Proximate Analysis and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Levels in Some Selected Raw Food Stuffs in Aroje and Owode, Nigeria.

Some studies have shown that accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil has the potential of contaminating the food chain. PAHs are complex organic compounds, many of which have been implicated for many health challenges. Information on the levels of PAHs in raw food in Nigeria is very scanty. Thus, an investigation into the levels of PAHs in some raw foods is of great importance from medical and environmental point of view. This study examined some proximate analysis parameters and levels of PAHs in raw cassava, yam, tomatoes, pineapple and maize and levels of PAHs in soil where these raw foods stuffs were collected. The samples were collected from two agrarian towns: Aroje and Owode in Oyo and Osun states, Nigeria. The proximate analysis was carried out according to the methods of Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC), while PAHs were determined using Gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The results of proximate analysis for ash, moisture, protein, fat, fibre and carbohydrate ranged from 0.31-1.22%, 13.10-93.48%, 0.41- 9.00%, 0.27- 3.10%, 3.38-73.1% and 1.26-4.10% respectively. The concentration of total PAHs in the food samples are: Cassava (0.19571µg/Kg), Yam (0.15536 µg /kg), Tomatoes (0.02350 µg /kg), Pineapple (0.00753µg/kg) and maize (0.13718µg/kg) for Aroje and Cassava (0.20958µg/kg), Yam (0.16951µg/kg), Tomatoes (0.02408µg/kg), Pineapple (0.00752µg/kg) and Maize (0.13734µg/kg) for Owode. The average concentrations of total PAH in Aroje and Owode soils are 4.33583 and 4.37730 µg/kg respectively. The source diagnostic indices calculated showed that the PAHs in the samples were from pyrolytic source and there exists a correlation between some PAHS and total PAHS in the soil where the foodstuffs were cultivated. Key words: Proximate Analysis, PAHs, Foods, Gas Chromatograph

ASSESSMENT OF GRAIN STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES FOR EFFECTIVE MARKETING IN SUSTAINING FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMME BY TRADERS IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Nigerian Food Security Programme is centred on three-tier grain storage with active participation of traders in storage of 85% of grain requirements through the On-Farm Storage Programme. The study assessed grain storage technologies to determine suitable ones for storage and marketing by traders in Southwest Nigeria. A pre-data survey of recommended grain storage technologies was followed by multi- stage sampling of Oyo, Ondo and Ogun States for 120 rural and urban traders. Data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics at p = 0.05. Traders preferred recommended storage technologies except silo. Only sacks were preferred out of the indigenous storage technologies. Technology attributes and communication factors are essential for use of recommended storage technologies. There is no significant relationship between age (r = 0.86), income (r = 0.78) and use of recommended storage technologies while quantity of grains stored (r = 0.94), years of experience in grain storage (r = 0.93) and educational status (X2 = 9.51) were significantly related.  Rural and urban traders were not significantly different in their levels of use of recommended grain storage technologies (tc = 0.20). Traders’ storage extension through the use of various channels of communication, trainings and adult education programme were recommended. Key words: Recommended technologies, indigenous technologies, determinants, use

Effects of Farmers’ Demographic Factors on the Adoption of Grain Storage Technologies Developed by Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI): A case study of selected villages in Ilorin West LGA of Kwara State.

This study was carried out to identify the factors that determine farmers’ adoption of NSPRI grain storage technologies in selected villages of Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State. Data used were collected from a total of 120 respondents who were randomly selected from 6 villages of the Local Government Area. 10% of all the farmers in each of the villages were interviewed. The variables examined in the study are sex, age, marital status, primary occupation, secondary occupation, level of education, number of dependents, years of farming, farm size, years of grain production, means of farm land acquisition and types of grain produced. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression model were used to analyze data. The inferential statistical tool used indicated significant relationship between sex and NSPRI grain storage technologies’ adoption.  Level of education and occupation were also significantly related to adoption of NSPRI grains storage technologies. This study recommends a wholesome dissemination model that will benefit both educated and uneducated farmer and also the involvement of farmers’ group or representatives in participatory approach of technology development, introduction and use. Keywords: Education, farming, occupation, participatory development, logit regression model

