Investigative Study on the Use of De-Oiled Palm Kernel Cake for Biogas Production

Availability of Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) has increased due to the increase in the number of cottage oil palm processing industries in developing countries. A quest for clean energy from bio-waste is also on the increase. This study aims at investigating the biogas generating capacity of de-oiled PKC and its corresponding methane content. De-oiled PKC and a mixture of de-oiled PKC and fresh sugar cane chips were used as the two bio-feed samples in a laboratory anaerobic digestion set up. A theoretical approach was also used to determine the expected methane content in the biogas. Laboratory results for de-oiled PKC gave the volume by weight of bio-feed for biogas and methane to be 12.7 ml/g and 4.2 ml/g respectively and that of the combination of de-oiled PKC and fresh sugar cane chips to be 3.15 ml/g and 1.25 ml/g respectively. The measured methane composition for de-oiled PKC and that of the combination of de-oiled PKC and fresh sugar cane chips to be 33% and 40% respectively while the theoretical estimates were 33.5% and 41.1% respectively. The study shows that de-oiled palm kernel cake has biogas/methane generation potential whose quality can be improved by the addition of other biogas producing wastes.KEYWORDS: Biogas, Agro-Industrial Waste, Palm Kernel Cake, Anaerobic Digestion, Wastewater

Effect of heat treatment during mechanical cracking using varieties of palm nut

Palm nut is characterized with unique physical and mechanical properties which determine performance of machine during cracking.  In this research work, commercially acceptable varieties of palm nut were selected, examined and periodically dried to temperature 120 ℃/h, 135 ℃/h, 150 ℃/h, 165 ℃/h and 180 ℃/h before cracking.  At 120 ℃/h, local, dura and tenera nuts moisture content were found to be: 12.5%, 12.0% and 12.0% respectively; at 135 ℃/h, 11.6%, 11.1% and 11.0% respectively; at 150 ℃/h, 10.7%, 10.2% and 10.0% respectively; at 165 ℃/h, 10.3%, 9.6% and 9.1% respectively; and at 180 ℃/h, 9.8%, 9.0% and 8.2% respectively. An improved automated palm nut cracker of 2004 model was used for the experiment and results shown that the highest throughput, functional efficiency and quality performance efficiency were  1,260 kg/h, 99.07% and 98.80% respectively while mechanical damage reduced to 0.20%.  Simple multiple linear regression model was used to establish the relation between machine and crop parameters. Keywords: drying, efficiency, cracker, effect, varieties, palm nut &nbsp

Composition and diversity of understory plants in the tropical rain forest of Cross River national park (CRNP), Nigeria

The study assessed the composition and diversity pattern of understory in Oban division of CRNP with a view to established the contribution of the understory to diversity of the area. The study was conducted in four land use types: primary forest (core), secondary forest (buffer), farm fallow and plantation. Ten transects of 2000m length each were systematically located in each land use type. Four sample plots of 50×50m were located on each transect at an interval of 500m. Each plot was subdivided into nine 10× 10m subplots for shrubs enumeration and a 1×1m mili-acre plot was located at the center of each subplot for herb enumeration. Flora species composition, distribution and diversity were estimated across the land use types using diversity indices. Primary forest (core) was used as baseline for comparison. A total of 608 understory species in 82 Families were recorded in the study area. The highest numbers of understory species (454) were recorded in the core. Species richness (D) for shrubs was higher in the core (D =24.0). Similarity and species diversity (H’) shrubs, was higher in the core (H’= 4.66) and (H’=3.71) respectively. Herb species composition, Species richness and diversity increased were higher in the farm fallow (D26.23) and (H’=4.577). The highest density/ha for all life forms were recorded in the farm fallow. It is imperative that biodiversity assessment in the area should also give attention to understory composition in the area to enhance their conservation.Key words: Understory, Species, Composition, Diversity, Conservatio

Morphometric Observations of the tongue of the domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos domestica).

A Biometric study was conducted on the tongue of twenty-five (25) adult domestic duck collected from the Sokoto metropolitan poultry and fish modern market, over a period of seven days . A pair of scissors, a scalpel and a blade was used to incise, excise, separate or debride various parts of the oral cavity to expose the organ for research. Results showed that the tongue is characterized by an elongated triangular format. At a point, approximately 2/3 the length of the lingual corpus there is a distinct depression, separating the caudal one-third of the lingual corpus from its rostral two-third. On the dorsal surface of the apex and body of the tongue, a median groove is found. A unique feature of the tongue in domestic Duck is the presence of many fine overlapping needle-shaped processes at both lateral sides of the caudal lingual apex. A single row of large conical papillae is observed symmetrically in the marginal region between the body and root of the tongue. Biometrically the mean dimensio

Effect of contract farming on poultry farming households food security in Osun state, Nigeria

