Cashew nut testa tannin resin – preparation, characterization and adsorption studies

Adsorption of metal ions and dyes from water by cashew nut testa tannin resin (CATAR) was studied and the effects of temperature, initial pH, initial concentration and time were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) reveal effective adsorption processes. Kinetic studies show that CATAR adsorption is complex and thermodynamic parameters calculated reveal spontaneous and endothermic adsorption of studied pollutants onto CATAR. The use of CATAR as an alternative adsorbent is proposed considering that of simulated wastewaters gave excellent removal performances of 94.0% (Cd ions), 99.4% (Cu ions) and 97.1% (Pb ions) at pH of 6 and 303 K using amount of CATAR. Removal performances obtained for simulated dye wastewaters using CATAR at similar conditions for removal of metal ions gave 71.1%, 79.2% and 86.6%, respectively for crystal violet, methylene blue and malachite green

DETERMINATION OF ACTIVE SWEETENING AGENT IN SOME NATURAL SWEETNERS USED AS SUBSTITUTE TO PROCESSED SUGAR.

Natural sweeteners are preferable over artificial sweeteners because of its nutritional benefits, it Is of a great interest to research on replacement of artificial sweeteners with natural sweeteners. The self produced natural sweeteners was extracted from there various plant sources and they are date syrup, grape sugar alcohol,honey, coconut sugar and Jaggery. Further analysis were carried out on some of these natural sweeteners such as total sugar content determination  using refractometer, reducing sugar determination using  Benedict reagents and sensory evaluation test. The results of these analysis that was carried out on some of these natural sweeteners are as follows, for total sugar content determination, the results of date syrup, coconut sugar, honey, grape sugar alcohol and Jaggery are 83.17,84.83,81.85, 8.12 and 17.90 respectively. Benedict test that was carried out were determined by there colour change during heating process, were the colourchanges from colourless solution  to either blue,  orange, red PPT, and greenish yellow PPT,  the results on the sweeteners shows blue,  brick red PPT, green yellow PPT, orange and blue  for coconut sugar, date sugar, Jaggery sugar, honey and grape sugar alcohol respectively while the sensory evaluation test that was carried out by volunteered persons results at 10%,1%,0.1% and 0.01%  only grape sugar alcohols that maintain it's baseline test  at 0.01%% while other samples are tasteless at 0.01%.natural sweeteners are highly nutritive and maintains it's vitamins even after processing.  &nbsp

EFFECT OF POLLUTION ON THE PHYSIO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF OTAMMIRI RIVER, IMO STATE.

This study was conducted to assess the physiochemical characteristics of Otammiri River in Imo state Nigeria. Samples were taken from three different points along the river. The physio-chemical parameters of the water samples were measured both in-situ and in the laboratory. The parameters measured included Temperature, `pH, biological oxygen demand (BOD) dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), Electrical conductivity (EC), Turbidity, Total dissolved oxygen (TDS), Alkalinity, Nitrate, Sulphate, chloride, Total hardness. The range values of the measured parameters were compared with world health organization (WHO) standards. The finding showed that all the physio-chemical parameters measured were below the tolerable values ranges except (DO), pH, Temperature. The dissolve oxygen of the water was found to be between 15.62 – 16.73mg/L indicating the abundance growth of phytoplankton with less water flow, which led to the increased generation of oxygen (O2) by photosynthesis activities in the study area as   opposed to WHO (10.00mg/L). pH was found to be 5.79 – 6.12; showing the acidity of the study area exceeding WHO (2003) limit  of (6.50 ± 8.50) while Temperature was 280C all through the stations.  28.00oC is within the WHO (2003) limit of (20 – 30oC). Some of these parameters studied were significant at (P<0.05) at all the    sampling stations. This study has revealed that though Otammiri River is not heavily polluted, but the observed fluctuation of the investigated parameters along the sampling points could be as a result of human activities and environmental degradation through industrialization. It is therefore recommended that adequate monitoring and control of pollution within the River should be encouraged