Modeling of the Extraction of Oil from Neem Seed using Minitab 14 Software

22 factorial design technique was applied using Minitab 14 software to investigate the effect of impeller speed and contact time on the percentage yield of oil in agitated solvent extraction of oil from neem seed. 2 levels for each factor were considered for flat blade turbine impeller (A1) and rushton turbine impeller (A2) at confidence level of 95% (? = .05). The maximum percentage yield was 36.86% and was obtained when impeller type A1 was operated at 84 rpm for 40 minutes contact time at 50oC extraction temperature and particle size of 0.425 – 0.710mm.The factorial analysis revealed that impeller speed, contact time and their interaction have significant effect on the extraction yield of oil from the neem seed. The properties of the neem oil extracted were found to be: specific gravity, 0.9111; pH, 6.5; refractive index, 1.4668; iodine value, 70.21g/g; acid value, 34.33mgKOH/g and Saponification value, 180.95 mgKOH/g. These values compare favourably with literature values. The model equations for using A1 and A2 are  Y= 20.9100 + 0.02500X1 + 0.01838X2 + 0.00371 X1 X2 and Y = 17.5734 + 0.00234X1 + 0.00898X2 + 0.0038 X1 X2 respectively. Keywords : Neem oil, Extraction, Modeling and Minitab 14

Behavioural changes among Fadama II Project farmers and lessons in agriculture development of Enugu State, Nigeria

The study analyzed the behavioral changes and Fadama ii project farmers and lesson in Agricultural development of Enugu State, Nigeria. A structural interview schedule was used in sourcing information from one hundred and sixty farmers using simple random sampling technique. The data obtained were analyzed using both simple descriptive and inferential statistics, namely percentages and chi-square analysis. The result obtained showed that the project farmers were mostly male (95%) and majority have no formal education 63%. vegetables, yam and maize crop combination was the most preferred crop by the project farmers. The participation of the farmers on the Fadama project made an appreciating impact on the standard of living, income of ownership of Fadama infrastructure, knowledge and adoption of Fadama crop innovation. The farmers that participated developed a positive attitude towards crop production. It was concluded that the project should be extended to all the local Government areas of Enugu State.Keywords: behavioural changes, Fadama II project, farmer

Synthesis of Gamma-Alumina from Kankara Kaolin as Potential Zeolite Active Matrix

Commercial fluid catalytic cracking catalysts are manufactured using zeolites dispersed on an amorphous matrix, which is mostly alumina. Alumina is widely used as catalyst support in many heterogeneous catalytic processes owing to its high surface area, superior chemical activity and low cost. In compounded zeolite catalyst it serves as the active matrix which aids the conversion of the bulkiest molecules in the feed owing to its larger pore size than zeolite. Large specific surface area gamma-alumina (γ-Al2O3) was synthesized by hydrothermal method using Kankara kaolin as starting material. Thermal treatment of ammonium alum prepared from the filtrate of the dealuminated metakaolin was employed to obtain the alumina. Crystalline aluminum sulfate with 39 wt% Al2O3 was obtained at calcination temperature of 800°C with 3 h soaking. Gamma-alumina was produced at 850°C with 3 h soaking time, having specific surface area of 166 m2/g. The weight percent of Al2O3 content in the synthesized and commercial gamma-alumina were 85% and 89% respectively as obtained from the XRF analysis. Good comparison was also observed in the diffractogram of the synthesized and commercial gamma-alumina from the XRD analysis. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image showed the platy hexagonal shape of the gamma-alumina.Keywords: Gamma-alumina, zeolite, kaoli

Effect of mefloquine on the mechanical activity of the mouse isolated rectal smooth muscle

The effects of mefloquine on the mechanical activity of the mouse isolated rectal smooth muscle was studied. Mefloquine (4.1x10-5 - 5.2x10-3M) when applied alone and separately exerted variable effects on the rectum. In some preparations, it caused slight phasic contractions while in others no response was elicited. When the external (Ca2+) was increased from 1.8mM to 300mM mefloquine produced phasic contractile activity which was abolished on return to normal 1.8mM suggesting that the contractile activity was due to extracellular Ca2+ influx. Meflaquine (4.1x10-6M – 4.1x10-4M) caused contraction – dependent inhibition of KCL, Carbachol and CaCl2 (in depolarizing Tyrode Solution). Mefloquine (2.1x10-4M) blocked KCL, but not carbachol contractions which were largelyreversed by increasing (Ca2+). The results show that mefloquine possesses anticholinergic and appreciable calcium channel blocking activity

Synthesis and Performance Evaluation of Pulse Electrodeposited Ni-AlN Nanocomposite Coatings

