Drying characteristics and engineering properties of fermented ground cassava

The effect of variety on the drying and engineering properties of fermented ground cassava was studied in order to generate data for design and optimum performance of various dryers used in cassava processing. This research attempts to provide data on the engineering properties such asmoisture content, specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and bulk density. One native cultivar and two high yield improved cultivars (TMS 30572 and NR 8082) were used for this study. The specific heat capacity obtained ranged from 1.40 to 1.45 KJ/Kg K and for bone dryfermented ground cassava. The average thermal conductivity obtained was 0.24 W/MK. The bulk density, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity increased with increase in moisture content while thermal diffusivity decreased as moisture content increased

Equilibrium uptake and sorption dynamics for the removal of a basic dye using bamboo

The bisorption of basic dye from aqueous solution on bamboo based activated carbon was studied in a batch system. The effect of various experimental parameters, such as pH, adsorbent dosage, temperature and initial dye concentration was investigated. The results showed that these parameters influenced the adsorption capacity. Higher solution pH favoured the adsorption of basic dye. Dye removal increased with increase in the initial concentration of basic dye. The adsorption of dye increased with increasing temperature of the solution from 25 to 45°C, indicating the process to be endothermic. Dye removal increased with increase in the initial concentration of the dye. As adsorbent concentration increased, the amount adsorbed per unit mass of adsorbent decreased. The equilibriumdata fitted very well to Langmuir and Freundlich models

Adsorptive Properties of Poly(1-methylpyrrol-2-ylsquaraine) Particles for the Removal of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals from Aqueous Solutions: Batch and Fixed-Bed Column Studies

The adsorptive properties of poly(1-methylpyrrol-2-ylsquaraine) (PMPS) particles were investigated in batch and column adsorption experiments as alternative adsorbent for the treatment of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in water. The PMPS particles were synthesised by condensing 3,4-dihydroxycyclobut-3-ene-1,2-dione (squaric acid) with 1-methylpyrrole in butanol. The results demonstrated that PMPS particles are effective in the removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in water with adsorption being more favourable at an acidic pH, and a superior sorption capacity being achieved at pH 4. The results also showed that the removal of EDCs by the PMPS particles was a complex process involving multiple rate-limiting steps and physicochemical interactions between the EDCs and the particles. Gibbs free energy of −8.32 kJ/mole and −6.6 kJ/mol, and enthalpies of 68 kJ/mol and 43 kJ/mol, were achieved for the adsorption E2 and EE2 respectively The removal efficiencies of the EDCs by PMPS particles were comparable to those of activated carbon, and hence can be applied as an alternative adsorbent in water treatment applications

Effective Decolorization of Eriochrome Black T, Furschin Basic and Malachite Green dyes from Synthetic Wastewater by Electrocoag-nanofiltration

This study examines the use of electrocoagulation treatment process followed by nanofiltration process in removing color from synthetic wastewater. Three representative dye molecules were selected for the synthetic dye wastewater:  Azo dye (Eriochrome Black T), Furschin Basic and Malachite Green dyes. Iron electrode was use as a sacrificial anode in the study. The influence of electrolysis time, operating current density, initial pH, initial dye concentration and temperature on process performances was investigated. Experiments were conducted to find the desired conditions for removal of particular concentration of the dyes. The results showed that 91% of Eriochrome Black T, 92% of Furschin Basic and 80% Malachite dye was decolorized for initial dye concentration of 100 mg/l with the current density of 1559 A/m2, electrolysis time of 25 minute and initial pH of 10. The electrochemical technique showed satisfactory color removal efficiency and reliable performance in treating the dye types. Electrode mass loss and energy consumed were also calculated.   Keywords: nanofiltration; electrocoagulation; dye; synthetic waste water; removal efficiency; optimization

Dilute Acid Hydrolysis of Cowpea Hulls: A Kinetic Study

In this study, dilute acid hydrolysis of cowpea hulls was carried out in two stages under the following conditions: pre-hydrolysis (4%v/v H2SO4, 121˚C, 30 minutes) and hydrolysis ( at 10% and 15% v/v H2SO4,varied at different temperatures 150 oC, 160 oC, 170 oC and 180 oC for 2.5 hrs.). The substrate was characterized using both Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proximate analysis. The percentage lignocellulosic composition of the substrate was obtained for cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin as 34%, 14% and 4.7% respectively. Maximum glucose concentration of 8.09g was obtained using 10%v/v acid concentration at 170˚C after a reaction time of 90min. Saeman’s model gave a good fit for the experimental data. Activation energy for glucose formation using 10%v/v and 15%v/v H2SO4 was obtained as 38.28KJ and 82.204KJ respectively. From the results obtained it can be concluded that cowpea hulls can be converted to a useful product

Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Fermentation of Plantain Peels: Optimization and Kinetic Studies

Abstract The aim of this work was to optimize the hydrolysis and fermentation of plantain peels. Kinetic study was also carried out. Proximate analysis of plantain peels was carried out and the result showed that it contains 46% cellulose. Aspergillus niger isolated and screened for cellulase activities was used as the crude enzyme for the hydrolysis and commercial available Saccharomyces cerevisae was used for the fermentation. The optimization was done using quadratic model of central composite rotatable design for both hydrolysis and fermentation. Analysis of variance ANOVA was used to test for the significance of the model and the factors. The results of the analysis showed that temperature, time, pH and the substrate concentration significantly affected the yield of simple sugar in the hydrolysis of plantain peels. The result equally showed that temperature, time and pH were significant factors of fermentation. The optimum conditions for the hydrolysis were 35˚C, 5 days, and pH of 5.5, substrate concentration of 8 g/30ml and glucose yield of 49%. Also the optimum conditions of fermentation were obtained as 30˚C, pH of 4.0, 9 days and ethanol yield of 19%. The Michaelis-Menten model adequately fit both the hydrolysis and fermentation kinetics

Influence of Blanching on the Drying Characteristics of Convective Hot Air Dried Aerial Yam

A research on the drying characteristics of aerial yam using convectional hot air was done. The raw unblanched and blanched samples were dried using convectional hot air. Fan speed, temperature and slice thickness were varied to determine the change in moisture content. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were done to determine the functional groups and surface morphology respectively for each sample. FTIR results revealed the presence of some important functional groups such as esters, ethers and nitro-compounds, and shows that drying at this temperatures (40-70oC) does not alter the nutrient components of this variety of yam. The SEM results showed that important cells were not destroyed at the drying temperature. Batch studies on the drying process also showed that increase in temperature and air speed increased the drying process, but decreases with increase in slice thickness. Effect of drying rate on the sample showed that drying rate increase with increase in temperature and air speed but decrease with increase in slice thickness. After 90 minutes of drying, the drying rate of the 2 mm slice thickness was 0.353 g/g.min for drying of aerial yam while for 4 mm and 6 mm slice thickness, the drying rate were 0.261 and 0.169 g/g.min respectively, for effect of drying rate on sample thickness. It showed also that blanched aerial yam sampleshad a higher drying rate than the unblanched aerial yam sample at the same conditions. Therefore, the economic advantages of this yam species can be optimized by blanching

Characterization of oils from Duranta repens

The knowledge of the chemical composition of unpopular sources of edible oils has become paramount to supplement the usage of widely known vegetable oils. In this study, the gas chromatographic quantification of fatty acids and phytochemicals was carried out, and the physicochemical and micronutrient composition of Duranta repens leaf and seed oil were evaluated using standard methods. The leaf oils contained significantly higher (p  oleic > myristic > stearic > capric > linoleic > lauric > palmitoleic for the seed oil, while for the leaf oil linoleic > palmitoleic > oleic > stearic > palmitic > myristic > capric > lauric > myristoleic. The major phytochemical constituents of the seed oils were catechin (68.12 ug/ml), saponin (44.03 ug/ml), rutin (32.89 ug/ml), linamarin (22.66 ug/ml) and tannins (19.62 ug/ml), while kaempherol (84.05 ug/ml), rutin (62.26 ug/ml) and saponins (45.63 ug/ml) were mostly predominant in the leaf oil. Spartein, anthocyanins and phytates were among the least phytochemicals in composition, for both samples. These chemical properties evaluated, suggest that Duranta repens seed oil is more suitable for industrial and therapeutic purposes

The Effect of H2PO4 Catalyst on Biodiesel Production from Castor Seed Oil

This research work studied the effect of H2PO4 catalyst on biodiesel production from castor seed oil. The Castor seed oil was mix with methanol and H2PO4 catalysts to undergo a tranesterification reaction. The characterization of the castor seed oil was done using American Society Testing Methods (ASTDM). The transesterification reaction was repeated with varying catalyst weight, oil to methanol ration, reaction time and reaction temperature. The biodiesel produced was characterized and compared with fossil Diesel fuel. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyze the various biodiesel samples produced to identify the level of conversion to methyl ester and also identify the component mixture of the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). Kinetics study revealed by the experimental data from the transeterification reactions, showed best conformity to a pseudo second-order kinetic model. Central Composite Design (CCD) was used to optimize the reaction process. Optimal value of the reaction shows a conversion of 62.60%. H2PO4 catalyst was found to be an effective transesterification catalyst