Use of nanoporous ceramic membranes for carbon dioxide separation

Natural gas processes accounts for about 5.3 billion tonnes per year of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission to the atmosphere. At this rate of emission, the expectation will drastically rise if not curtailed. In order to achieve this, a cost-effective and environmental friendly technology is required. In recent times, membrane technology has been widely applied for CO2 removal from raw natural gas components. This article examines CO2 separation from natural gas, mainly methane (CH4), through a mesoporous composite membrane. A laboratory scale tubular silica membrane with a permeable length of 348 mm, I.D and O.D of 7 and 10 mm, respectively, was used in this experiment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the morphology of the membrane. Single gas permeation of helium (He), CH4, nitrogen (N2), argon (Ar) and CO2 were determined at permeation temperature range between 25 and 100°C and feed gauge pressure of 0.05 to 5.0 barg. Before silica modification, He recorded the highest flow rate (0.3745 l/min) while CO2 recorded the least flow rate (0.1351 l/min) at 0.4 barg and 25°C. After silica modification, CO2 flow enhances significantly (3.1180 l/min at 1.0 barg) compared to CH4 (2.1200 l/min at the same gauge pressure) due to the influence of surface flow mechanism. Temperature variation described the applicability of Knudsen diffusion for He. A combination of viscous, surface and Knudsen diffusion transport mechanisms were obtained throughout the experiment. Membrane thickness was also calculated to be 2.5 × 10−4 m

Design and Development of an Industrial Centrifuge for Small and Medium Scaled Industries

A centrifuge for separating industrial mixtures was designed, developed and evaluated. The major components of the centrifuge include: an electric motor, a rigid frame, rotating wheel, three sedimentation vessels and a centrally mounted shaft. Stress analysis of the centrifuge wheel, which is the major load carrying member of the machine was done using Solidworks SimulationXpress and a factor of safety of 5.12815 was obtained for an estimated load of 331.5N. The centrifuge was designed to withstand vibration caused by the rotating masses and fabricated using locally sourced standard materials. Performance test analysis gave a specific energy consumption and optimal separation time of 206.5KJ/Kg and 30 minutes respectively. Thus, the centrifuge constitute a veritable option for production of pure and quality industrial products in small and medium scaled industries. Keywords: Centrifuge, Stress analysis, Specific energy consumption, Optimal separation tim

Wellbeing in palliative care

Aim: The increasing population of elderly people with terminal diseases is on a wide spread across Europe thus the question is asked, how can this increasing population of old people with terminal illness live a good quality of life and wellbeing even in their state of medical hopelessness? The objectives of this thesis paper is to find out the factors that affect wellbeing of people who suffering from terminal diseases in palliative care. Research questions: What are the factors that affect wellbeing of an elderly cancer patient in palliative care? What are the interventions that facilitate wellbeing in palliative care of an elderly patient suffering from cancer? Method: literature review through content analysis was employed through the collection of data which was done by extensive database search. The database selection for electronic material was based on availability of full text on the database. The utilization of various database helped in achieving organized and comprehensive information. Results: the factors that affect wellbeing of a cancer patient in palliative care are psychological, physical and social factors. However psychological factors are key factors that cause distress among patient suffering at the end of life, nevertheless these factors can be alleviated or reduced by pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions

ICT AS A TOOL FOR ENHANCING LITERACY FOR LIVELIHOOD IN THE COMMUNITIES OF IMO STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined ICT as a tool for enhancing literacy for livelihood in the communities of Imo State, Nigeria. Four (4) research questions guided the study. Survey research method was adopted. Sample size was 60 respondents. An instrument with r=0.71 tagged ‘Questionnaire on ICT for Enhancing Literacy for Livelihood in the Communities’ (ICTELLC) was used for data collection. Completed and retrieved 57 copies of questionnaire were analysed using mean statistics. Results show that smart phones, computers, radio and television are ICT facilities available in the study area’s literacy centres; basic literacy, functional literacy, civic and political education and remedial education are literacy education programmes that have been enhanced by the use of ICT facilities in the study area; literacy education improves livelihood; and challenges encountered in the use of ICT for literacy education promotion include: poor internet connections, inadequate computers, unstable power supply and insufficient ICT knowledge and skills

Democracy and Academic Freedom in Nigeria: a Philosophical Perspective

The paper attempts at exploring the meaning of democracy and academic freedom, and the role of education in cultivating the right attitudes, through some sorts of processes, aimed at making citizens effective members of their society.  The application of academic freedom in a democractic Nigeria was further examined.  A way forward was proffered and the paper finally looked at academic freedom as an extension of individual freedom in a democractic society, adding that it is only when a society learns to uphold the tradition of encouraging the holding of diverse and differing views on any issue that academic freedom can lay a solid foundation for both democracy and freedom in a given society

Education and National Development in Nigeria: A Philosophical Perspective

The paper examines the key words: culture and development, and in the process attempts to bring out their relationship to education in a developing country like Nigeria. It further states that investment in education is sine-qua-non with national development. Hence this paper sees education as an important tool for national development. The paper finally asserts that democratization process in Nigeria is saddled with limited access to education and struggle with the task of making it available to all citizens