Carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Nigeria: fundamental science and potential implementation risks

Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) is a novel global technology encompassing the isolation and transportation of CO2 from emission points followed by storage in appropriate geological formations. Although the process had been projected to play a great role in enhancing oil recovery from partly depleted oil and gas reservoirs as well as mitigating global climate change by 2030, the science, technology, and potential consequences of its application are not well understood in many African countries like Nigeria that are majorly dependent on oil and gas economy and contributing emitters of greenhouse gases. This paper described the fundamental science of CCS and addressed the potential risks of its future implementation in Nigeria. Critical analysis of the country’s oil and gas activities coupled with economic and political situation indicates that CCS project in Nigeria would be faced with challenges such as long implementation time, inefficient technology, gas leakage from geological storage, capture and storage costs and implementation decision and strategies. Key words: Carbon, capture, storage, implementation, problem

Assessment of Radon Concentration in Underground Well Water from Selected Parts of Kaduna Metropolis

Underground well water samples from selected areas in Kaduna metropolis were collected and analysed in order to ascertain the concentration of 222Rn. The analysis took place during the dry season when the weather was fairly stable and the community depended solely on ground water as their major water source for domestic use with a well calibrated a liquid scintillation counter situated at the Center for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria- Nigeria utilized for the measurements. The analysis results revealed and average concentration of 10.69 ± 0.39 Bq/L which is within the maximum concentration limit of 11.1 Bq/L and world average value of 10 Bq/L for drinking water.Keywords: 222Rn, Groundwater, Kaduna, Liquid scintillation counter, Maximum contaminant leve

Synergistic-antagonistic antibacterial potential of chitosan composites with Moringa oleifera leaf powder

Chitosan is very useful in everyday life in adsorption, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, flocculants, anticancer and antimicrobial.In this study, chitosan was synthesized from chitin extracted from crayfish. The methods such as deproteinization, demineralization, and deacetylation respectively were used in the synthesis of chitosan from crayfish. Antimicrobial activity was studied and it was found that chitosan and Moringaleaf powder were good in inhibiting the growth of microorganisms; confirmed by the results obtained from the experiments. In evaluating the antimicrobial activity, the serial dilution method was used towards Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Proteus bulgaris and Streptococcus pneumonia. The antibacterial activity of chitosan composite with the leaf powder of Moringa oleifera Lam., was determined, using well diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration determination method. The composites show the synergistic effect at the higher chitosan to lower Moringa concentration and antagonistic effect at higher Moringa to lower chitosan concentrations in all the test organisms. The consequences of this research suggest that the chitosan, Moringa leaf powder, and their composites can be used to discover an antibacterial agent for developing new pharmaceuticals to control studied human pathogenic bacteria responsible for severe illness. Moringa oleiferais widely used in food and folk medicine; while chitosan is widely useful in food, detergents, textiles, leather, paper, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics industries. Synergism/antagonism of Moringa-chitosan composites was based on concentrations on the tested organisms.Keywords: Antimicrobial, Biopolymer, Health, Synergism/antagonis

Elemental composition of some building materials used in Zaria, Kaduna State

This study investigates the elemental composition of Cement, Granite, Ceramic tiles and Plaster of Paris (POP) which are extensively used as building material in Zaria, Kaduna State. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique was employed in this work to determine the elemental composition of the building materials. The samples were crushed to a fine powder, sieved through a 250 mm mesh and dried in an oven at 1100 C to ensure the complete removal of moisture. The results showed the presence of (Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Fe, Sn, Cl, Ti, S, P, Mn, Co, Zn, Mo, Pb, Cr,V, Cu, Br, Cd, Ba, Hg, and Ni)  in various concentrations. Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Fe, Sn, Cl, Ti and S were available in relatively high concentration in all the samples with P, Mn, Co, Zn, Mo and Pb, found in relatively lower concentrations in some of the samples while Cr and Ni were only present in Ceramic tile samples; which was attributed to coloring agents used in the tile making process. This shows that the elemental composition is in agreement with the composition of the earth crust which is the source of the building materials. The analysis is of importance and useful to the construction industry as well as dwellers of the Zaria built environment. Keyword: Composition, Plaster of Paris, Cement, Granite, Ceramic Til

Catalytic Upgrading of n-Hexane and n-Octane for Light Hydrocarbons Production

oai:ojs2.www.fugus-ijsgs.com.ng:article/1Light hydrocarbon compounds are of great importance for direct usage as gaseous fuels or the production of petrochemicals. Therefore, their synthesis via catalytic upgrading of heavier hydrocarbons in the gasoline or diesel feedstock would be economically relevant. The current research developed a Mo2C/ZrO2 catalyst modified with Rh species for n-hexane and n-octane hydroconversion to light hydrocarbons (i.e. C1 to C4) at 450oC and 1 atm in a fixed-bed continuous flow reactor system. Both reactants produced similar conversions in the range of 18 to 20%, with more than 88% selectivity to the desired hydrocarbons. Mechanistically, the reaction was assumed to proceed via facile hydrogenolysis, involving the central and end C-C bonds. Overall, the catalyst could be considered industrial suitable but new parameters for improving catalytic conversion must be designed