Development of effective drying technology for quality enhancement of whitings fish (Merlangius merlangius)

A cost effective, affordable and environmental friendly solar tent dryer was developed for production of stockfish from Whitings fish (Merlangius merlangius) that is stable and free of contamination from air borne dust and insects. The dryer was constructed of locally available materials; basically steel and polythene. It was able to record an average differential temperature of 12 oC when compared with the ambient condition. The tent dried fresh samples of Whitings of 25 kg with average moisture content of 80.10% (wet basis) to a final weight of 5.42 kg with average moisture content of 10.13% (wet basis) in four days. Over 75 % overall acceptance was recorded when the stockfish was subjected to sensory analysis. The drying technology reduced the bacterial and fungal count of the fish sample used from initial value of 6.8 CFU/g x 102 and 3.6 CFU/g x 105 to 3.9 CFU/g x 102 and 2.7 CFU/g x 105 respectively. This is below the acceptable safe limit and what is obtainable in stockfish sold in the market. The output could be a good alternative to the imported stockfish in terms of food safety and sensory quality. Most importantly, it would reduce the huge amount of money being spent on importation of stockfish, and more job and wealth will be created for the teeming populace while the lovers of stockfish now have access to freshly processed products that would not endanger their life.Keywords : Stockfish, dryer, sensory, solar, qualit

Controlled atmosphere storage of brown cowpea under nitrogen

Laboratory studies were conducted to investigate the efficacy of the long-term controlled atmosphere storage of brown cowpeas under nitrogen in Kano, Nigeria, where hot dry weather prevails, typical for a semi-arid zone. The 30-month storage trial consisted of the application of nitrogen in an experimental 0.65 m3 mini-silo containing half a tonne of the commodity. The storage in nitrogen completely suppressed insect infestation, and grain quality was maintained during the period. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the population of insects in the cowpea stored under nitrogen, and the control. The initial insect population of 15 adults of C. maculatus, and one adult of T. castenium per kg of cowpea died after 12 months of storage under nitrogen. They however, increased in the control to 1288, and 54 adults per kg respectively before their eventual death. Free fatty acid contents increased from 2.60% to 6.51% under nitrogen, but increased rapidly to 58.60% in the control cowpea. This was attributed to the action of insect activities, mould infection and water activities in the control cowpeas. Viability dropped slightly from 89.75% to 72.84% in nitrogen, but dropped rapidly to 0.00% in the control. The palatability of cowpea did not change adversely in nitrogen, whereas it became very poor in the air-stored commodity. The germinability of cowpea seeds stored in the inert atmosphere silos was maintained above 85% after 12 months of storage, which shows that the technology is effective for seeds storage

EVALUATION OF GLUCOSE SYRUP PRODUCED FROM CASSAVA HYDROLYZED WITH MALTED GRAINS (RICE, SORGHUM & MAIZE)

The crude malt obtained from the grains were hydrolyzed with cassava starch to obtain glucose syrup. 94.33% malt was produced from maize, rice had 84.46% malt, while sorghum had 84.97% malt. Glucose syrup yield was greatest using sorghum malt with percentage yield of 75.55%, 52.37% using rice malt, and while maize malt had 48.33 % syrup. Maize sample had highest malt yield but lowest glucose syrup yield showing that glucose syrup yield is in dependent on malt yield but on the quality of amylase produced during malting. Analysis on the glucose syrup obtained gave the following results: moisture content of 13.8%, 14.5%, 15.4%; ash content of 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.01%; carbohydrate 86.47%, 84.76%, 83.01%; total reducing sugar (invert sugar) 85.79%, 83.86%, 82.58%; total soluble (sugar brix) 100°Brix, 110°Brix, 105°Brix for rice, sorghum and maize samples respectively. Dextrose equivalent, viscosity, colour and taste of the end products were also analyzed. Microbial analysis was 2×101, 5×101, 3×101 cfu/mL for glucose syrup from rice, sorghum and maize samples respectively with no trace of yeast or mold growth making the glucose syrup fit for consumptio

