HOFMANN-MARTIUS REARRANGEMENT REACTIONS CATALYSED BY ZEOLITE

N-Methylaniline was reacted over HZSM-5, H-Theta-1 and HY zeolites and was found to rearrange to give the toluidines, aniline and N,N-dimethylaniline. Percentage conversion to these products was found to be highest over HY zeolite with a higher selectivity to p-toluidine, whereas over HZSM-5 and H-Theta-1 selectivity was to N,N-dimethylaniline. The conversion to these products is in line with Hofmann-Martius and the Reilly-Hickin bottom rearrangement reactions. However the selectivity to N,N-dimethylaniline as observed over HZSM-5 and H-Theta-1 (medium pore zeolites) is ne

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in frequently consumed leafy vegetable grown along Nigeria-Benin Seme Border, West Africa

Vegetable growing along major highways with heavy vehicular movement has been a serious concern to food safety specialist in large cities. The contributions of heavy metals in selected vegetables through atmospheric deposition were quantified using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The level of some heavy metal (.Pb, Cu, Fe, and Cr) were examined in the edible portion of Telfciria occidentals, Corchorus olitorius, Celocia argentea, and Thymus Vulgaries, grown along Nigeria-Republic of Benin border Seme. The results showed that the levels of heavy metal ranged from 21.69 ± 7.36 μg/g Cu to172.87 ±62.05 μg/g Fe in Telfaria occidentalis, 21.74±13.00 μg/g Pb to 304.50±72.77 μg/g Fe in Corchorus olitorius, 16.75±10.54 μg/g Pb to 260.74±215.37 μg/g Fe in Celocia argentea and 23.53±3.52 μg/g Cu to 406.33±225.06 μg/g Fe in Thymus Vulgaries were recorded in site A. The value heavy metal contamination obtained from site B ranged from 18.91±11.98 μg/g Pb to 166.49 ± 86.22 μg/g Fe in Telfaria occidentalis, 16.57± 9.22 μg/g Pb to 292.36±196.33 μg/g Fe in Corchorus olitorius, 19.99±8.54 μg/g Pb to 354.03±302.80 Fe in Celocia argentea and 21.73±8.44 μg/g Pb to 388.20±226.39 μg/g Fe in Thymus Vulgaries. The order of contamination in the vegetable sample was Fe > Cr > Cu > Pb. The data were analyzed with t-test and ANOVA. There were no significant different between the (p< .05) between the level of heavy metal in vegetable at each sampling site. The high levels of metal in the sampled vegetable may be attributed to excessive application of fertilizers and other agro chemical, as well the use of use of waste water for washing the vegetables. The obtained results were higher than the threshold value of WHO, FEPA and China stipulated standards for mature plant tissue except for copper in all the analyzed vegetable. Therefore, the consumption of these vegetables as food may pose possible health hazards to human

Assessment of Emergency Obstetric Care Services in Ibadan- Ibarapa Health Zone, Oyo State, Nigeria

Nigeria’s high maternal mortality has been attributed to poor utilization of obstetric care services to handle complications of pregnancy and childbirth. But how available are standard emergency obstetric care services? This facility based cross sectional study assessed the availability and accessibility of emergency obstetric care services in Oyo State, Nigeria. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, 61 primary and 10 secondary health care facilities were selected. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire from the heads of the maternity units. Spatial mapping of the facilities was also produced. Results showed availability of comprehensive emergency obstetric care (CEmOC) facilities (0-3.9/500,000 population) was adequate, however a gross lack of basic emergency obstetric care (BEmOC) facilities (0-5.4/500,000 population) was observed, where available, they were clustered in the urban settlements. Prompt action needs to be taken to upgrade basic emergency obstetric care facilities accessible to the larger rural population dwellers to improve maternal health indices. Keywords: Maternal Mortality, Comprehensive, Basic, Emergency obstetric car

Extraction, Physicochemical, Phytochemical Analysis And Identification Of Some Important Compounds Of Monodora Myristica (African Nutmeg) Seed Oil

