Bands observed at 984.7 and 987.7cm –1 correspond to Al – O bending vibrations which suggest the presence of muscovite in the clay and SEM studies were also carried out and reported. Porosity of the clay was 0.88% considered too small for refractory, thermal insulation and other high porosity desired ceramics applications. Value obtained for Fe2O3 was > 1.7% which accounted for why the clay did not fire white. The values for M.O.R was >40KgF/cm2. The refractoriness was <13400C. Chemical characterization showed the presence of fluxing oxides at elevated levels which are responsible for the poor refractoriness and limits the utilization of the clay to low or mid-temperature ceramics products.Keywords: Nkpuma-Akpatakpa clay, Ceramics, Characterization, Qandilite, FTIR, Bulk densit

Effect of Iodide Ions on the Inhibitive Performance of O-, M-, P-Nitroaniline on Mild Steel in Hydrochloric Acid Solution

The effect of iodide ions on the inhibitive performance of ortho, meta and para nitro aniline in 1M HCl for mild steel has been studied using weight loss method (gravimetric) measurements at 303 and 333K. Results obtained show that the presence of the nitro aniline compounds in 1M HCl solution inhibits the corrosion process of mild steel. Its adsorption was found to be physical, exothermic and spontaneous as confirmed by values of activation energy and free energy of adsorption (not up to −20 kJ mol−1 for free energy of adsorption and below 80 kJ mol−1 for activation energy) and also fitted the Langmuir adsorption model. Addition of iodide ions synergistically increased the inhibition efficiency of the nitro aniline compounds. Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR) approach was used on a composite index of some quantum chemical parameters. The results showed that the Inhibition Efficiency was closely related to some of the quantum chemical parameters

Comparative yield analysis of two varieties of Phaseolus vulgaris L. in Rhizobium inoculated post-solarized soil

To exploit the maximum benefits of an agronomical technique, it is imperative to ascertain with some degree of certainty how varieties of plant will respond to its application. Consequently, the influence of Rhizobium inoculation on the yield of two varieties of P.vulgaris (white and brown) in post-solarized soil were investigated by subjecting soil to these treatments: unsolarized uninoculated (control), unsolarized inoculated, solarized uninoculated and solarized inoculated with Rhizobium. Thereafter planting of viable seeds of P. vulgaris commenced 2 weeks after treatments and observed for a period of 4 months to determine the effect of treatments on germination, plant heights, root lengths, fresh weights, nodule and pod numbers as well as pod lengths in both varieties. Solarization temperature ranged between 29.0 and 53.0 0C. Treatments had no significant effects on plant germination in the two varieties. However, Fresh weights, nodule and pod numbers differ significantly with treatment: solarized inoculated ˃ unsolarized inoculated ˃ unsolarized uninoculated ˃ solarized uninoculated in both varieties (P ˂ 0.05). The longest pod lengths (11.5 and 11.0 cm) and plant heights (142.5 and 141.7cm) were recorded in solarized inoculated, while the shortest pod lengths (8.0 and 7.5 cm) and heights (124.0 and 123.3 cm) in solarized uninoculated soils for white and brown varieties respectively. Solarized uninoculated soils also recorded the shortest root lengths. While response of the two varieties of P. vulgaris to each of the treatments did not differ significantly (P ˂ 0.05), their yield were enhanced by Rhizobium inoculation in the post-solarized soil

Abstraction and regeneration potential of temperature-enhanced rice husk montmorillonite combo for oil spill

Chemical modification of montmorillonite though popular may be expensive and environmentally noxious and can result in secondary contamination. Therefore, there is a need for eco-friendly and efficient treatment techniques. The use of thermally enhanced rice husk montmorillonite combo (TRMC) for aqueous crude oil pollution was evaluated. The physical characterization of the sorbate revealed a light crude oil. Scanning electron microscopy of TRMC and untreated montmorillonite (UM) showed efficient utilization of the pores for crude oil sequestration. Temperatures, pH, initial oil concentration, dosage of sorbent, and time were found to be significant in the batch sorption investigation. The heterogeneous surface nature of TRMC was elucidated by the Freundlich and Scatchard model analyses. The Langmuir monolayer maximum sorption capacity was 5.8 and 9.7 g/g for UM and TRMC respectively and the latter was found to be higher than most reported sorbents. The pseudo-first-order model gave better fit than pseudo-second-order, the Bangham, and the Elovich models in kinetics based on regression and chi-square analysis. Thermodynamics showed a spontaneous, feasible, endothermic, and physical sorption processes. Regeneration and reusability studies using n-hexane as eluent showed TRMC as suitable, environmental friendly sorbents for oil spill remediation.http://link.springer.com/journal/113562019-12-01hj2018Chemistr

