Heavy metal pollution assessment in the sediments of lake Chad, Nigerian sector

Sediments were collected from Dumba and KwataYobe of Lake Chad, Nigerian Sector.The aim was to assess the pollution statusof the sediments of the lake. The concentration of heavy metals, Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), Z (Zn) and Arsenic (As) were analysed using energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). The mean concentration of heavy metals varies between 0.01 to 80877.06 ±10.12mg/kg, were compared with standard average shale to assess the pollution status of the pollution in Dumba and KwataYobe sediments for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and As was assessed using geo-accumulation index (Igeo). The results indicated that the sediments have been polluted with Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn and As.The Igeo values for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn at KwataYobevaries between 0.007 to 0.630, indicating unpolluted sediments, while Igeo values for Cd at Dumba and Pb in both sites varies between 1.002 + 01.550 indicating moderately polluted sediments.Igeo values for As varies between 10. 411 to 13.20 in both sites indicating very highly polluted sediments. The Igeo values for Cd at Dumba, Pb and As in both sites indicated that the sediments were polluted.Keywords: Assessment,Average shale, Geo-accumulation index, Heavy metal pollution, Sediments

Determination of Total Phenolic Content and Some Selected Metals in Extracts of Moringa oleifera, Cassia tora, Ocimum gratissimum, Vernonia baldwinii and Telfairia occidentalis Plant Leaves

The main objective of this research is to determine the content of metals (Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg and Zn) and total phenols in different plant extracts of Moringa oleifera, Cassia tora, Ocimum gratissimum, Vernonia baldwinii and Telfairia occidentalis. Content were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The result indicate that Moringa oleifera plant extracts range from 0.25 ±0.00 to 6.13 ±0.30 mg/kg, Cassia tora plant extracts - 0.17 ±0.03 to 7.48 ±0.06 mg/kg, Ocimum gratissimum plant extracts - 0.18 ±0.00 to 5.43 ±0.12 mg/kg, Vernonia baldwinii and Telfairia occidentalis plant extracts - 0.21 ±0.03 to 7.86 ±0.12 mg/kg and 0.17 ±0.00 to 4.52 ±0.06 mg/kg, respectively. The results also revealed a lower abundance of heavy metals. The total phenolic content was determined using the modified Folin-Ciocalteu method. Herein, the phenolic content in Moringa oleifera was 8.50 ±1.23 mg Garlic Acid Equivalent g-1 (mg GAE g-1), Cassia tora - 30.00 ±0.00 mg GAE g-1, Ocimum gratissimum - 45.00 ±1.41 mg GAE g-1 , Vernonia baldwinii - 49.00 ±1.14 mg GAE g-1 and Telfairia occidentalis - 46.6 7 ±0.27 mg GAE g-1. We found the lowest total phenol content in Moringa oleifera. This also possessed high chelating activity. In contrast, Vernonia baldwinii contained the highest total phenol content, but had low chelating activity. The plant extracts with high levels of phenolic compounds exhibited good antioxidant activity

Production and characterization of biodiesel from coconut extract (Cocos nucifera)

In this study, oil was extracted from coconut. The extracted oil was used to produce biodiesel and the oil and the biodiesel produced were characterised. Biodiesel fuels are alternative diesel fuels usually obtained from renewable sources, mainly, vegetable and animal oils. Oil was extracted from coconuts bought from a local market in Wukari Taraba State, Nigeria, by means of the solvent method. The extracted coconut oil was then characterized. This showed that the coconut oil has a density of 0.91 g, viscosity of 23 mm2/s, saponification value of 191 mg KOH/g, iodine value of 10 mgl2/g, acid value 1of 4.0 mg KOH/g and flash point of 266 °C. The biodiesel of the oil was produced using a transesterification process. The biodiesel was also characterized. Results obtained showed that the biodiesel has a density of 0.89 g, viscosity of 2.83 mm2/s, acid value of 0.18 mg KOH/g, saponification value of 91 mg KOH/g, iodine value of 8 mgl2/g, acid value of 0.18 mg KOH/g and flash point of 110 °C. The physicochemical properties of the biodiesel produce from coconut oil is comparable with that of standard biodiesel in the range of ASTM specifications

Some Heavy Metals, Nutritional Values and Phytochemicals of Water Lily Plant Found in Girei Local Government of Adamawa State, Nigeria

The nutritional composition, phytochemicals and heavy metal contents of Nymphaea lotus in the rhizome, stem leaves and seeds were determined. The powdered plant samples were extracted successively with methanol using Soxhlet apparatus at 55-85 °C for 8-10 hours. Phytochemical Screening was carried out in order to determine the qualitative and quantitative analysis of saponins, tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids. Nutritional composition analysis such as Moisture content, fat composition, ash content, carbohydrate, crude fiber and protein were determined using standard methods whilst, mineral composition was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The plant parts such as leaf, stem, and rhizome were qualitatively and quantitatively screened for phytochemicals such as tannins, saponins, alkaloids and flavonoids. The leaf sample had the highest amounts of tannins (29.12 mg/g) and saponins (17.26 mg/g), which made the plant good for medicinal purposes. Analysis of elemental components such as Cd, Mn, Pb and Zn were carried out on the plant parts using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Pb was of a higher concentration in all the four parts of the plant than the other elements. The proximate composition in the seed showed crude protein content to have (2.16±0.141 %), crude fat (15.01±0.100 %), crude fiber (11.50±0.100 %), ash content (35.18±0.045 %), moisture (4.76±0.000 %) and carbohydrate (31.40±0.529 %). Oil was extracted from the seed with 6.5 % yield and was quantified for crude protein to have 6.83 %. Anti-nutritional analysis of the seed sample showed tannins to contain (3.210±0.100 mg/100 g), phytate (0.216±0.118 mg/100 g), saponins (0.010±0.00 mg/100 g) as oxalate was not detected. The anti-nutrients were at a permissible limit of WHO/FOA.It was observed that the biochemical composition of Nymphaea lotus seed is beneficial to both humans and animals for proper growth and maintenance while the anti-nutritional contents were reasonably low and may be used in chemical and pharmaceutical industries and the presence of phytochemicals are of great medicinal importance