Coal and Zea mays cob waste as adsorbents for removal of metallic ions from wastewater

The efficiency of coal (CO) and Zea mays (ZM) cob adsorbents for the removal of metallic ions from wastewater is reported. The adsorbents were used in both their granular (GCO and GZM) and powdered (PCO and PZM) forms respectively. Chromium, nickel, iron and cadmium were used asmodel ions. Efficiency of the method relied on the use of Shimadzu AA650 double beam atomic absorption/flame spectrophotometer. Effects of varying adsorbent dose, adsorbate loading concentration, pH and adsorbent surface area on the percentage removal of the adsorbates werestudied. Results revealed that coal relatively have higher affinity for the tested ions compared to zea mays cob. The order of removal on the two adsorbents are nearly similar with little variations for Ni and Cd. Thermodynamic analyses at 303, 313, 323 and 333K and at optimum adsorbent weight and 60mgL-1 initial adsorbate loading concentration indicates a spontaneous and feasible process.Keywords: Adsorbate, Adsorbent, Coal, % Removal, Wastewater, Zea mays cob

Removal of Toxic Metals from Aqueous Solution by Saw Dust

In this work, feasibility studies of using a natural and low cost adsorbent; saw dust for the removal of Cr(VI), Ni(II), Fe(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solution was carried out. The efficiency of the adsorbent was judged from the variation of the % adsorption with (i) contact time, (ii) adsorbent dose, (iii) initial metal ion concentration, (iv) effect of pH variation of the adsorbate solution, (v) activation of the adsorbents and (vi) particle size. Changes in the concentrations of the metallic ions after the adsorption process were monitored using Shimadzu AA650 Double-Beam Digital Atomic Absorption/Flame Spectrophotometer. Results suggest that the adsorbent employed in this work have the ability to remove the tested ions from their aqueous solutions with adsorption order onto the adsorbent varying according to Cr > Fe > Ni > Cd. Also for each ion there is an optimum pH for maximum adsorption beyond which the efficiency declined. Keywords: Saw dust, adsorption, adsorbent, metal ion, % remova

Adsorption studies for the removal of Cr(VI) ion from aqueous solution

The adsorption characteristics of Cr(VI) in the form of Cr2O7(-2) ion from aqueous solution onto synthetic exchanger Amberlite IRA 400(Cl) resin was studied from UV – visible spectrphotometric measurement using DPC at 580nm. The efficiency of the adsorbent was judged from the variation of the % adsorption with (i) contact time, (ii) adsorbent dose and (iii) initial metal ion concentration. For the optimum adsorbent dose, the highest % adsorption was found to be 99.92% at 30ppm metal ion concentration. Keywords: adsorption, adsorbent, metal io

Prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical and pharmaceutical students in Alexandria University

Introduction: Depression and anxiety in the community are considered as specific indicator for mental status of a person and various studies have documented anxiety and depression among medical and pharmaceutical students.Objective: In this study, the prevalence of anxiety and depression was measured among medical and pharmaceutical students in the Alexandria University.Methods: Students from both faculties were asked to complete both Beck depression inventory and Beck anxiety inventory.Results: In Faculty of Medicine, with total number of 164 students, the prevalence of anxiety and depression was found to be 43.9% and 57.9%, respectively, based on the cut-off points of both questionnaires. In Faculty of Pharmacy, with total number of 164 students, the prevalence of anxiety and depression was found to be 29.3% and 51.1% respectively, based on the cut-off points of both questionnaires.Conclusion: The study revealed significant distress among both medical and pharmaceutical students. Moreover, it was concluded that the prevalence of anxiety and depression in Faculty of Medicine was found higher than that in Faculty of Pharmacy. Furthermore, it was noticed that the prevalence of symptoms was higher among females

Assessment of the exchange parameters of Amberlite IR-45 (OH) resin from its elution with saturated Na2SO4

Simple quantitative technique has been developed for assessing the exchange parameters of Amberlite IR – 45 (OH) using column  chromatographic techniques from the displacement of exchangeable hydroxyl ions of the resin by sulphate ions. The results obtained showed retention time of 33min, retention volume of 56.5cm3, void volume of 18cm3, and exchange capacity of 41mmole/g and exchange site density of 2.4682 x 1022sites /g

Remediation of Cr and Fe from aqueous solution by natural adsorbents

Different kinds of low-cost agro based fibres can be used to remove both trace and heavy metals from aqueous solutions. The removal efficiency of maize (Zea mays) cob, sawdust and coal coded as MC, SD and CO respectively was investigated in this study for the bioremediation of chromium and iron. Sorption experiments were carried out using batch process in which changes in concentration of the adsorbates were monitored by the use of Shimadzu AA650 Double Beam Atomic Absorption/Flame spectrophotometer. Effects of varying adsorbent dose, adsorbate loading concentration, pH, and adsorbent surface area were studied. At optimum adsorbent dose, remediation of Cr varies according to CO > SD > MC, while that of Fe varies according to MC > CO > SD. However, on individual adsorbents the remediation efficiency is; on MC Cr has 48.5% while Fe has 100%, while on SD Cr has 97.85% while Fe has 95% and lastly on CO Cr has 98.57% and Fe has 98%. This shows that the adsorbent can selectively be employed for the remediation of the ions from the solutions