Calcined Corncob-Kaolinite Combo as New Sorbent for Sequestration of Toxic Metal Ions From Polluted Aqua Media and Desorption

This study investigated a new area of improving the adsorption capacity of clay using corn cob as an alternative means of clay modification to the more expensive and complicated chemical treatment techniques. Kaolinite Clay (KC), Calcined corncob-kaolinite Combo (CCKC), and Corncob (CC) adsorbents were utilized. The adsorbents were characterized by Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analyzer. Batch adsorption methodology was used to investigate the effect of pH, initial metal concentration, adsorbent dose, and contact time on adsorption of Pb (II) and Cd (II). A slight increase in BET surface area of 29.31 m2/g for CCKC from 14.12 m2/g for raw KC was achieved. The trend of metal adsorption on the adsorbents was in the order CC>CCKC>KC. The Langmuir isotherm was found to present the best fit for the unmodified adsorbents while the Freundlich was applicable for CCKC indicating multilayer heterogeneous surface. The pseudo second order kinetic model was found to be suitable in the kinetic analysis. Thermodynamic studies revealed a spontaneous physical adsorption process of metal ions on CCKC. The combo adsorbent showed highest percentage desorption (>70%) of Cd and Pb ions in both acid and basic media compared to the other adsorbents. The results of the study established the efficiency of calcined corn cob kaolinite combo as suitable adsorbent for metal ions

Adsorption mechanism and modeling of radionuclides and heavy metals onto ZnO nanoparticles: a review

Abstract The contamination of environmental waters with heavy metals and radionuclides is increasing because of rapid industrial and population growth. The removal of these contaminants from water via adsorption onto metal nanoparticles is an efficient and promising technique to abate the toxic effects associated with these pollutants. Among metal nanoparticle adsorbents, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) have received tremendous attention owing to their biocompatibility, affordability, long-term stability, surface characteristics, nontoxicity, and powerful antibacterial activity against microbes found in water. In this review, we considered the adsorption of heavy metals and radionuclides onto ZnONPs. We examined the isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic modeling of the process as well as the adsorption mechanism to provide significant insights into the interactions between the pollutants and the nanoparticles. The ZnONPs with surface areas (3.93 to 58.0 m2/g) synthesized by different methods exhibited different adsorption capacities (0.30 to 1500 mg/g) for the pollutants. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were most suitable for the adsorption process. The Langmuir separation factor indicated favorable adsorption of all the pollutants on ZnONPs. The pseudo-second-order kinetics presented the best for the adsorption of the adsorbates with regression values in the range of 0.986–1.000. Spontaneous adsorption was obtained in most of the studies involving endothermic and exothermic processes. The complexation, precipitation, ion exchange, and electrostatic interactions are the probable mechanisms in the adsorption onto ZnONPs with a predominance of complexation. The desorption process, reusability of ZnONPs as well as direction for future investigations were also presented

Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potentials of some Indigenous Plants in Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

Twenty four ethanol leaf and stem bark extracts of 17 indigenous plants were examined for their phytochemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Phytochemical compositions were analysed with GC-MS while antimicrobial activities on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were investigated by the agar well diffusion method. The antioxidant activities were determined with Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenolic content (TPC) and 2, 2,-dihenyl-1-picryhydazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. The antibacterial activity was more towards the gram positive S. aureus than the gram negative P. aeruginosa for all the plant extracts.  A wide range of phenolic concentrations among the aqueous plant extracts which varied from 28.04 to 500.26mg GAE per gram were observed.  Inhibition percentages of DPPH ranged from 19.13 to 95.77% showing effectiveness in radical scavenging. GC-MS characterization of the plant extracts showed a total of 18 components including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, terpenoids, steroids and glycosides. Irvingia gabonensis leaf (IGL) extract and Tamarind stem bark (TSB) exhibited excellent ferric reducing abilities of 2.11 and 1.56 respectively while Voucanga Africana leaf (VCA) extract indicated the lowest ferric reducing power of 0.50. Extracts of IGL and TSB exhibited the highest antioxidant capacities and therefore could be the main sources of natural antioxidant. An important relationship between total phenolic content was observed showing that the major contributor to the antioxidant properties were phenolic compounds