This research work presents the microscopic analysis of pulse electrodeposited Ni-AlN nanocomposite coatings using SEM and AFM techniques and their performance evaluation (mechanical and electrochemical) by employing nanoindentation and electrochemical methods. The Ni-AlN nanocomposite coatings were developed by pulse electrodeposition. The nickel matrix was reinforced with various amounts of AlN nanoparticles (3, 6, and 9 g/L) to develop Ni-AlN nanocomposite coatings. The effect of reinforcement concentration on structure, surface morphology, and mechanical and anticorrosion properties was studied. SEM and AFM analyses indicate that Ni-AlN nanocomposite coatings have dense, homogenous, and well-defined pyramid structure containing uniformly distributed AlN particles. A decent improvement in the corrosion protection performance is also observed by the addition of AlN particles to the nickel matrix. Corrosion current was reduced from 2.15 to 1.29 ?A cm-2 by increasing the AlN particles concentration from 3 to 9 g/L. It has been observed that the properties of Ni-AlN nanocomposite coating are sensitive to the concentration of AlN nanoparticles used as reinforcement. - 2018 Kamran Ali et al.Scopu

Kinetic evaluation of petroleum refinery wastewater biodegradation in an activated sludge process

Experimental assessment of process kinetic is essential for process modelling and can serve as a useful tool to improve process performance. In this study, kinetic evaluation of petroleum refinery wastewater (PRWW) biodegradation in an activated sludge process (ASP) was carried out in a 25 L ASP reactor which was operated within the conventional aeration mode of 2-10 hours, hydraulic retention time (HRT), effluents from the secondary sedimentation tank were analyzed at various HRT for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and biomass growth. The data obtained were analyzed and fitted to different related kinetic models which show that the biodegradation of PRWW in ASP follows the Modified Monod Kinetic Model, amongst the related models evaluated, with 0.9745 correlations with the experimental data. Physicochemical characterization of the PRWW used for the study was carried out using the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater; which gave a biodegradability index of 0.3333

Effect of temperature and fluid speed on the corrosion behavior of carbon steel pipeline in Qatari oilfield produced water

Metals integrity, such as carbon steel used in pipeline network can be seriously damaged by produced water causing serious corrosion problems. This can result in significant threats to safe operation of the oilfield facilities and leads to considerable economic losses. In this study, the effect of produced water from the North oilfield of Ras Laffan in Qatar on corrosion and scaling of carbon steel is investigated using electrochemical methods. The specimen rotation speed ranged from 0 to 2 m/s and temperature between 20 and 60 C were used as test parameters for the study. X-ray power diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were employed in the analysis of the corroded steel samples. It was found that the corrosion rate increased with increasing temperature and specimen rotation speed. These results also showed that the steel reacted with the corrosive ions at the early stage of its exposure to the produced water leading to the formation of corrosion products on the steel surface in which CaCO3 scale layer were deposited on the surface of the specimen as loose products due to the presence of large amounts of Ca2 + and HCO3- ions contained in the Rass Lafan oilfield produced water. More so, pitting and cracks were observed on the steel surface which increased as the temperature and specimen rotation speeds were increased, suggesting localized corrosion mechanism.This paper was made possible by an NPRP Grant # 7-1154-2-433 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation).Scopu

Erosion behavior of API X120 steel: Effect of particle speed and impact angle

The dry erosion behavior of API-X120 pipeline steel was investigated, under the erosive interaction of aluminum oxide particulates, in a range of speed (43-167 m·s-1) and impact angle (30°-90°). Erosion behavior is characterized by surface profile measurement, weight loss measurement, and surface morphology analysis by SEM/EDX. Optical profilometry revealed that the eroded area increased with elevating speed of particles while the penetration depth increased with the increases in impact angle as well as particle speed. Percent weight loss and normalized erosion rate indicated that the lower impact angles and higher speeds led to higher materials loss and erosion. SEM analyses on various combinations of impact angles and particle speeds demonstrated the predominant erosion mechanism under those specific conditions; attributed to the intensity of the resolved components of the momentum vector horizontal or normal to the target metal surface under those conditions. © 2019 by the authors.Funding: This research was funded by NPRP from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of the Qatar Foundation) (No. 9-080-2-039).Scopu

Enhancement of mechanical and corrosion resistance properties of electrodeposited NiP-TiC composite coatings

In the present study, the effect of concentration of titanium carbide (TiC) particles on the structural, mechanical, and electrochemical properties of Ni?P composite coatings was investigated. Various amounts of TiC particles (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0�g�L?1) were co-electrodeposited in the Ni?P matrix under optimized conditions and then characterized by employing various techniques. The structural analysis of prepared coatings indicates uniform, compact, and nodular structured coatings without any noticeable defects. Vickers microhardness and nanoindentation results demonstrate the increase in the hardness with an increasing amount of TiC particles attaining its terminal value (593HV100) at the concentration of 1.5�g�L?1. Further increase in the concentration of TiC particles results in a decrease in hardness, which can be ascribed to their accumulation in the Ni?P matrix. The electrochemical results indicate the improvement in corrosion protection efficiency of coatings with an increasing amount of TiC particles reaching to ~�92% at 2.0�g�L?1, which can be ascribed to a reduction in the active area of the Ni?P matrix by the presence of inactive ceramic particles. The favorable structural, mechanical, and corrosion protection characteristics of Ni?P?TiC composite coatings suggest their potential applications in many industrial applications.Scopu