Spectrophotometric Study of Stability Constants of Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) Complexes of 2, 2 – Bipyridine at Different Temperatures

Complexation of Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) with 2, 2– bipyridine (bpy) have been studied spectrophotometrically at absorption maxima for Co(bpy), Ni(bpy) and Cu(bpy), of 400, 400 and 680nm respectively. The complexations were carried out at temperatures 30°C, 40°C, 50°C and 60°C at the wavelengths of the respective complexes. The stoichiometry of the complexes were determined using Job’s continuous variation method and the value was found to be 1:2 metal to ligand ratio. Stability constants (K) values were calculated using the continuous variation method and found to be in the order 3.51 x 103, 3.30 x 103 and 2.88 x 103 respectively for Cu-bpy, Ni-bpy and Co-bpy. The complexes were found to be stable over the temperature range used as there was slight change in the color intensity and absorbance values. From the thermodynamic parameters ΔG, ΔS and ΔH values, the reactions were all spontaneous and exothermic.Keywords: Cobalt(II), Copper(II), Nickel(II), Spectrophotometric, Stability constant, Thermodynamic parameter

Removal of Congo Red Dye from Aqueous Solution using Sugarcane Bagasse and Bambara Groundnut Shell

A methodology involving sugarcane bagasse (SB) and Bambara groundnut shell (BGS) as adsorbents was developed in order to remove the carcinogenic Congo red dye from aqueous medium. The effect of contact time, sorbent dosage, initial concentration and pΗ were investigated. The results showed high efficiency of ≈ 93% and 75% using 4.5g of SB and BGS respectively. The results also indicated that the % removal increases with increase in dye loading concentration, while it decreased with an increase in pΗ of the solution from 4 to 10. From the results, it is possible to conclude that sugarcane bagasse and Bambara groundnut shell are good adsorbents for dye effluent treatment.Keywords: Bambara groundnut shell, Congo red, Sugarcane Bagasse, % Dye Removal

Inhibitory Effect of African Pumpkin (Momordica balsamina Linn.) Leaf Extract on Copper Corrosion in Acidic Media

Inhibition of copper corrosion in acidic medium by ethanolic extract of Momordica balsamina leaves was investigated. Findings reveal that the rate of copper corrosion increases with increasing temperature of the medium but decreases as the concentration of the Momordica balsamina extract added to the medium increases. Examination of the surface morphology of copper using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) also reveals that while the surface of copper was seriously damaged in acidic solution in the absence of Momordica balsamina extract, addition of 0.8 mgL-1 of the extract significantly protected the copper surface from corrosion. Results obtained from adsorption and thermodynamic studies reveal that the adsorption of the inhibitor on the surface of the copper metal fitted well to both Freundlich ( R2≥ 0.948) and Temkin ( R2≥ 0.940) adsorption models and the low values of activation energies obtained ( Ea≤ 34.02 kjmol-1) indicate that the adsorption of the inhibitor on the copper surface favors the mechanism of physical adsorption. Negative signs of ΔGads obtained in the study suggest that the adsorption of Momordica balsamina on the copper metal is thermodynamically favorable. The data obtained in this study demonstrate that extract of Momordica balsamina leaves probably contains one or more chemical species that protect copper against corrosion through the mechanism of physical adsorption. Keywords: Adsorption, Copper, Corrosion, Inhibitor, Momordica balsamin

Glomerular disease and acute kidney injury in Sudan: Demographics, histological diagnosis and outcome

Background. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a relatively common clinical condition, associated with high rates of mortality. Although there is extensive literature on the nature and consequence of AKI in the developed world, much less is known in the developing world and more specifically in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).Objectives. To describe the demographics, histological diagnosis and clinical course of patients presenting with AKI to a single centre in Sudan.Methods. Retrospective data were collected on 100 consecutive patients with AKI and an active urinary sediment, who underwent diagnostic native percutaneous renal biopsy.Results. The mean (standard deviation) age of those biopsied was 33.6 (14.1) years of age, with a preponderance (58%) of females. The most common clinical  indications for biopsy were AKI associated with haematuria and proteinuria (72%), AKI and proteinuria (22.5%) or AKI and haematuria (5%). The frequencies of the most common primary glomerulonephritides (GN) were focal segmental GN (15%) and mesangiocapillary GN (8%). Lupus nephritis was the most frequent secondary GN associated with AKI (31%) and the most common overall histological diagnosis. Peak creatinine, but not oliguria, at presentation predicted likelihood of remaining dialysis-dependent. Age at presentation but not baseline renal function by  estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), was associated with the likelihood of having residual chronic kidney disease following an episode of AKI.Conclusions. The data suggested differences in the pattern of intrinsic  renal/glomerular disease leading to AKI to those published and mainly derived from the developed world and patients in SSA