Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Analysis of Fermented Cow Milk (Nono) Consumed Within Kaduna Town, North-Western Nigeria

10 Samples of two different types of fermented cow milk tsala (locally prepared diluted milk) and kindrimo (locally prepared concentrated milk) were collected from different locations around Kaduna metropolis, and analyzed for their physicochemical properties and microbiological quality.  The average levels of major chemical components were for: tsala: acidity (0.106%), protein (2.732%), fat (6.54%), total solid (7.68%), ash content (0.638%), and carbohydrate (82.80%); and for kindirmo: acidity (0.122%), protein (3.59%), fat (8.2%), total solid (10.06%), ash content (0.436%) and carbohydrate (77.70%). The average pH values obtained were   (4.09) and (4.42) respectively. The bacteria isolated includes; staphylococcus spp, lactobacillus spp, streptococcus spp, shigella spp, enterobacter, salmonella spp, protein Spp and mirococcus Spp. The fungi isolated included Aspergillus, yest, trichoderma, mucor and cardida. The result of the microbial count revealed that the total aerobic count on tsala ranged between 3 x 103 – 25 x 103 cfu/ml, while for Kindirmo the value ranged between 3 x 103 – 24 x 103 cfu/ml with sample 2E recording too numerous aerobic bacteria count. The coliform count on tsala ranged between 4 x 103 – 10 x 103 while kindirmo recorded a ranged of 1 x 103 – 25 x 103 cfu/ml. The fungi count in tsala ranged between 22 x 103 – 28 x 103 cfu/ml while that of kindirmo ranged between 10 x 103 – 22 x 103 cfu/ml.   The microbiological quality of the two fermented cow milk shows a high level of bacteriological contamination which may pose public health threat and indicates poor hygienic practices and therefore the need for improved hygienic standards. Keywords: microbiological quality, Physico-chemical composition, tsala, kindirmo, Kaduna

Intercalation of Gastropod Shell Derived Calcium Oxide in Clay and Application in Phosphate Removal from Aqua Medium

The phosphate sorption potential of the layered framework of naturally occurring clay, which acts as a host in the sorption process, was boosted via intercalation of CaO derived from a Gastropod shell (GS). GS was used as precursor for the synthesis of the CaO in the perspective of waste recycling and cost minimization in environmental remediation. The phosphate sorption potential, PZC, and the surface area of raw clay sample were substantially enhanced by the intercalation process. The value of the Langmuir monolayer sorption capacity (<i>q</i>_m mg/g) increased from 49.02 to 71.43, PZC values increased from 4.70 to 7.20, and the surface area (m²/g) value increased from 23 to 103 after the intercalation process. The modification caused no change in the clay surficial microstructure but increased the lattice spacing of the clay framework. Increase in phosphate solution pH triggered monotonical reduction in the magnitude of phosphate sorbed while increase in phosphate solution ionic strength and concentration of anionic interferences caused an increase in the amount of phosphate sorbed per gram of sorbent. Phosphate sorption caused no change in the surficial microstructure of either sorbents but the crystallinity of the sorbent was considerably impacted, especially in the raw sampl