Printing of cotton fabrics using microwave irradiation

Irradiation Microwave was used in fixation of pigment prints on cotton fabrics with a colour strength parameters comparable with the previous research obtained in case of thermo-fixation procedures. However printing pastes was introduced to the fabric via screen printing methods. The printed fabrics was subjected to irradiation microwave for different periods of time at microwave power. Results of both covered and uncovered ranges from 3.8 to 10.70 and 1.66 to 8.20.Also the effect of irradiation microwave on printed cotton fabrics with yellow pigment for 6 min, for both covered and uncovered ranges from 3.50 to 15.52 and 5.20 to 16.80, likewise fastness properties of the cotton fabrics printed with yellow pigment fixed either by optimum conditions for irradiation microwave for both washing and rubbing which ranges from 4/5 for colour change(cc) and for colour staining(cs) which is 4. In order to compare the initial result, another samples of cotton fabrics were printed with the same paste, dried and subjected to fixation procedure. The colour strength of the printed cotton fabrics fixed through irradiation microwave was found to be time and microwave power dependent. Results of this investigation clarified also that, regardless of the time of microwave, covering the pigment printed cotton fabric samples with covered and uncovered sample. Furthermore, the influence of reduction of the particle size of pigment yellow colour to the nano-scale on the colour strength and overall fastness properties of cotton fabrics printed and fixed using irradiation microwave was determined

Determination of fatty acids and physicochemical properties of neem (Azadrachta indica L) seed oil extracts

Neem tree is a folklore plant mostly used in medicinal preparations. Therefore, neem seeds were investigated with the aim of determining its fatty acid composition and physicochemical properties of the oil extract. The oil was extracted from the powdered seed using n-hexane with the help of Soxhlet which yielded 29.71% oil. Results revealed that the oil was liquid at room temperature and physically stable at varying temperatures (0, 50 and 100°C). It appeared to be pale greenish yellow, garlic-like odour, had a little bitter taste, viscosity of 12.2Pas and pH value of 6.78 ± 0.0135. The chemical parameters were identified to be 1.22 ± 0.029%, 2.36 ± 0.054 mg NaOH/g oil, 172.84 ± 0.559 mgNaOH/g oil and 1.88 ± 0.059 meq/kg oil for free fatty acids, acid value, saponification value and peroxide value respectively. The GC-MS analysis showed that the oil extract contained six different fatty acids with total composition of 63.07% oil. The compound with the highest composition was linoleic acid (40%) followed by oleic (35%), cis-13-octadecenoic acid (8.9%), palmitic acid (8.5%), stearic acid (7.5%) while the least compound was cis-vaccenic acid (0.5%). However, contrary to previous work where it was reported that oleic acid or linoleic acid was the dominant fatty acid found in neem oil. Linoleic acid was found to be dominant in this current research work. It is however recommended that under-utilized neem seeds should be explored the more with a view to producing viable products

Proximate analysis and phytochemical screening of watermelon (citrullus lanatus) pulp, peels and seeds

The fruit popularly known as Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a local recipe eaten in Nigeria and African. The research was conducted to evaluate the nutritional composition and phytoconstituents of the peels, pulp and seeds of the fruit. The vitamin C was also determined. Proximate analysis revealed that the pulp contained much higher moisture content of 11.50 ± 0.50 % than the peels with 8.78 ± 1.25 %, and 3.66±0.29 % seed respectively. The ash content for peels was high with 5.31 ± 0.55 %, while pulp contained 3.66 ± 0.82 % and the seeds contained 2.97 ± 05 % respectively. For crude lipids; seeds contained high value of 13.66 ± 0.29 % compared to the peels with 2.33 ± 0.29 % and pulp contained 0.5± 0.00 %.respectively. The crude fibre; seeds contained higher value of 14.66 ± 0.57 % compared to peels with 10.66 ± 29 % and7.66 ± 0.29 % for pulp. The crude proteins, the peels contained 2.88 ± 1.69 %, while the pulp contained 3.33± 0.17 % and seeds contained 18.75± 0.65% having the highest value which implies that the seed is rich in protein thereby help to build the body and replace worn-out tissues. The carbohydrate value for pulp was much higher with 73.35 ± 1.78 %, peels contained 70.04± 4.05 % and seed contained 46.3± 0.78 % respectively. The mineral elements revealed that Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, P and Zn are much present with significant different P<0.05.Therefore, seed is a reservoir of crude lipids, while pulp serves as a reservoir of moisture content and food supplement whereas peels serve as reservoir for mineral elements. The vitamin C value ranged from (4.56± 0.47 to 3.32± 0.37) mg/100 g respectively. Phytochemical analyses of aqueous extracts revealed that terpenoids, saponins, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides and steroids are present. This justify the claim why the fruit can be used as food and medicinal purpose

Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals Spiked Soil by Polyscias fruticose

This study was to assess the phytoremediation potential of Polyscias fruticose in the removal of heavy metals from spiked soil. P. fruticose cuttings were transplanted then grown on 2.00 kg soil spiked with several heavy metals in polyethylene bags. The experiment was conducted for 300 days and concentrations of heavy metals in plant and soil over the growth period were determined. Appreciable concentrations of heavy metals in P. fruticose parts were obtained. The indices used to show the ease of heavy metals uptake and translocation indicated that Co, Cr, Mn, Ni and Pb displayed the greatest ease of absorption while Zn, Fe and Cu were accumulated in the root but not translocated to the shoot. The results obtained shows that this study pioneered the use of P. fruticose in the phytoremediation of several heavy metals spiked soil at a greenhouse level