THE EFFECT OF THREE PRETREATMENTS ON BREAKING SEED DORMANCY OF BAOBAB (ADANSONIA DIGITATA L.)

Objective: Baobab (Adansonia digitata) is a native tree that is found in African savannas, it is a member of family ‘Malvaceae’. The tree is found in Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and in different regions of western Madagascar. Seed dormancy is the most limiting factor for some plants propagation. Dormancy allows seeds to separate from their mother plant and survive dispersal, over distance, and time before growth recommences. This study was aimed to determine the effect of three pre-treatments on breaking the seed dormancy of Adansonia digitata L., a multi-purpose and indigenously endangered tree. Methods: The study was carried out in the greenhouse of the Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Nigeria. The three pre-treatments are: Soaking in hot water (100°C) for 5, 10, 15, and 20 min; and soaking in sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and hydrochloric acid (HCL) concentrations (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%) for 5, 10, 15, and 20 min. Untreated seeds served as control. These were laid out in a complete randomized design with three replications. Data were collected on germination percentage, germination rate, day of emergence, and the average seedlings height. Results: The result showed that earliest mean days of emergence (7 days) were observed in seeds subjected to hot water treatment at 15 min. It also showed the highest rate of germination and percentage 6 (100%). On the other hand, the effect of acids (H2SO4 and HCL) pre-treatments on the seeds gave a fair result (16.66–33.33%), untreated seeds did not germinate. Conclusion: All the pre-treatments used in the study were found to be effective. However, soaking of seeds in hot water (100°C) pre-treatment for 15 min is recommended for breaking the seed dormancy of A. digitata

Inhibitive Effect of Glutaraldehyde on the Corrosion of Aluminum in Hydrochloric Acid Solution

The inhibition effect of glutaraldehyde on the corrosion of aluminum in 1.4 M HCl solution at 308-318 K was investigated by using weight loss method and characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) & Scanning Electron Microscopic Analysis (SEM). The results show that the inhibition efficiency increases with increasing inhibitor concentration and decreases with rising temperature. The activation energy value was 20.48 kJ mol-1 for the uninhibited acid solution which increased to 33.79 kJ mol-1 in the presence of 0.1 M inhibitor concentration. Langmuir adsorption isotherm was found to provide an accurate description of the adsorption behavior of the investigated inhibitor. The thermodynamic parameters such as adsorption equilibrium constant (Kads), free energy of adsorption (ΔGads), heat of adsorption (ΔHads) and entropy of adsorption (ΔSads) have been calculated and discussed in detail

Inhibitive Effect of Glutaraldehyde on the Corrosion of Aluminum in Hydrochloric Acid Solution

The inhibition effect of glutaraldehyde on the corrosion of aluminum in 1.4 M HCl solution at 308-318 K was investigated by using weight loss method and characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) & Scanning Electron Microscopic Analysis (SEM). The results show that the inhibition efficiency increases with increasing inhibitor concentration and decreases with rising temperature. The activation energy value was 20.48 kJ mol-1 for the uninhibited acid solution which increased to 33.79 kJ mol-1 in the presence of 0.1 M inhibitor concentration. Langmuir adsorption isotherm was found to provide an accurate description of the adsorption behavior of the investigated inhibitor. The thermodynamic parameters such as adsorption equilibrium constant (Kads), free energy of adsorption (ΔGads), heat of adsorption (ΔHads) and entropy of adsorption (ΔSads) have been calculated and discussed in detail

Structure and genome of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic. It is the seventh coronavirus known to infect humans (the previous human coronaviruses are HCoV-OC43, HCoV-229E, HCoV-HKU1, HCoV-NL63, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV) and the third human coronavirus known to cause severe illness in human after SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. These three coronaviruses have caused three different severe respiratory diseases outbreaks within the last two decades: SARS in 2002-2003, MERS in 2012 and COVID-19 in 2020. The aim of this review was to summarize information on the genome and structure of SARS-CoV-2.    SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus with a crown-like appearance due to the presence of spike glycoprotein on the envelope. The nonsegmented genome of SARS-CoV-2 of approximately 30kb encodes two large polyproteins, four main structural proteins namely spike, membrane, envelope and nucleocapsid proteins as well as several accessory proteins. Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genome shows that it is highly related to coronavirus from the bat (96%), pangolin (91%) and SARS-CoV (80%). Variants of SARS-CoV-2 have evolved continuously as a result of genetic mutations and are circulating worldwide. These variants have varying degrees of transmissibility, disease severity, susceptibility to therapeutics and detection by diagnostic tools. Understanding the structure and genome of SARS-CoV-2 is important in the control, management, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 as well as vaccine development

Modeling and Equilibrium Studies for the Adsorption of Congo red Using Detarium microcarpum Seed Shell Activated Carbon

