PHYTO-REMEDIATION OF LEAD-CONTAMINATED SOIL USING AMARANTHUS CRUENTUS

Previous studies have shown that some vegetables have the ability to absorb metals from soil. Since they are early maturity species, they possess the potential to be used as phytoremediating agents. Also, synthetic chelates have been found to induce lead desorption from soil matrix, thereby enhancing uptake into plant tissues. Therefore, a study was carried out to determine the potential of Amaranthus cruentus as a soil lead remediating plant. The experiment was carried out using a randomized block design. Soil samples were subjected to five levels of lead contamination namely control, 600ppm, 600ppm + EDTA, 1800ppm and 1800ppm + EDTA, each treatment had five replicates. Three plants each were carefully transplanted from nursery to experimental pots and grown for 32 days. Ethylenediaminetetra acetic(EDTA) (3.0 mmole EDTA/kg soil) was applied to EDTA amended treatment 8 days before harvesting. The result showed that EDTA has some effect on lead solubility in soil as well as lead absorption by A.cruentus. However, there were variable increases in lead uptake from the contaminated soil to the plants. Lead contamination did not have significant effect on growth and yield parameters of A cruentus. Since the transfer factor (TF) of the plant is greater than one, it may be a promising species for phytoremediation.Amaranthus cruentus, Lead, phytoremediation, soil, Land Economics/Use,

Growth performance and phytoremediation ability of Azolla pinnata in produced water

In the present study, effect of produced water on the growth of Azolla pinnata was observed and the phytoremediating ability of the plant was also exploited. A. pinnata was grown in produced water concentrations of 0% (control), 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. The plant exhibited reduced growth rate in a concentration dependent order. Toxicity symptoms of produced water on the plant include chlorosis, frond disintegration and eventual death. Produced water exposure resulted in less than 20% growth inhibition in 5- 15 % treatment concentrations. The optimum removal efficiency concentration of produced water by A. pinnata was at 10- 20%. It was revealed that A. pinnata has low potential for improving the quality of produced water at high concentrations. This study exposed the need for proper produced water treatment and strict monitoring to ensure compliance with standards set by regulatory bodies before its discharge to surface water to mitigate the environmental impacts.Key Words: produced water, heavy metal, aquatic macrophytes

Effects of Compost on Mycelia Growth and Fructification, Mineral Elements and Proximate Composition of Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fries)

Studies were conducted on the growth and cultivation of Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fries) singer on lingocellulosic waste. Long composted substrate formulations of sawdust (86%) + rice bran (10%) + cassava peel (4%) supported the longest mycelia growth and density. Long composted also produced larger fruitbodies and significant increase in number of fruitbodies and compost % yield compared with uncomposted substrate having the same formulations. The mineral elements of Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, Na, K, and P were found to increase from very young to mature fruitbody of both composted and uncomposted substrate with preponderance of potassium. Similar results were obtained for crude protein. However, organic carbon and organic matter tend to decrease from very young to mature fruitbody of composted and uncomposted substrates.Keywords: Composting, Fructification, Mineral Elements Pleurotus pulmonarius, Organic carbon and Organic matter

Comparative Study of Impact of Zinc Oxide and Copper (II) Oxide Nanoparticles on Viscosity of Water Based Drilling Fluid

Drilling fluids play very important roles in the oil and gas industry hence the need to get method of improving their rheological properties cannot be over emphasized. In this study how drilling fluid rheological property can be improved using zinc oxide and copper (II) oxide nanoparticles were investigated. To achieve these objectives, water based drilling fluids (WBDF) were prepared using the standard laboratory barrel (350 ml) method from bentonite, xanthan gum and water. The Zinc oxide and Copper (II) nanoparticles were introduced into the formulation in different proportions. Brookfield rotational viscometer was used to determine the rheological properties of the samples while Fourier Transformation Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to determine the structural analysis of the interaction between the nanoparticles and the Xanthan gum. The results showed that Zinc oxide and CuO nanoparticle improved the rheological properties of the water based drilling fluid. The zinc oxide at equal proportion with xanthan gum at 60 rpm shear rate increased the viscosity from 834.7 to 1597.3 mPa.s while the copper (II) oxide nanoparticles at equal proportion with xanthan gum at 60 rpm shear rate increased from 834.7 to 1452.3 mPa.s at low temperature of 31.5oC. The FTIR analysis of the nanoparticles and xanthan gum revealed that the interactions of the bonds between the nanoparticles and xanthan gum contributed to the improvement in the rheological properties of the drilling fluids. It is concluded that introduction of ZnO nanoparticles and CuO nanoparticles improved the rheological performance of water based drilling fluids with xanthan gum. The ZnO nanoparticles, however, exhibited better improvement than the CuO

ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF PLANTS USED IN MANAGING ULCER IN ABEOKUTA METROPOLIS, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Ethnobotanical survey of plants often used for the management of ulcer in Abeokuta metropolis, Ogun State was carried out. A total of 100 respondents comprising 50 herbal traditional practitioners and 50 ulcer patients were interviewed. Study was carried out on plant parts used, modes of preparation, solvents used and types of preparation. Also, quantitative analysis of phytochemical ingredients of the most frequently used plants; Occimum basillicum, Musa paradisiaca, Aloe vera, Azadirachta. indica, Brassica oleracaeª¤? and Carica papaya was carried out. Data were subjected to Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with probability set at (p<0.05). Results revealed a total of 40 plants belonging to 30 families out of which Zingiberaceae, Apocynaceae, Moraceae, Asteraceae, Liliaceae, Malliacaeae,ª¤? Arecaceae, and Poaceaeª¤? were the most frequent families. The most frequently mentioned plants were Occimum basillicum (57.5%), Musa paradisiaca (55%), Aloe vera (50%), Azadirachta indica (47.5%), Brassica oleracae (25%) and Carica papaya (25%). Records from this study revealed that the largest life form of plant was herbs (30%), followed by trees (28%), shrubs or trees (4%) while least plant forms were grasses, flowers, underground stems, climbers and chalk as represented by 1% each. The main methods of preparation were decoction and infusion. The plant parts recorded being used for ulcer management were leaves, barks, fruits, seeds, roots, rhizomes and the whole plant as in Aloe vera.ª¤? The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (45%) while fruits, seeds, roots and rhizomes were the least parts used as represented by 5% each. Water, alcohol palm wine, palm oil and fermented maize water were the medium for ulcer herbal preparations.ª¤

A spectrum of phytoplankton flora along salinity gradient in the eastern Niger Delta area of Nigeria

The distribution of phytoplankton at different salinities in the eastern Niger Delta of Nigeria was investigated. The paper aims to contribute to the dearth of salinity-based distribution of organisms as well as phytoplankton studies in the region. A total of 64 taxa of phytoplankton were identified and classified into four divisions of Bacillariophyta (49 taxa), Chlorophyta (7 taxa), Cyanophyta (4 taxa) and Dinophyta (4 taxa). Salinity was found to produce floristical gradients. Three assemblages of phytoplankton were recognized which were those found at low narrow salinity range, those occurring at wide salinity zone and those with high narrow salinity range. Phytoplankton found in narrow salinity range were predominantly chlorophytes, while those occurring at high and narrow salinity were dinoflagellates and some diatoms

Systematic significance of the leaf cuticle of Hypodaphnis zenkeri (Engl.) Stapf (Lauraceae) and a record of its volatile organic compounds

Hypodaphnis zenkeri is a monotypic taxon whose position is basal in the phylogenetic tree of the family Lauraceae. Cuticular information on the plant is lacking. Given the systematic relevance of this character in the family and absence of its record for the species, the leaves of the species were investigated with the aid of light and scanning electron microscopy. Also, volatile organic compounds in leaves and fruits were studied with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), for the first time. Taxonomically useful cuticular features of the species include long stomatal rim and aperture, granulated periclinal walls on the adaxial surface and superficial stomatal orientation. The leaves and fruits of the plant are rich in volatile organic compounds such as 1,2-benzene-dicarboxylic acid, hexadecanoic acid ester and stigmasta-3,5-diene. Based on these features, the species can be distinguished from other related taxa in the family

Acalypha wilkesiana (Copper leaf) Leaves Alters Acute Cyanide Induced Hepatoxicity in Wister Rats

The aim of this investigation is to ascertain the possible ameliorating potential of Acalyphaw ilkesiana (subsp. macrophylla) methanolic leaf extract on cyanide induced hepatotoxicity and haemato toxicity in Wister rats. A total of 35Wister rats weighing between 100 and 150g were apportioned into 7 groups at random, each containing 5 rats. Group 1: negative control, received no treatment; group 2 and 3 received 200 and 400 mg/kg of A. wilkesiana crude extract respectively; group 4: received cyanide only (positive control); group 5: received cyanide and 660 mg/kg sodium thiosulphate (standard group); group 6 and7 received 200 and 400 mg/kg of crude extract of A. wilkesiana respectively. The result indicates that methanolic extract of A.wilkesiana irrespective of the concentration significantly reduced ALT, AST, and ALP activities in the rats induced with cyanide when compared with the positive control. However, Albumin and Total Protein concentrations were significantly increased in the treated Groups when compared with the positive control. In conclusion, Acalypha wilkesiana leaves were able to ameliorate cyanide induced hepatotoxicity comparable to standard cyanide antidotes in Wister rats