4 research outputs found
Decontamination of Wastewater Effluent using Sugar Cane Bagasse and Soybean Hulls
Wastewater effluents from industrial processes often pose environmental as well as
health risks to humans when these waters are consumed without proper trexatment. In
this study, distilled water and citric acid were used as modifiers in order to establish
the comparative abilities of modified soybean hull and sugarcane bagasse as means of
reducing copper and zinc chlorides to their metals and subsequently adsorbing the
metals in order to propose both materials as low cost adsorbents for heavy metals.
Based on the results, the modified soybeans have good potential for adsorbing Cu metal
while sugarcane bagasse showed preferential adsorption of Zn from waste water. Also,
results from optimization gave a pH of 4 and 5 for the modified forms of the bagasse
and soybean respectively. While a mass of 1g of each adsorbent gave the best removal
rate for their preferred metals, the optimum volume for the highest metal adsorption
was found to be for solvent of 35 ml/g adsorbent. Adsorption rate was found to increase
with temperature and time for both adsorbents
Determination of Optimum Conditions for the Production of Activated Carbon Derived from Separate Varieties of Coconut Shells
Activated carbons were produced from coconut shells of tall and dwarf tree varieties.The activated carbon from the tall tree variety
was initially synthesized using 1Mconcentration of each of ZnCl2, H3PO4, and KOHsolutions. From the adsorptive tests conducted
using methylene blue solution, the activated carbon produced with H3PO4 gave the best absorbance and adsorptive performance.
Coconut shells of dwarf tree variety were then obtained and treated with same mass of coconut shells of the tall tree variety using
varied concentrations of the acid in order to determine whether the optimum concentration and temperature for producing carbon
black fromthe coconut shells are distinct or similar for both varieties.Theprocess was alsomodelled using the Differential Response
Method (DRM) in order to determine the yields and adsorptive performances of the activated carbons by varying the carbonization
temperature and concentration. The results from experiment and the developed mathematical model were both found to be in
agreement giving the optimum concentration of phosphoric acid and pH for producing activated carbon to be 0.67M and 2.07
for the tall tree variety and 1M and 1.98 for the dwarf variety at optimum temperatures in the range of 450–575∘C and 575∘C,
respectivel
Effects of Incubation Temperature on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Yoghurt
Deterioration of milk-based products such as
yoghurt is associated with changes in the environmental
parameters during storage. The chemical and physical properties
or characteristics of the yoghurt are affected by the production
technological parameters like incubation temperature. This
research investigated the effect of various incubation
temperature on the quality of yoghurt. The milk sample was
prepared and a starter culture was inoculated at 40oC
temperature into the samples. Incubations were performed also
at various temperatures. The pH of fermented sample, viscousity
and titrable acidity (TTA) were also determined. Results showed
decrease in the pH value as the TTA (acid molecules) and
viscousity increased with increasing incubation temperature. An
optimum production temperature of 35áµ’C is recommended for
the production of yoghur
Influx potential and sequestration of CO2 in Cement based material towards establishing a proactive measure for combatting structural deformations
The effect of carbon dioxide sequestration by Sandcrete structures was investigated as a means of reducing CO2 emissions. Experiments were conducted to determine the
concentration of trioxocarbonate IV (CO32-) in sandcrete samples as well as its effect on soil pH. The results showed that the presence of CO32-in sandcrete samples evidenced the process of carbonation in sandcrete structures and other cement-based material which provides an alternative means of CO2 Sequestration. Also, the concentration of CO32- varied along heights
and horizontal distance within sections of the sandcrete structure. The acidic nature of the soil
close to some sections of the sandcrete structure experienced varying pHs of 6.14 - 6.35 which
gave room for enhanced leaching which seriously undermines the strength of the sandcrete
structure. The percentage concentration differential in the horizontal and vertical directions,
were found to vary widely from 5-46%. This constitutes a potential danger i.e. cracking and
possible collapse of the structure. The results of calculated diffusivity values and concentration
gradients of the carbonate ion conformed with results obtained using a predictive model which
helped in monitoring the migration patterns of CO3
2
- in the sandcrete structure