Characterization and Beneficiation of the Glass Making Potentials of Silica Sand Deposit from River Benue North Central Nigeria

Analytical techniques such as X – Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) were employed to characterize the glass making potentials of silica sand obtained from River Benue, North Central Region of Nigeria. The results of analyses reveal that silicon dioxide (SiO2) forms the predominant metal oxide in the entire samples with a percentage mean concentration of 93.946 ± 0.4775%, followed by (Fe2O3; 0.7116 ± 0.0829%) (P2O5; 0.1160± 0.1746%), (MnO; 0.0692 ± 0.0851%), (Na2O; 0.0460 ± 0.0047%), (BaO; 0.0494 ± 0.0183%), (PbO;0.0342± 0.0319%) (NiO; 0.0280± 0.0178%), (TiO2; 0.0240± 0.0021%),  (Al2O3;0.0142 ± 0.0035%),and trace amounts of CaO, MgO,K2O ZnO and CuO. Further beneficiation( using acid leaching method) of the silica sand samples reveal an increased silica (SiO2) content from 93.946 ± 0.4775% to 96.1590 ± 0.0683%, with a corresponding decrease in Fe2O3 content (0.7116 ± 0.0829% to 0.4150 ± 0.0014% across samples. Physico-chemical analysis shows a moderate pH value of 7.03 signifying high basic oxides content in the silica sand samples. Acid Demand Value (ADV) test reveals a moderately low ADV in samples of 20.09, signifying the presence of low soluble carbonates in the silica sand samples. Grain size distribution analysis reveals that a high percentage of the samples grains size distribution fraction are within the recommended screen sizes (40-100 mesh). Heavy liquid separation test reveals a significant trace amount of principal minerals such as ilminite, magnetite, mica, calcite and kaolinite. A correlation between the mean values of SiO2 and Fe2O3 in all the samples reveals an inverse relationship between SiO2 and Fe2O3 which implies that as the values of SiO2 increases that of Fe2O3. Furthermore, comparison of observed mean of SiO2, Fe2O3, CaO, Al2O3 and TiO2 with their observed minimum standard (95.00%; 0.005%; 0.1000% and 0.0120%) shows that the silica sand samples from River Benue can be used as a source of SiO2 for glass making. Key Words: Silica sand, Grain size, Chemical composition, Metal Oxides, Beneficiation, Acid demand values, Characterization

Antibacterial activity and medicinal properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale)

The antibacterial activity and medicinal properties of ginger extracts were studied. Ginger extracts were obtained using solvents, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanolic soxhlet and water. The extracts were assayed for antibacterial activity and bacterial growth inhibition activity. The results showed that all the extracts except the water extract have antibacterial activity and that the inhibition of bacterial growth was dose dependent. The results alsoshowed that ginger extracts possesses antibacterial properties and could be used for the treatment of bacterial infections

Effect of methods of extraction on phytochemical constituents and antibacterial properties of Tetracarpidium conophorum seeds

Effect of methods of extraction on phytochemical constituents and antibacterial properties of the extracts of the seeds of tetracarpidium conophorum was studied. Different solvents extraction methods yielded varying amounts of the phytochemical constituents and the antibacterial screening showed that all the extracts except the water extracts have antibacterial activity. The inhibition of bacterial growth showed that the extracts were dose dependent since no inhibition occurred at lower concentration. The study therefore showed that the extracts of the seeds oftetracarpidium conopharum are dependent upon the solvent and methods of extraction, and that the extract possesses antibacterial properties, which could be useful in treatment of bacterial infections and or other related diseases

Effect of alcohol and kolanut interaction on biochemical indices of neuronal gene expression in wistar albino rats.

Effect of alcohol and kolanut interactions on biochemical indices of neuronal gene expression in Wistar albino rats was studied. Thirty Wistar albino rats were divided into six groups of five (5) rats per group. The control group (1) received via oral route a placebo (4ml of distilled water). Groups 2 - 6 were treated for a period of 21-days with (10% v/v) 50mg/kg body weight of alcohol, 50mg/kg body weight of kolanut, 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine, 50mg/kg body weight of alcoholand 50mg/kg body weight of kolanut, and 50mg/kg body weight of alcohol and 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine in 4.0ml of the vehicle via gastric intubation respectively. One day after the final exposure,the brain of each rat was harvested and processed to examine several biochemical parameters, i.e., total protein, DNA, RNA and protein/RNA ratios. The status of neuronal gene expression was monitoredthrough assessment of these parameters. The results showed that alcohol-kolanut co-administration decreased brain total protein, DNA, RNA levels and protein/RNA ratios, and inhibited gene expression.These effects, in turn, inhibited DNA transcription, MRNA splicing and protein synthesis, and polypeptide expression, which are necessary for the growth, development, differentiation and cell survival

Effect of caffeine -coconut products interactions on induction of microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes in wistar albino rats

Effect of caffeine-coconut products interactions on induction of drug-metabolizing enzyme in wistar albino rats was studied. Twenty rats were randomly divided into four groups: The control group (1) received via oral route a placebo (4.0ml of distilled water). Groups 2 to 4 were treated for a 14-day period with 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine, 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine and 50mg/kg body weight of coconut water, and 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine and 50mg/kg body weight ofcoconut milk in 4.0ml of the vehicle via gastric intubation respectively. One day after the final exposure, the animals were anaestheticized by inhalation of an overdose of chloroform. The blood of each rat was collected by cardiac puncture while the liver of each rat was harvested and processed to examine several biochemical parameters, ie, total protein and RNA levels, protein/RNA ratios, and activities of alanine and aspartate amino transferase (ALT and AST, respectively). The results showed that while ingestion of coconut milk and coconut water increased the values of protein and protein/RNA ratios, it decreased alanine and aspartate amino transferase (ALT and AST) activities.These effects, in turn, enhanced the induction of the metabolizing enzymes and a resultant faster clearance and elimination of the caffeine from the body, there by reducing the toxic effect on the liver

Effect of alcohol and kolanut interaction on brain sodium pump activity in wistar albino rats.

Effect of alcohol - kolanut interaction on Sodium Pump activity in wistar albino rats was studied. Thirty wistar albino rats were divided into six groups of five (5) rats per group and used for the study. The control group (1) received via oral route a placebo (4ml of distilled water). Groups 2 to 6 were treated for a period of 21 days, with (10% v/v) of alcohol (group 2), 50mg/kg body weight of kolanut (group 3), 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine (group 4), 4ml of 10% v/v of alcohol and50mg/kg body weight kolanut (group 5), 4ml of 10% v/v of alcohol and 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine in 4.0ml of the vehicle via gastric intubation respectively. A day after the final exposure, thebrain of each rat was harvested and processed to examine several biochemical parameters, i.e., total ATpase, ouabain-insensitive ATpase, ouabain sensitive ATpase (Na+ - K+ - ATpase), non-enzymatic breakdown of ATP and inorganic phosphate (Pi) released. The results showed that the essential enzyme of the brain responsible for neuronal function, Na+ - K+ - ATpase, was inhibited by alcohol-kolanut coadministration relative to control, resulting in a decrease in Na+ - K+ - ATpase activity, ATP production,ion transport and action potential, leading to loss of neuronal activities