Combating A36 mild steel corrosion in 1 M H2SO4 medium using watermelon seed oil inhibitor

Corrosion inhibitive performance of the extracted watermelon seed oil on A36 mild steel in 1 M H2SO4 medium, at 305 and 319 K corrosion reaction temperatures, was investigated. Weight loss and inhibition efficiency were determined using gravimetric method while corrosion rate and inhibitoion efficiency were evaluated using potentiodynamic tests. Gravimetric tests showed that watermelon seed oil inhibitor attained a better corrosion inhibition efficiency of 50% at the operating temperature of 305 K compared to an efficiency of 48% obtained at the operating temperature of 319 K. Electrochemical potentiodynamic polarization tests showed that 3 vol/vol% inhibitor concentration gave the most promising corrosion inhibiting results at the operating temperature of 305 K, while 4 vol/vol% inhibitor concentration gave the most reliable corrosion resisting one at the operating temperature of 319 K. Langmuir adsorption isotherm correctly predicted the adsorption behaviour of the watermelon seed oil on A36 mild steel surface in 1 M H2SO4 medium. the negative values of ΔGads revealed the spontaneous adsorption nature of the inhibitor on the mild steel surface and the electrochemical potentiodynamic polarization results showed that the watermelon seed oil acted as a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor. The optical image analysis revealed both the potency level of watermelon seed oil as an inhibitor as well as the optimum inhibitor concentrations of 3 vol/vol% (at 305 K) and 4 vol/vol% (at 319 K)

Technical appraisal of some maize shellers in Oyo and Kwara States of Nigeria

This study assessed the performance of some maize shellers in use in grain markets in Oyo and Kwara States, Nigeria. A preliminary survey conducted identified shellers in use as basic maize sheller (BMS) without blower, maize sheller with blower attachment (MSB) and the multi-purpose sheller (MPS). The shelling/cleaning performance of the shellers were assessed using yellow maize (SWAN 1 variety) and some key equipment parameters, which impact performance were measured. The air velocity for MSB and MPS ranged between 0.4 and 2.4 m/s which was not sufficient for efficient cleaning of chaff from shelled grains. Shaft speed for BMS, MSB and MPS were 845, 920 and 820 rpm, respectively. Average throughput for BMS, MSB and MPS was 1,714, 600 and 840 kg/hr, respectively with mean shelling efficiencies of 92.9, 82.7 and 97.9%, respectively. Mean cleaning efficiencies were 54.0 and 57.7% for MSB and MPS, respectively. The percentage grain loss for BMS, MSB and MPS were 17, 7.1 and 1.9%, respectively. It was observed that many fabricators do not consult agricultural engineers when producing machines, relying more on previous experience. Additionally, there was a lack of consideration for operator safety with the exposure of moving parts of the equipment in all the designs evaluated. A key recommendation from this study is that sheller designs should be standardized to ensure the provision of quality and highly efficient machinery for processors

COMPARATIVE AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE PROPERTIES AND POTENCY OF SYNTHESIZED ORGANIC AND MINERAL SUNSCREEN MOISTURIZER

This research work aims at synthesizing two different types of moisturizers: a body butter and a lotion. Based on the methodology, three samples of the body butter and lotion was produced, by varying the percentage of zinc oxide and Shea butter, the samples were analyzed with a UV- spectrophotometer to determine the transmittance and absorbance strength which was in turn used to determine the SPF. Vaseline which is a standard organic lotion was also analyzed to determine the transmittance, absorbance strength and SPF. The results were compared. Of all the moisturizers synthesized in this research, the lotion which had 10% zinc oxide had the highest absorbance strength, and hence the highest SPF. Therefore, it was concluded that a minimum of 10% zinc oxide should be used in the production of sunscreen moisturizers to provide moderate sun protectio