The oil from African nutmeg seed (Monodora myristica) also known as ehuru in Igbo or Ariwo in Yoruba was extracted using normal hexane. Physico-chemical analysis, phytochemical analysis and GC-MS was carried out from crude extract. Physico-chemical analysis indicated that Iodine value (4.318 mg), Peroxide value (10.1 meq/ kg), Acid value (0.784 mg KOH /g), Saponification value (246.1 mg KOH g-), Refractive index (1.479), Specific gravity (0.968 g/m L) and % yield (36.04%). GC-MS analysis shed n-Hexadecanoic acid, Arachidonic acid, 9- Octadecanoic acid to be a major component of the seed oil. The results suggest that the oil is non drying oil; free from rancidity therefore it is good for cooking

Gender variation in self-reported likelihood of HIV infection in comparison with HIV test results in rural and urban Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Behaviour change which is highly influenced by risk perception is a major challenge that HIV prevention efforts need to confront. In this study, we examined the validity of self-reported likelihood of HIV infection among rural and urban reproductive age group Nigerians.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a cross-sectional study of a nationally representative sample of Nigerians. We investigated the concordance between self-reported likelihood of HIV and actual results of HIV test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess whether selected respondents' characteristics affect the validity of self-reports.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The HIV prevalence in the urban population was 3.8% (3.1% among males and 4.6% among females) and 3.5% in the rural areas (3.4% among males and 3.7% among females). Almost all the respondents who claimed they have high chances of being infected with HIV actually tested negative (91.6% in urban and 97.9% in rural areas). In contrast, only 8.5% in urban areas and 2.1% in rural areas, of those who claimed high chances of been HIV infected were actually HIV positive. About 2.9% and 4.3% from urban and rural areas respectively tested positive although they claimed very low chances of HIV infection. Age, gender, education and residence are factors associated with validity of respondents' self-perceived risk of HIV infection.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Self-perceived HIV risk is poorly sensitive and moderately specific in the prediction of HIV status. There are differences in the validity of self-perceived risk of HIV across rural and urban populations.</p

Determination and Evaluation of Fuel Properties of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea, L.) Biofuel Blended with Diesel

Vegetable oils have attracted attention as potential renewable resources for the production of alternatives for petroleum based diesel fuel. This study focused on the evaluation of fuel properties of groundnut oil and its ethyl ester blended with diesel to establish their suitability for use in compression ignition engines. Twenty biodiesel blends (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100%) of groundnut oil and its ethyl ester by volume with Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were used. The fuel properties of the biodiesel blends such as specific gravity, viscosity, cloud and pour point, flash point, heating value, sulphur content and carbon content were determined according to ASTM standards. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and correlations between fuel properties and blending ratios of groundnut biofuel with AGO were developed. Pure AGO was used as a basis for comparison. Results showed that viscosity of 10 - 30% groundnut ester-AGO blends (5.5 – 5.8 mm2/s) fell within the limit specified by ASTM standards. The heating values of groundnut biodiesel blends decreased from 38.4 – 30.07MJ/l.&nbsp; Groundnut ethyl-ester had higher cloud point of 7oC compared to -12oC obtained for AGO. The flash points, cloud and pour points of groundnut oil and its ethyl-ester AGO blends were higher than for reference AGO. The specific gravity obtained for all groundnut ester-diesel blends ranged from 0.8 – 0.9 and it fell within limit specified by international standards. All the biodiesel blends had sulphur contents ranging from 9.16 – 13.2% and lower than that of reference AGO. Predictive fuel properties’ models gave R2 of 0.55-0.98. Biodiesel blends with 10 and 20 percent groundnut ethyl ester content were found to have acceptable fuel properties for use as supplementary fuel in compression ignition engines

EFFICACY AND EFFECT OF SELECTED BIO-COGULANT ON TREATMENT OF APONMU RIVER

&nbsp;In the wastewater treatment process of coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation, natural coagulants may be used to reduce turbidity. Manihot Esculenta (cassava peel) and Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (orange peel) were employed as natural coagulants for the treatment of Aponmu river. The best overall results were obtained when alum was partially replaced with cassava peel (70% AL30% CA), with all parameters (BOD; 6.1mg/L, COD; 9.9mg/L, hardness; 85.6mg/L, and Cu; 0.07mg/L, at pH of 6.3) meeting WHO drinking water standards and accepted practices for water and wastewater examination. However, alum's negative environmental effects on the production of non-biodegradable sludge and lingering effects on treated water are greatly reduced by partial substitution

