Formulation of zeolite supported nano-metallic catalyst and applications in textile effluent treatment

Textile industry is one of the major industries worldwide and produces a huge amount of coloured effluents. The presence of coloured compounds (dyes) in water change its aesthetic value and cause serious health and environmental consequences. However, the present investigation was carried out to minimize and reduce the colour compounds discharged by the textile industries through a nano-scaled catalyst. This study is mainly focused on the explanation of nanoparticles aggregation by deposition on natural zeolite, and utilization of this natural zeolite as supported material to nano zerovalent iron (NZ-nZVI) in the form of liquid slurry with sodium percarbonate acting as an oxidant in a Fenton like system for the removal of synthetic CI acid orange 52 (AO52) azo dye, in textile effluent. The nano-scaled zerovalent irons were synthesized by borohydride method in ethanolic medium. UV–vis spectrophotometry, FTIR, EDX, SEM, and XRD (powdered) analysis were used for the investigations of surface morphology, composition, and properties of natural zeolite supported nZVI and study the dye removal mechanism. The XRD spectrum revealed that clinoptilolite is the major component of natural zeolite used, while EDX found that the iron content of NZ-nZVI was about 9.5 %. The introduction of natural zeolite as supporting material in the formation of iron nanoparticle resulted in the partial reduction of aggregation of zerovalent iron nanoparticles. The findings revealed that the 94.86 % removal of CI acid orange 52 dye was obtained after 180 min treatment at 15 mg/L initial dye concentration. The highest rapid dye removal of about 60 % was achieved within the first 10 min of treatment at the same dye concentration. Furthermore, the actual dyeing effluent including green, magenta, and the blended colour was successfully decolourized by natural zeolite-supported nZVI/SPC Fenton process. It is concluded that the acceleration of corrosion of NZ-nZVI, breaking of azo bond, and consumption of Fe2+ were the possible mechanisms behind the removal of AO52 dye. It is also recommended that NZ-nZVI/SPC Fenton process could be a viable option for effluent and groundwater remediation

SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS EFFECT ON MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTENSION IN COMMUNITY PHARMACY IN SOUTH- SOUTH ZONE IN NIGERIA

Background to study: Effective management of hypertension is influenced by several factors that center on social and economic status of the patient. Identification of these factors will enable informed intervention in the management of hypertensive patients. Objective: The study aimed to determine possible association between blood pressure control and socioeconomic status of patients who are managed in community pharmacies in Rivers State. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional survey of thirty-nine community pharmacies was conducted between July and December 2018.  A total of 195 respondents participated in the study. Every patient’s consent was obtained. Further information on patients’ demographics were extracted from pharmacists’ documentation files. Such include age, medication patient is on, duration of hypertension, co-morbidity, income/ social status, and habits like smoking, alcohol consumption, educational status, and mean blood pressure over the study period. The outcome measure taken as controlled blood pressure was mean BP ≤140/90 mm Hg for the general population and BP 130/80 mmHg for patients with diabetes as co-morbidity. BP >140/90 mm Hg was considered as uncontrolled blood pressure. Result: A total of 195 respondents participated in the study, of which 105(53.8%) were male and 90(46.2%) were female. Out of this number 75(38.5%) were below 40yrs of age, 105(53.8%) were between 41–50yrs of age and only 15(7.7%) were 60yrs and above. More female had BP control compared to the male (OR 1.89, 95% CI (1.16 - 3.0), P=0.009. Patients within ages 41 - 59yrs had more controlled BP compared to older age, 60yrs and above, OR 1.48, 95% CI (0.84 - 2.42) p 0.18. Uncontrolled BP was found more among employed patients and patients with highest monthly income, OR 1.05 95% CI (0.58 - 2.00); OR 1.16 95% CI (0.49 - 2.78) P, 0.36 respectively. Exercise activities have significant impact on BP control as alcohol consumption increased OR of BP control with no significant difference in OR on amount of monthly expenditure on medications. Conclusion: Male gender, employment, and high income earning have negative effect on BP control while exercise is associated with BP control.                    Peer Review History: Received: 4 September 2021; Revised: 10 October; Accepted: 21 October, Available online: 15 November 2021 Academic Editor:  Dr. Gehan Fawzy Abdel Raoof Kandeel, Pharmacognosy Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12622,  Giza, Egypt, [email protected]  UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency.  Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewers: Dr. Muhammad Zahid Iqbal, AIMST University, Malaysia, [email protected] Dr. Vanina Doris Edo’o, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroun, [email protected] Similar Articles: PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE DRUGS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN KERALA AND ADHERENCE TO JNC-8 GUIDELINE

Evaluation of Awareness and Knowledge of Pharmacovigilance amongst Final Year Students of Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Nigeria

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) till date are still considered as one of the main problems of drug therapy. Pharmacovigilance is the monitoring of drug safety by means of spontaneous adverse-effect reporting systems, case control and cohort studies. This study evaluated the levels of awareness and knowledge of pharmacovigilance (i.e., ADR reporting) amongst final year students of Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. It was a cross sectional awareness and knowledge survey amongst 200 students from the eight Schools of the institution. Specially adapted and structured questionnaires were administered to the students to obtain information on their levels of awareness and knowledge on reporting of ADRs. Simple descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data that were obtained. The result showed that over 72% of the students from each of the Schools had good knowledge of ADR, about 62% were aware of ADR reporting system, while less than 50% had knowledge of the process of reporting ADRs. Final year students of College of Health Science and Technology, Port Harcourt have good knowledge of ADR. However, their awareness of the reporting system and particularly the process of reporting (pharmacovigilance) is poor and needs improvement. Keywords: Awareness, adverse drug reaction, pharmacovigilanc