Physicochemical Characteristics of Biomass Briquette Derived from Orange Rind

The present high cost of modern cooking fuels coupled with the challenge of its non-widespread distribution has resulted to a shift in the utilization of biomass residues as an alternative cooking fuels in most developing nations of the world. The major attraction therefore is the replacement of fire-woods and charcoals currently utilized in most rural communities with a more sustainable energy sources such as briquettes. Biomass briquettes made from solid agricultural wastes  are being promoted as a better alternative for firewood and charcoal for heating, cooking and other industrial applications in both urban and rural communities. In this research, orange briquettes were produced from orange rind using local technology. Orange rind was generated from the peeled orange fruit after removing the inner fleshy part. The rind was dried and blended into powder using an electric blender. The orange rind and fresh banana peel was blended together in the ratios of 2:1 and 2:4. Four different briquettes were produced based on the ratios using locally fabricated mould and a wooden slab as the press. Physicochemical characteristics of the formed briquette was investigated. The results on the physicochemical properties of the briquettes showed that quality briquettes were produced from the orange rind with fresh banana peel as the binder. The compressed density and the durability rating of the briquettes were significantly influenced (P<0.05) when the binding type and binding ratio were varied. Considering the raw materials involved, the briquette was produced from a 100% recycled wastes making it an environmentally friendly product. This study therefore offers an alternative for a better utilization of orange rind biomass for value-added products. Keywords: biomass, orange briquettes, binder, physicochemical properties value-added product

Seasonal Metal Distribution in Ondo Coastal Sediment, Nigeria

The distribution of heavy metals in streambed sediment from an oil-producing region in Nigeria has been examined between the two distinct seasons (dry and wet). The highest mean concentration duringthe dry season (wet season in brackets) was 2083.3±355.5 (2264.2±347.3)mg/kg Cu and 0.16±0.06 (0.19±0.09)mg/kg Zn respectively. With similar patterns at both seasons, the order of increasing concentration was Z

Seasonal Metal Distribution in Ondo Coastal Sediment, Nigeria

The distribution of heavy metals in streambed sediment from an oil-producing region in Nigeria has been examined between the two distinct seasons (dry and wet). The highest mean concentration duringthe dry season (wet season in brackets) was 2083.3±355.5 (2264.2±347.3)mg/kg Cu and 0.16±0.06 (0.19±0.09)mg/kg Zn respectively. With similar patterns at both seasons, the order of increasing concentration was Z

Occurrence and Toxicity of Hydrocarbon Residues in Crab (Callinectes sapidus) from Contaminated Site

To elucidate seasonal changes in hydrocarbons including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) due to oil spill, tissues of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) were investigated. Total petroleum hydrocarbons (n-alkanes) concentrations ranged from 0.17-0.32ìg/gdw and 0.28-0.62ìg/gdw during the dry and wet seasons respectively. Thetissues accumulate a complex spectrum dominated by heavier hydrocarbons, alkylsubstituted and PAHs. The impact of biogenic contribution through dietary uptake was related to the elevated levels, particularly of the PAHs. Studies of other site specific, resident organism are recommended in order to be able to establish the extent of toxicit