This study analyzed the effect of contract farming on food security of poultry households in Osun State, Nigeria. Primary data were used for the study and two stage sampling technique was used in selecting 180  households comprising of 90 contract and 90 non-contract farming  households. A structured questionnaire was used for the purpose of extracting needed information from the farmers. Data were analyzed using Food Security Index, Propensity Score Matching and Likert scale. The results showed that the contract farming households were more food secured (76.9%) than the non-contract farming households (46.8%). The effect of contract farming on the households that participated shows that the calorie intake increased (p < 0.05) on the average by 1047 kCal/AE/day. This shows that the program has positive impact on the Target Group. The constraints to contract farming in the study area includes: Deferred payment on the part of contract firm, no reimbursement in case of production failure, bridge of agreement, biased terms, cheating, high defaulting rate. The study therefore recommends that there should be interest payment for delay in payment to farmers as part of the agreement to curb the issue of intentional delay of payment by the contracting firms and that agreement on risk sharing in case of failures in production should be included in the agreements so as to protect the farmer from being too vulnerable.Key words: contract farming, poultry, food securit

Spectrum of ultrasonographic findings in gynaecological emergencies in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Background: Gynaecological emergencies are a common cause of morbidity and mortality among women of reproductive age group worldwide and can be life threatening. They can be easily managed if diagnosed early. Ultrasonography (USS) is a readily available and excellent diagnostic tool in the prompt and accurate diagnosis of these conditions. This is a comparative study aimed at evaluating the ultrasonographic findings in gynaecological emergencies and comparing with the clinical diagnosis. Methods: 400 patients presenting with suspected gynaecological emergencies at the National Hospital, Abuja were evaluated. The USS findings of these patients were recorded and matched with their socio-demographic parameters and the radiological diagnosis was then compared with the clinical diagnosis at presentation. Results: The mean age of participants was 34.2±7.5 years. Pregnancy related emergencies were the most common, making up 65.8%. Abortion was the most common emergency seen. Pregnancy related cases were commoner in the younger age group 20-39 years. A higher proportion of USS diagnosis for pregnancy related cases (96.7%) corresponded with the clinical diagnosis when compared to a smaller proportion for non-pregnancy related cases (80.6%), and this had significant correlation (x2=256.12, df=1, p<0.0001) Conclusions: USS evaluation of gynaecological emergencies as seen in this study, allows for quick and accurate diagnosis so that appropriate emergent care can be instituted to improve the outcome in these cases

An Inductive Power Transfer through metal object

The principle of Inductive Power Transfer (IPT)is very old but it is rarely used for transferring power from source to load via a conductive medium. This is because normally the medium restricts the power transfer due to losses or the shielding effects. However, for low energy applications, an acceptable amount of power could be transferred from the source to the load and it will be of great benefit to oil and gas as well as manufacturing industries to explore. This paper aims at finding the amount of power transferred, the losses and efficiency for a given configuration (metallic pipe) using an analytical model involving equations governing the mechanism of IPT and experimental validation of the derived analytical model. The maximum efficiency of the system for a stainless steel pipe at frequencies of 40Hz to 100Hz is obtained from experimental validation when the load at the output is about 5.55Ω. © 2013 IEEE

Antibacterial and antioxidant properties of the methanol extracts of the leaves and stems of Calpurnia aurea

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In South Africa, <it>Calpurnia aurea</it> (Ait.) Benth is used to destroy lice and to relieve itches, to destroy maggots and to treat allergic rashes, particularly those caused by caterpillars. Antioxidants play an important role protecting against damage by reactive oxygen species. Plants containing flavonoids have been reported to possess strong antioxidant properties.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The antibacterial, antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of the methanol extracts of the leaves and stems of <it>Calpurnia aurea</it> were evaluated using in vitro standard methods. Spectrophotometry was the basis for the determinations of total phenol, total flavonoids, flavonols, and proanthocyanidins. Tannins, quercetin and catechin equivalents were used for these parameters. The antioxidant activities of the stem extract of <it>Calpurnia aurea</it> were determined by ABTS, DPPH, and ferrous reducing antioxidant property (FRAP) methods. Laboratory isolates of 10 bacteria species which included five Gram-positive and five Gram-negative strains were used to assay for antibacterial activity of this plant.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results from this study showed that the antioxidant activities of the stem extract of <it>Calpurnia aurea </it>as determined by the total phenol, flavonoids, and FRAP methods were higher than that of the leaves. On the other hand, the leaf extract of the plant has higher level of total flavonols and proanthocyanidins. The leaf extract also has higher radical scavenging activity as shown in 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2¿-azinobis-3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay. The leaf extract showed activity against seven of the bacterial organisms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results from this study indicate that the leaves and stem extracts of <it>Calpurnia aurea </it>possess antioxidant properties and could serve as free radical inhibitors or scavenger or, acting possibly as primary antioxidants. Although, the antibacterial properties of <it>Calpurnia aurea</it> are not as effective as the standard drugs- Chloramphenicol and Streptomycin, they still possess some activity against bacterial strains used in this study. <it>Calpurnia aurea </it>may therefore be a good candidate for functional foods as well as pharmaceutical plant-based products.</p

Synchronous reluctance machine with controlled capacitance injection

Abstract This paper describes a detailed analysis, verified by practical experimental results, of a synchronous reluctance machine with two similar stator windings and capacitance injection using a static switch. The steady state equivalent circuit is developed and used to investigate leading capacitance injection into the machine via a balanced three phase auxiliary winding that is only magnetically coupled to the main winding. The scheme was found to improve the torque and power factor performance of the machine as well as reduce harmonics in the line current. Two switching topologies were utilized for the static control in this arrangement, and both were found to present good and comparable results. Experimental results corroborate the simulations