Bench scale model studies on sanitary landfill leachate treatment with M. oleifera seed extract and hollow fibre micro-filtration membrane

A laboratory-based study using a Bench Scale model of four unit operations made up of coagulation (using Moringa oleifera seed extract as a coagulant), flocculation, sedimentation and micro-filtration, have been adopted to treat the leachate from Air Hitman Sanitary Landfill at Puchong in Malaysia. M. oleifera dosages of 150 and 175 mg/L had achieved 43.8% Cadmium removal, 21.2% Total Chromium removal, 66.8% Lead removal and 16% Iron removal. It also removed 55.4% of Total Suspended Solids, 10% of Total Dissolved Solids and 24.2% of Volatile Suspended Solids. Micro-filtration hollow fibre membrane decreased the turbidity, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, volatile suspended solids, and organic matter in the leachate by 98.3%, 96.7%, 20.8%, 36.6% and 21.9% respectively. Overall heavy metals removal after micro-filtration using hollow fibre membrane was 94% for Cadmium, 29.8% for Total Chromium, 73.2% for Lead, and 18.3% for Iron. The results have shown that M. oleifera is a promising natural polymer for removing heavy metals from leachates and may be used as a pre-treatment to eliminate a portion of the toxic heavy metals, which limits the activity of micro organisms in the leachates

Family relationship index and risky sexual behaviour among youths attending two secondary care facilities, Ibadan, South West, Nigeria

Background: Unsafe sexual practice remains high among young population. Sexual behaviour is controlled by both biology and social factors, and family being the bedrock for social integration could influence decision on sexual activity. The study therefore assessed the influence of family relationship index on risky sexual behaviour among youths in South West, Nigeria.Method: A hospital based cross-sectional study among 370 sexually active youths who were recruited at two secondary health facilities in Ibadan over a four month period after securing ethical approval. Quantitative data were obtained using interviewer administered structured questionnaire and analysis was done with SPSS version 18 with level of statistical significant at p ≤5%.Results: The respondents' age ranged between 15-24 years. The prevalence of unsafe sexual practice among the respondents was 72.7%. Youths with risky sexual behaviour had lower scores on family cohesion scale 6.77±2.432 (p=0.003) and family communication score of 5.45±1.919 (p= 0.225) than youth who engaged in safe sexual practice. The conflict mean score was significantly higher among respondents with unsafe sex compared to those with safe sex at 2.88 ±1.959 and 2.30 ±1.884 (p = 0.011) respectively. Similarly, overall Family Relationship Index (FRI) showed that youth who engaged in risky sex were significantly more from conflict oriented-families compared to youth from support-oriented families (p=0.015).Conclusion: A higher proportion of youths in this study engaged in risky sexual behaviour. Support Oriented Family Relationship Index protect youths from unsafe sex. Hence, the need to ensure family based interventions that promote safe home environment. Keywords: Family Relationship Index, Risky Sexual Behaviour, Youth, Nigeria

Synthesis of carbon nanofibers on impregnated powdered activated carbon as cheap substrate

The catalysis and characterization of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) composite are reported in this work. Carbon nanofibers were produced on oil palm shell powdered activated carbon (PAC), which was impregnated with nickel. Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) of C2H2 was used in the presence of hydrogen at ∼650 °C. The flow rates of carbon source and hydrogen were fixed. The CNFs formed directly on the surface of the impregnated PAC. Variable weight percentages (1%, 3%, 5%, 7% and 9%) of the catalyst salt (Ni+2) were used for the impregnation. However, the best catalysis was observed on the substrate with 3% Ni+2. The product displayed a relatively high surface area, essentially constituted by the external surface. New functional groups also appeared compared to those in the PAC. Field Emission Scanning Microscopy (FESEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), BET surface area analysis and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) were used for the characterization of the new carbon nano product, which was produced through a clean novel process