Anatomical and chemical composition of Detarium Senegalense J.F. Gmel Bark

The anatomical and chemical composition of Detarium senegalense bark was studied after grinding and fractioning into different particles sizes. The bark of D. senegalense mature trees was fractionized into fine and coarse granulometric particles using 0.150 mm and 4.0 mm mesh respectively. The bark showed the following compositions for fine and coarse bark granulometric respectively as ash (10.9 % and 12.1 %), total extractives (20.9 % and 16.4 %), suberin (0.97 % and 0.94 %) and lignin (36.5 % and 31.2 %). Ash elemental composition was different in both fractionized biomass. The suberin content in both fractions were as well low. Fine D. senegalense bark contained more extractives in relation to coarse granulometric D. senegalense bark. For the elemental compositional characterization, the values obtained for the fine and coarse bark solutes were almost in the same range for N (0.75 % and 0.72 %), P (0.095 % and 0.092%), Mg (0.13 % and 0.14 %), Ca (6.6 % and 6.2 %), K (0.33 % and 0.31 %), Ni (1.81 mg/kg and 1.77 mg/kg ), Cr (1.98 mg/kg and 1.93 mg/kg), Pb (2.02 mg/kg and 2.05 mg/kg). However, high concentration of Zn was found in fine granules of D. sengalense bark that is, 29 mg/kg compared to 13 mg/kg in the  coarse bark. Extractives were present preferentially in the finest fraction in dichloromethane, ethanol and water soluble. D. senegalense bark had a high content of 36.5 and 31.2 cellulose and hemicelluloses especially in the coarser fraction. The rich lignin content of 39.5 and 20.9 in D. senegalense wood makes it a good potential resource for adhesives, chemical and biorefinery industries. The significant content of extractive in D. senegalense suggests conferment of natural durability to the wood. Particle size reduction by grinding is a unit operations that may be used as selective enrich solutes in soluble materials. Keywords: Anatomical structure, Chemical composition, Detarium senegalense, fine granulometric fraction, coarse granulometric fractio

Effects of Citric Acid and Methanol Extracts of Banana and Plantain Peels on Stability of Refined Soybean Oil

Refined Soybean Oil (RSBO) was freshly obtained before adding any additive from a local Vegetable Oil factory in Owo, Ondo- State, Nigeria. Ripped peels of banana and plantain were removed from their fruits, cut, sun dried, ground, sieved and separately extracted with methanol. The methanol extracts were dosed at varying concentrations (0.02%-0. 10%) into RSBO. RSBO containing 0.02% and 0.04% of citric acid (CA) were also set up for comparison. The stability effects of methanol extracts and citric acid of RSBO were evaluated by monitoring the Free Fatty Acid (FFA), Acid Value (AV) and Peroxide Value (PV) of the oil sample monthly for a period of six months. The results indicated that RSBO containing both extracts (0.02%-0. 10%) and citric acid were more oxidatively stable than RSBO that contained no additive. Oil samples containing 0.08%-0. 10% banana peel extract, 0.08% plantain peel extract and citric acid (0.02%-0.10%) were more hydrolytically stable than oil sample that contained no additive. Plantain peel extract in RSBO competed more favourably with citric acid than banana peel extract in terms of oxidative stability of RSBO. The plantain peel extract had higher antioxidative activity than banana peel extract against oxidative deterioration of RSBO. Both extracts had optimal performance against oxidative rancidity of RSBO at 0.06% concentration

Preliminary cytotoxicity studies on some Nigerian medicinal plants used as traditional anticancer remedies

Crinum jagus, Icacina trichantha and Solanum erianthum are used in ethno-medicine for the treatment of cancer. This study screened different parts of these plants (leaves and bulb of C. jagus; leaves and tuber of I. trichantha; and leaves and stem of S. erianthum) for cytotoxicity. Dried samples of these plant parts were extracted  successively with hexane, ethylacetate and methanol using the maceration method and concentrated to dryness using a rotary evaporator. Cytotoxicity studies on the extracts were carried out using the brine shrimp assay at concentrations of 10 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL and 1000 μg/mL (in triplicates). The response of the nauplii to different concentrations of the extracts was observed after 24 h. The LC50 value was used as a measure of the toxicity of the extracts. The LCc50 values for the different extracts of the leaves and bulb of Crinum jagus ranged between 0.251 μg/ml and 10.280 μg/ml. Values ranging between 9.992 μg/mL and 192.602 μg/mL were obtained for the leaves and tuber of Icacina trichantha. The leaves and stem of Solanum erianthum gave LC50 values between 2.395 μg/mL and 84.924 μg/mL. The plant parts under study had very low LC50 values and therefore show promise as potential sources of novel anticancer agents

Investigation of Bulb Extracts of Crinum jagus for Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities

