Traditional Fermentation and Distillation of Raffia Palm Sap for the Production of Bioethanol in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The production of alcoholic beverages from the sap of raffia palm, Raphia hookeri, has continued for decades in West Africa, but the detailed processes had never been documented before. The objective of this study is to document the traditional process of ethanol production, with the aim of scaling up the process for the production of fuel ethanol. Ten smallholder ethanol production facilities were randomly selected, and triplicate samples of the process intermediates were collected and analysed, including fermented palm sap, first and second distillate, first and second stillage. Results show that the percentage of ethanol was significantly different (P<0.05) among the different intermediates. The highest ethanol presence was recorded in the second distillate (39-61.5%), followed by the first distillate (18.83-39%), then the first stillage (5.80-10.20%), the palm sap (10.50-15.30%) and finally the second stillage (3.40-5.80%).Yeast population, pH, sugar, specific gravity and electrical conductivity differed significantly among the various sites and intermediates. Wood (105-155kg) was used as fuel to boil 280-480L of fermented palm sap producing 20L of 39-61.5% ethanol. The smallholder processors are however challenged by the poor distillation apparatus and the lack of ethanol dehydration facilities. The study concludes by recommending the modification of the Nigerian Biofuel Policy (2007) to allow the use of hydrous ethanol in automobiles and low concentration ethanol for household cooking

Biomolluscicidal Activities of Some Solvent Extracts of Jatropha Curcas Leaves against Vectors of Schistosomiasis

Jatropha curcas has emerged as a mantra amongst bioactive therapeutic plants due to it multipurpose application, bioavalability and especially certain envisaged metabolites. Notwithstanding, some problems envisaged with chemotherapeutic intervention of schistosomiasis includes; ecotoxicity, mobidity abatement and vector proliferation. The biomolluscicidal Activities of solvent extracts (chloroform, ethanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane) of the Leaves of J. curcas against Bulinus globosus and B. rholfsi in a 24-h static non-renewal test was assessed. Results indicated varying degrees of mortalities, the chloroform, ethanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts against B. globosus had LC50 values of 25.00, 18.75, 41.63 and 37.40ppm respectively. Comparatively, the solvent extracts against B. rholfsi demonstrated a slightly higher LC50 values of 31.25, 25.00, 50.00 and 38.70ppm for chloroform, ethanol ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts respectively. While, the positive control induced mortality at 1ppm in less than 24h, the snails survived the negative control within the same period. These results showed that the above named solvent leaf extracts of J. curcas can be applied in the integrated management of schistosomiasis

Trace metal concentration in the liver of Citharinus citharus (moon – fish) from Taylor creek

This study analysed trace metal levels in the liver of Citharinus citharus obtained from three different stations(Ogboloma, Pokaku and Agbia) along Taylor Creek The concentration of cadmium in fish liver was 0.02 + 0.01 mg/kg, 0.04 + 0.01 mg/kg, 0.03 + 0.00 mg/kg in Agbia, Ogboloma and Polaku respectively (P>0.05). The values of lead in the liver of the fish were higher than that of cadmium. Lead was 0.07 + 0.01 mg/kg at Agbia, 0.14+ 0.00 mg/kg at Ogboloma and 0.09 + 0.03 mg/kg at Polaku. Mean levels of zinc fish liver sample obtained from Agbia, Ogboloma and Polaku were 1.51 + 0.07 mg/kg, 1.66 + 0.09 mg/kg and 1.66 + 0.22 mg/kg respectively. Concentrations of zinc and lead in the liver of the fish were not significantly different at Agbia and Polaku (P>0.05), but were significantly higher at Ogboloma (P<0.05). The values of zinc were generally higher than Cd and Pb.Oil and gas exploration activities and domestic waste disposal could be linked to elevated level of metals in the fish.Keywords: Effluent, fish liver, oil and gas activities, Taylor Creek, trace Metal

Effect of Phase Feeding Supplemental Fungus Myceliated Grain on Oocyst Excretion and Performance of Broiler Chickens

Abstract: An experiment was conducted to investigate Fungus Myceliated Grain (FMG) feed inclusion strategies for broilers and the effects of this feed on natural Eimeria oocyst excretion and bird performance. Two hundred ninety-four straight-run day-of-hatch broiler chicks were obtained from a local commercial hatchery and randomly distributed in seven treatment groups with three replications of 14 chicks as follows: 1) Control-No FMG; 2) 5% FMG-starter feed; 3) 5% FMG-grower feed; 4) 5% FMG-starter, grower, finisher feed; 5) 10% FMG-starter feed; 6) 10% FMG-grower feed and 7) 10% FMG starter, grower, finisher feed. Fecal oocyst count, mortality, live body and bursa weight were determined at the end of the 7 wk trial. Results showed that broilers in treatments 1 and 2 produced the highest counts of Eimeria, which was significantly higher than that of treatment 6 (p<0.05) with the lowest count of Eimeria. Mortality was not significantly influenced by treatments. There were significant differences in the live and bursa weights, but not in the relative bursa percent. The results suggest the best response in terms of anticoccidial protection occurs with the 10% inclusion in the growers feed and for body weight at the 5% inclusion level in the starter feed

The environmental impact of crude oil formation water: A multivariate approach

Water bodies receiving effluents from gas flow stations were sampled for ten months (March to December). Fifteen physicochemical parameters were monitored at six locations. Results obtained were analyzed unsing principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Five principal componets accounting for 72.43 % of total variance were isolated. The first pricncipal component was a measure of sea water intrusion, the second componet was a measure of total solids, the third component was a measure of organic pollution while the fourth and fifth principal component depicted the impact of effluent discharges. Effluents from gas flow stations were not the major causes of pollution of water resources in the locations of study. Cluster analysis showed no significant variation in the physicochemical characteristics of water samples based on location. Physicochemical parameters exhibited a seasonal pattern as a result of dilution by rainfall, reduced rate of evaporation in rainy season and dissolution of gaseous products of gas flaring in rain. Metals had no significant effect on the quality of water sampled from the six locations during the period of monitoring