PECTINASE PRODUCTION BY Aspergillus niger USING PECTIN FROM PINEAPPLE PEELS AND ITS APPLICATION IN COCONUT OIL EXTRACTION

Pectinases are a group of enzymes that hydrolyze pectic substances. This research is designed to produce pectinase from A. niger using laboratory produced pectin and to apply the pectinase produced to the extraction of oil from coconut. A. niger was isolated from five days old ‘eba’. The isolate was identified by morphological characteristics. The identified isolate was inoculated into basal salt medium and pectinase was produced by submerged fermentation over a seven-day period at a 24h interval. The extracellular pectinase was partially purified using activated charcoal and characterized using such parameters as effect of temperature, effect of time of heating, effect of substrate concentration and effect of metal ions. Then, the crude and partially purified were applied to the extraction of oil from coconut. Process optimization was done with central composite design using Response surface methodology (RSM). The highest pectinase activity was obtained on the fifth day of incubation. Optimum conditions for temperature, pH and substrate concentration were ascertained at 400C, 5 and 2 % respectively for pectinase produced by A. niger. The enzyme lost all its activity within 30min of heating at 900C and metal ion (Mg2+) stimulated the activity. This study revealed the production of pectinase from Aspergillus niger, optimized the process for industrial production of the enzyme and revealed its effectiveness for extraction of oil

IMPACT OF POVERTY INCIDENCE AND SEVERITY IN NIGERIA: THE TOURISM PERSPECTIVE: LAWAL Adenike Olusola, AKERELE Ezekiel Olaoluwa, OMOTOBA Nathaniel Ileri, LAWAL Beloved John, ODUFUWA Babatunde Adewale

This study reviews the incidence and severity of poverty as it relates to tourism in Nigeria. It examines the causes and effects of tourism and how it affects tourism participation. The study employs the Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs as its basis for theoretical underpinning. The study relied on secondary data and literatures for its review. The study found out that the major reasons for underdevelopment in the area is neglect of the tourism sector of the country which in turn caused many more people to become poorer. It recommends that government should diversify and work on tourism potentials especially in host communities which are majorly rural areas. This in turn is expected to alleviate poverty in the communities. It is expected that this work will be useful for the purpose of politicking and making policies that will better the life of the poor