Activated carbon obtained from Detarium microcarpum seed shell (SDAC) was used to eliminate congo red (CR) from an aqueous solution using batch adsorption method. Various characterization techniques, including SEM, FT-IR and pH at point of zero charge (pHpzc) were employed to characterize the adsorbent surface. The study investigated several adsorption parameters, namely contact time (5 - 150 minutes), temperature (303 - 323 K), and initial concentration (20 - 500 mg/L). The adsorption data were analyzed using kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic equations. The kinetics of the process conformed well to the pseudo-second-order model, indicating that both external and internal diffusion influenced the adsorption of the dye onto the adsorbent. The isotherm data aligned with the Freundlich model, suggesting that CR formed multiple layers on the heterogeneous surface of the adsorbent. The values of thermodynamic calculations ∆S = -0.139 kJ/mol, ∆H = - 48.77 kJ/K demonstrates the feasibility and exothermic nature of the dye adsorption process and the values of ∆G = -6.52, -5.82, -5.12, -4.42 and -3.73 kJ/mol  obtained at various temperature confirmed the spontaneity of the entire adsorption process

Kinetic and Thermodynamic evaluation on Removal of Anionic Dye from Aqueous Solution using Activated Carbon Derived from Agricultural Waste: Equilibrium and Reusability Studies

Nowadays, the presence of dye in aqueous solutions is a major environmental concern. Activated carbon of ginger bread plum (GBPA) was studied as agricultural wastes derived adsorbent for the removal of methyl orange (MO) from aqueous solutions using batch adsorption technique. The adsorbent was characterized using point of zero charge (PZC), Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to elucidate the impact of experimental parameters such contact time (5 – 150 minutes), adsorbent dosage (0.1 – 0.6g), particle size (75 - 900 µm), initial dye concentration (20 – 500 mg/L), pH (2 -12) and temperature (303 – 323 K). Pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order were used to described the kinetic behavior of the process and the data from the experimental result accord with pseudo second order with R2 = 0.9999. The equilibrium data was also computed using Langmuir, Temkin, Freundlich, and D-R models and was found to follow Freundlich adsorption isotherm. Thermodynamics studied parameters such as change in enthalpy (ΔH), entropy (ΔS) and Gibbs free energy of adsorption (ΔG) clearly indicates that the adsorption process was feasible endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Desorption was performed using various eluent and reusability of the adsorbent was done in five successive cycles

Combined Computational and Experimental Studies for the Removal of Anionic Dyes using Activated carbon drive from Agricultural Waste

In recent years, there has been a growing interest among researchers in combining experimental and theoretical approaches to elucidate interactions between adsorbates and adsorbents. This study focuses on investigating the adsorption behavior of two anionic dyes, methyl orange (MO) and congo red (CR), on a sustainable adsorbent derived from sweet detar seed shell activated carbon. Additionally,to provide an explanation for the adsorption mechanisms using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. The environmentally-friendly sweet detar seed shell activated carbon is synthesized and thoroughly characterized through various analytical techniques such as FTIR, SEM and pHpzc The experimental results for adsorption equilibrium demonstrate that the adsorption of both dyes conforms well to the Freundlich adsorption model. The maximum adsorption capacities are determined to be revealing a maximum adsorption capacity of 49.02 mg g−1 for MO and 38.91 mg g−1 for CR at. Furthermore, the kinetic data fits effectively with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model for both dyes, showing a coefficient of determination (R²) close to unity and experimental qe values for MO and CR, 9.52 and 9.43 mg/g are close to calculated values 9.62 and 9.43 mg/g. Additionally, quantum chemical parameters indicate a stronger interaction between the MO molecule and adsorbent surface framework compared to CR. These computaional results are consistent with the experimental findings, underscoring the accuracy and applicability of the calculations

Study of corrosion inhibition of Aluminum in nitric acid solution using Anisaldehyde (4-methoxy benzaldehyde) as corrosion inhibitor

The inhibitive action of Anisaldehyde (4–methoxy benzaldehyde) on corrosion of Aluminum in nitric acid solution was studied through weight loss method. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic Analysis (FTIR) was used to characterize the inhibitor and the corrosion product. The effect of different inhibitor concentrations was studied at 308, 313 and 318 K. The present study showed that the percentage of inhibition efficiency (% I.E.) is enhanced with increase of inhibitor concentration and decrease with rising in temperature. Maximum I.E. of Anisaldehyde was found 86.32 % at 308 K and 0.1M inhibitor concentration in 1.4M HNO3 solution. The inhibitive action of the inhibitor is discussed in view of adsorption of Anisaldehyde molecule on the metal surface. It was found that the adsorption of the inhibitor on the metal surface follows Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Activation parameters governing the adsorption process were evaluated and discussed in detail. Cite as: Husaini, M., Usman, B., Ibrahim, M. B. (2019). Study of corrosion inhibition of Aluminum in nitric acid solution using Anisaldehyde (4 - methoxy benzaldehyde) as inhibitor. Algerian Journal of Engineering and Technology, 1(1), 011-018. http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3595126 &nbsp