Production of biodiesel from crude neem oil feedstock and its emissions from internal combustion engines

This study investigates biodiesel production using crude neem oil having high acid value, as a feedstock. The effects of some operating variables were ascertained and its combustion performance was assessed in an internal combustion engine. Due to its high acid value, the neem oil was processed via two step acid – base transesterification process. The first step reduced the acid level to <2 mgKOH/g while the second step involved direct conversion to fatty acid methyl ester using 1% NaOH as catalyst. The lowest viscosity value was used as a proxy measure to determine the extent of the reaction. The results reveal the optimum conditions for biodiesel production to be ratio 1:6 of oil to methanol and 1.5 h reaction time. The viscosity at this condition was 5.53 cSt. The same procedure was repeated for NaOCH3 catalyst concentrations of 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 1.25%. The lowest viscosity of 6.79 cSt was recorded at both 1 and 1.25% catalyst concentrations. The fuel properties of the biodiesel compared favorably with the recommendation by the American Standard Testing Method. The emissions of different blends showed that neem biodiesel has lower emissions of CO and NO than petrol diesel but higher NOX. Thus, neem oil as non-edible oil can be a good renewable raw material for biodiesel production.Key words: Neem, biodiesel, internal combustion, transesterification, free fatty acid

Reproductive Health Aspirations and Unmet Needs in Urban Slums in Ibadan and Kaduna, Nigeria: A Qualitative Exploration

Reproductive health issues of urban slum dwellers are among the most challenging in Africa. Studies have generally examined this issue across the rural-urban dichotomy, without specific focus on urban slum dwellers. Many of these studies are also mostly quantitative. We utilize the qualitative approach to fathom the aspirations and challenges of urban dwellers in the domain of reproductive health. The results confirm that they aspire for smaller-sized families and healthy sexual and reproductive lives but are constrained by religious and socio-cultural factors. Idioms associated with their aspiration and experiences were well documented. There is the need to intervene in order to improve the sexual health of urban dwellers

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab in adult patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with both hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Those trial participants with hypoxia (oxygen saturation <92% on air or requiring oxygen therapy) and evidence of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥75 mg/L) were eligible for random assignment in a 1:1 ratio to usual standard of care alone versus usual standard of care plus tocilizumab at a dose of 400 mg–800 mg (depending on weight) given intravenously. A second dose could be given 12–24 h later if the patient's condition had not improved. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between April 23, 2020, and Jan 24, 2021, 4116 adults of 21 550 patients enrolled into the RECOVERY trial were included in the assessment of tocilizumab, including 3385 (82%) patients receiving systemic corticosteroids. Overall, 621 (31%) of the 2022 patients allocated tocilizumab and 729 (35%) of the 2094 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·85; 95% CI 0·76–0·94; p=0·0028). Consistent results were seen in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including those receiving systemic corticosteroids. Patients allocated to tocilizumab were more likely to be discharged from hospital within 28 days (57% vs 50%; rate ratio 1·22; 1·12–1·33; p<0·0001). Among those not receiving invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, patients allocated tocilizumab were less likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (35% vs 42%; risk ratio 0·84; 95% CI 0·77–0·92; p<0·0001). Interpretation: In hospitalised COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, tocilizumab improved survival and other clinical outcomes. These benefits were seen regardless of the amount of respiratory support and were additional to the benefits of systemic corticosteroids. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Production of Highly Efficient Activated Carbons for Wastewater Treatment from Post-Consumer PET Plastic Bottle Waste

Chemical activated carbons (PET-H2SO4 and PET-KOH) were prepared from post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes using pyrolysis under moderate reaction temperatures by changing pyrolysis time and chemical activating agents. The produced carbons were characterized and tested in adsorption reactions of manganese, chromium, and cobalt ions in aqueous solutions. Results showed a high percentage removal of these inorganic ions from water: 98 % for Mn2+, 87 % for Cr3+, and 88 % for Co2+. Freundlich isotherms gave a better fit to the experimental data obtained with good correlation coefficient values in the range of 0.99-1 compared to other isotherms. The pseudo-second order kinetic model best described the chemical adsorption process as an exchange of electrons between the carbon and inorganic ions in solutions. The diffusion models showed that the process is controlled by a multi-kinetic stage adsorption process. In summary, this work demonstrates that the production of activated carbon from PET waste bottles is a potential alternative to commercial activated carbon and can be considered a sustainable waste management technology for removing these non-biodegradable plastic wastes from the environment

Production of biodiesel by transesterification of refined soybean oil

This study focused on the production of biodiesel via transesterification of refined soybean oil obtained locally. Sodium hydroxide was used as the alkali catalyst and methanol (as alcohol) was used in the transesterification process due to its low cost. The methanol-to-oil molar ratio was maintained at 6:1. The effect of reaction temperature with time and the catalyst loading were studied. The reaction temperature and the catalyst loading were varied at 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 oC; and at 0.5 and 1.0% weight of oil, respectively. After transesterification of the soybean oil, the fatty acid methyl esters [FAMEs (biodiesel)] conversion was found to rise with an increase in the catalyst loading and also with the reaction temperature but no significant difference (P > 0.05) was found between the temperatures of 60 oC and 70 oC. The optimum methyl esters conversion of 97.89% was achieved at 60 oC for 3 h with 1% (w/w) catalyst. The viscosity (at 40 oC), density, cloud point, pour point, flash point and acid number were 3.40 cSt, 0.86 g/ml, -1 oC, -7 oC, 175 oC and 0.19, respectively. This optimum methyl esters conversion obtained met ASTM standard of D-6751. Therefore, soybean oil has been shown in this study as a good candidate for biodiesel production and the data acquired can be scaled up for large scale production. © 2010 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Keywords: Renewable energy, fatty acid methyl esters, diesel, catalyst

BIOREMEDIATION POTENTIAL OF INDIGENOUS MICRO-ORGANISMS (P. aeruginosa and P. fluorescens) ON PHENOLIC WASTES IN REFINERY LIQUID EFFLUENTS

In this study, a physico-chemical analysis of untreated and treated phenol-containing waste water samples from a Nigerian Refinery was carried out and the biodegradation of the constituent phenol using two Pseudomonas species were investigated in batch processes. The results of the physico-chemical analysis of the raw water and the treated water showed the phenolic content, BOD at 20oC, sulphide content, Total suspended solids. Total dissolved solid Phosphate content and Ammonia content for the raw water to be 28.4ppm, 94mg/L, 5.15ppm, 248ppm, 1196ppm, 10.36ppm, 2.16ppm and for the treated water to be 7.26ppm, 82mg/L, 2.84ppm, 116ppm, 1148ppm, 3.77ppm, 0.52ppm respectively. This results indicate that even though the installed treatment plant was very efficient for phenol removal by removing 74.44% of initial phenol concentration of the untreated waste water, the resultant treated water phenol concentration failed to comply with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) limit. Subsequent the aerobic chemoheterotropic growth of both pseudomonas aeruginosa and pseudomonas fluorescens on a formulated basal medium using the wastewater samples was investigated. During the batch growth processes, the wastewater samples were supplemented with nutrients, the culture of organisms were added and the progress followed for 48hrs. samples were withdrawn at regular intervals of 6hrs and analyzed for biomass and phenol concentrations. The data obtained were used to estimate th