Synthesis and evaluation of the antimicrobial potentials of cobalt doped- and magnesium ferrite spinel nanoparticles

The high incidence of infectious disease and increase in the incidence of antibiotic resistance has led to the exploitation of inorganic nanoparticles as novel antimicrobial agents owing to their unique physical and chemical properties. This study reports the synthesis and antibacterial activity of magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) and cobalt doped magnesium ferrite (Co0.8Mg0.2Fe2O4)spinel nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs were synthesized using the low temperature combustion synthesis. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive absorption spectroscopy (EDAX) were used to characterize the synthesized NPs. The synthesized NPs exhibited good antibacterial properties against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Serratia marcescens. None of the nanoparticles induced any microbial inhibition against Micrococcus varians, Aspergillus flavus, Bacillus substilis and Candida. albicans. Co0.8Mg0.2Fe2O4 NPs gave better antibacterial activity with a zone of inhibition of &gt;20 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli compared to MgFe2O4 NPs. The minimum inhibitory concentration of Co0.8Mg0.2Fe2O4 NPs against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was 2500 µg/mL and 1250 µg/mL, respectively. The relatively high antibacterial effect exhibited by Co0.8Mg0.2Fe2O4 nanoparticles on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus suggests its potentials in the treatment of infections commonly associated with these microorganisms.               KEY WORDS: Magnesium ferrite, Nanoparticles, Antibacterial activity, Combustion synthesis, Infectious disease Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2018, 32(3), 451-458.DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v32i3.

STUDIES ON THE ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTICORROSIVE PROPERTIES OF SYNTHESIZED HYBRID POLYURETHANE COMPOSITES FROM CASTOR SEED OIL

Castor seed oil (Ricinus communis) is a prominent feed stock towards the generation of renewable materials for industrial production. The reach presence of ricinoleic fatty acid at 87.5% provides pendant hydroxyl functional groups, which is an essential site for chemical formulations. This paper presents the synthesis, characterization, and evaluations on antibacterial and anticorrosive activities of synthesized hybrid composites from Ricinus communis seed oil. N,N'-bis(2-hydroxy ethyl)-12-hydroxy Ricinus communis oil fatty amide (HERCA) was synthesized via aminolysis polyol formation route. Upon reacting HERCA with succinic acid at a high temperature of about 145 ºC, a polyesteramide (RCPEA) was formed. This ester product undergoes urethanation and subsequently interfaced with modified hybrid material. The synthesized composites were characterized using spectroscopic methods such as FTIR, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR. Selected physicochemical parameters were also carried out on the products. Coating performance on cured resins was examined

MICELLIZATION OF QUARTERNARY BASED CATIONIC SURFACTANTS IN TRIETHANOLAMINE-WATER MEDIA: A CONDUCTOMETRY STUDY

The effect of polar organic solvent, triethanolamine (TEA) on the micellization of a mixture of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DETABr) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HATABr) has been studied by conductance measurements at temperature range of 298.1 to 313.1K in steps of 5.1K. The values of the critical micelle concentration (CMC*) and the extent of counter-ion binding were obtained by fittings of the specific conductivity-concentration curve to the integrated form of the Boltzmann-Sigmoid equations. The values of CMC* was found to decrease with increase in the percentage composition of TEA. The degree of counter-ion binding of the mixed micelles (β) was determined from the ratio of the slopes corresponding to the post (A2) and pre-mixed micellar regions (A1). The thermodynamic quantities ( and ) was evaluated with the aid of the equilibrium model of mixed micelle formation. The negative deviation of the CMC* from the ideal system, the spontaneity, and the increased degree of randomness of the system were discussed on the basis of hydrophobic-solvophobic interactions of the monomers at elevated temperature