This study investigates the bulb extracts of Crinum jagus for antimicrobial activities. The bulb samples were dried, ground and subjected to successive extraction using hexane, ethylacetate and methanol. The extracts were screened for activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Klebisidlae pneumonae, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium notatum and Rhizopus stolonifer at concentrations between 6.25 and 200 mg/ml. Antimicrobial assays werecarried out using agar diffusion method. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the extracts was determined. The percentage yields obtained for the hexane, ethylacetate and methanol extracts of the bulbs are 0.28 %, 0.44% and 24.68 % respectively. Results showed that the methanolic extract had better antibacterial and antifungal activities than the other extracts. The methanol extract showed the highest antibacterial activity against S. aureus with a zone of inhibition of 28 mm at 200 mg/ml. Also, the methanol extract showed the highest antifungal activities against C. albicans, A. niger and P. notatum with a zone of inhibition of 20 mm at 200 mg/ml. The hexane and ethylacetate extracts had no activity against the microorganisms at 6.25 mg/ml.The methanol extract had the lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 2.50 mg/ml against S. aureus, E. coli, B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa and S. typhi. The methanol extract could be a source of potent antimicrobial compounds. Keywords: Antibacterial, Antifungal, Crinum jagus, Agar diffusion, MI

Functional Properties of Processed Pinto Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Grown in Plateau State, Nigeria

It is well documented that processing method influences the chemical composition and utilization of plant foods. For this purpose, the effect of different processing methods (boiled, cooked, roasted, sprouted and fermented) was investigated on the functional properties of pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) flour. Functional properties (water, oil, oil emulsion and foaming capacities: WAC, OAC, OEC, FC; foaming and oil emulsion stabilities: FS, OES; least gelation concentration: LGC; bulk density: BD; protein solubility: PS) of raw and processed pinto bean flour were all determined using standard analytical techniques. The results showed that OEC, OES, LGC and BD were enhanced by different processing methods while WAC and OAC were reduced by roasting method. Processing significantly (p ?0.05) affected the content of some functional parameters in pinto bean flour. Boiling, sprouting and fermenting increased WAC and OAC contents by 34.6, 28.8, 21.2% and 33.0, 24.2, 36.3%, respectively while cooking, roasting and sprouting reduced FS by respective 3.9, 32.4 and 13.6%. The protein solubility studies of the raw and processed sample flour were found to have minimum solubility at pH range of 4.0 to 5.2 which correspond to isoelectric points where protein isolates might be recovered from the samples. Generally, all the functional parameters determined in this study were good thereby making raw and processed samples of pinto bean potentially useful in some food formulations. Keywords: Pinto bean, domestic processing, functional parameters

Evaluation of Extracts of Leaves of Crinum jagus for Antimicrobial Properties

Plants have been used in ethno-medicine for ages in the treatment of various diseases. In the current study, the leaves of C. jagus are investigated for antimicrobial activities. The leaves were dried and extracted successively with hexane, ethylacetate and methanol. The concentrated extracts were screened for activity against Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Bacillus subtilis , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Salmonella typhi , Klebisidlae pneumonae, Candida albicans , Aspergillus niger , Penicillium notatum and Rhizopus stolonifer at concentrations between 6.25 and 200 mg/ml using the agar diffusion method. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was also determined. The percentage yields obtained were 0.92 %, 1.20 % and 25.2 % for the hexane, ethylacetate and methanol extracts respectively. The zones of inhibition of the organisms by the extracts generally increased with the concentrations. The methanol extract showed the best activity of the three extracts tested. The methanol extract had values ranging between 20 mm and 26 mm against the bacteria at 200 mg/ml. This extract also showed values between 18 mm and 20 mm against the fungi at 200 mg/ml. The lowest MICs values (of 2.5 mg/ml) were obtained against S. aureus, E. coli, B. subtilis and S. typhi. The polar constituents in the leaves of the plant are likely responsible for the antimicrobial properties observed. None of the extracts showed activity comparable to those of the standard drugs, however the methanol extract showed some potential as a source of antimicrobial compounds