Determination of Combustion Efficiency and Compressive Stress of Cotton Stalk Charcoal and Agricultural Wastes

Investigation on the burning efficiency and compressive stress properties of cotton stalk charcoal and agricultural wastes was carried out on nine sets of briquettes from three different source of agricultural wastes. Cassava starch was used as binding agent, and calcium hydroxide Ca (OH)2 as desulphurizer. By the use of compressive machine model EL-31-34010 compressive strength of the briquettes was determined as 155.9, 113.5, 114.5, 46.7, 97.6, 89.1, 97.6, 89.1, and 113.5 KN/m2 for Cotton stalk charcoals, millet chaffs, and rice husks of Biu, Nganzai, and Zabarmari in Borno state labelled as:A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, C2, and A3, B3, C3  briquettes respectively. A comparative water boiling tests of the briquettes against firewood was carried out. A1 boiled 5litre of water in 25 minutes, C1 in 30 minutes,, B1,C3 in 35 minutes, B2,A3 in 40 minutes, C2, B3 in 45 minutes, A2 in 50 minutes, while firewood boiled the same volume of water in 60 minutes. These results revealed that such briquettes were of appreciable strength that will not crumble during combustion, and indicates their superiority over firewood in terms of combustion, quality in handling and transportation

Utilization of amino resin for emulsion paint formulation: Effect of urea formaldehyde viscosity on urea formaldehyde and soybean oil copolymer composite

In our continuous desire to develop a paint binder from amino resin, the effect of urea formaldehyde (UF) viscosity on a copolymer composite derived from the copolymerization reaction between urea formaldehyde (UF) and soybean oil (SBO) to give urea formaldehyde/ soybean oil copolymer composite (UF/SBO) was investigated. Some physical properties of (UF/SBO) obtained at different viscosities (5.11 -260.04 mPa.s) were evaluated. The melting point, density and formaldehyde emission were found to increase with increase in UF viscosity while the dry time, moisture uptake refractive index and elongation at break were found to decrease with increase in UF viscosity. UF viscosity below 150.00 mPa.s was found to produce UF/SBO copolymer composite that is soluble in water. The processing of UF/SBO copolymer resin for emulsion paint formulation should be carried out below this viscosity level. The copolymer composite was found to be ductile throughout the viscosity range studied (5.11 -260.04). This takes care of the inherent brittleness associated with the traditional UF and will give paint formulators freedom of choice as regards processing viscosity of UF/SBO. The results obtained from this experiment will offer formulator different options and to control formulation processes towards developing UF/SBO copolymer composite as a paint binder for emulsion paint formulation

Studies on the chemical composition and physico-chemical properties of the seeds of baobab (Adasonia digitata

The seeds of baobab used in preparation of local condiments was analysed to establish the proximate composition and the physico-chemical characteristics of the oil and effect of storage on the oil. Results obtained showed that the saponification value (SV), iodine value (IV), peroxide value (PV), acid value (AV), percentage free fatty acid (%FFA) and refractive index of the oil are 196 ± ± ± ± 0.05 mg/KOH, 87 ± ± ± ± 0.02 g/100 g, 4.5 ± ± ± ± 0.06 mEq/kg, 0.33 ± ± ± ± 0.03 mgKOH/g, 0.45 ± ± ± ± 0.08 and 1.459 ± ± ± ± 0.13, respectively. Proximate analysis showed that protein (21.75 ± ± ± ± 0.12 g/100 g), ash (5.01 ± ± ± ± 0.07 g/100 g) and fiber (6.71 ± ± ± ± 0.003 g/100 g) were comparable to Prosopsis africana seeds (20.54 ± ± ± ± 0.18, 6.67 ± ± ± ± 0.08 and 5.51 g/100g), which is used for the same purpose. The crude lipid content (12.72 ± ± ± ± 0.01 g/100 g) was almost equal to that of P. africana seeds (12.74 g/100 g). The major mineral elements present in the seeds included phosphorus, calcium and potassium (6.00 ± ± ± ± 0.02, 58.90 ± ± ± ± 2.34 and 280.00 ± ± ± ± 1.34 mg/100 g, respectively), thereby suggesting that the baobab seeds could contribute partially to the overall daily intake of these elements. The vitamins (A and C) found present in baobab seeds are higher than that of P. africana seeds. The antinutritional factors including oxalate, phytate, saponin and tannin (10.31 ± ± ± ± 1.00, 2.00 ± ± ± ± 0.31, 7.16 ± ± ± ± 0.01, 2.84 ± ± ± ± 0.30%, respectively) are also comparable to that of P. Africana. The storage property of the oil from baobab seeds studied over a period of four weeks under conditions of light (ambient), darkness (ambient), and refrigeration showed that the iodine value of the oil decreased in all cases but much more so on exposure to light. In contrast, the peroxide value of the oil showed very little change under conditions of darkness and refrigeration over the same period, thus indicating that the oil can withstand storage