Statistical Modeling and Optimization of Biodiesel Production from Azadirachta Indica (Neem) Using Co-Solvent Technique

In this work, statistical modeling and optimization of biodiesel production from Azadirachta Indica(neem) using co-solvent technique via a two-step transesterification process was carried out. Neem oil was extracted from neem seeds and properties such as moisture content, specific gravity, acid value, saponification value and iodine value were determined. The experimental design used was Central Composite Design. The range of factor levels used for the Central Composite Design were reaction temperature (30°C to 46°C), catalyst amount (0.8% to 1.2%, w/w), reaction time (20 to 40min) and methanol-to-oil molar ratio (5:1 to 9:1). The co-solvents used were methanol and diethyl ether. The co-solvent-to-methanol volume ratio for all the experimental runs was kept constant at 1:1. Also the biodiesel produced was characterized for some important properties including acid value, specific gravity, saponification value, iodine value, cetane number, ester value, kinematic viscosity, flash point, pour point and cloud point. Optimized biodiesel yield of 84.77% was obtained for reaction time of 35 min, catalyst amount of 1.10g, reaction temperature of 34°C, and oil-to-methanol molar ratio of 6:1. The cetane number (51.733), specific gravity (0.8881g/cm3), flash point (134oC) and kinematic viscosity (5.86mm2/s) of the produced biodiesel met the ASTM specifications. The results of characterization of the biodiesel revealed that biodiesel can be produced at lower reaction conditions and with comparable fuel property with biodiesel produced using conventional methods

Equilibrium Isotherm, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies of the Adsorption of Erythrosine Dye onto Activated Carbon from Coconut Fibre

Equilibrium isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic studies of the adsorption of erythrosine dye onto activation carbon from coconut fire was carried out. The coconut fibre obtain from Elele, Rivers State Nigeria, was washed, dried, carbonized at 400oC, crushed, sieved and activated at 800oC, before it was washed and dried at 110oC. Variable influencing factors, such as contact time, temperature and initial concentration were studied through single-factor experiment, while other factors are kept constant (at 30min, 30oC and 50mg/L) in each adsorption experiment. The Freundlich isotherm fits adsorption compare to others used, the adsorption kinetic followed pseudo-second order reaction, while the thermodynamic parameters, (∆H) = 28.73KJ/mol, (∆G) = 94.45J/mol.K and (∆S) = -0.10, -0.27, -0.82, -1.05, -1.77, -2.49KJ/mol. From the results obtained, activated carbon from coconut fibre, will be an excellent low-cost adsorbent for the removal of Erythrosine from industrial waste water

The Influence of Biostimulator in the Remediation of Petroleum Sludge Polluted Clay Soil: The Concept of Moringa Application

The Bioremediation of Petroleum Sludge (PS) in a clay soil environment of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria using Moringa Seed oil extract (MO) as a Biostimulator (BS) has been investigated, with a view to studying the mitigation impact on the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) content of the petroleum sludge. Two Bioreactors labeled R1 (with MO treatment) and R2 (control: No treatment) containing 3.0kg of clay soils were polluted with 300ml of petroleum sludge. 50ml of MO was added to R1 as a biostimulator. R2 received no form of treatment. Bioremediation extent monitoring was carried out bi-weekly by sampling of the bioreactors contents and analyzing for the individual petroleum hydrocarbon using a gas chromatography (GC). Analysis of the samples at two weeks intervals for a period of 12 weeks reveals that bioremediation occurred in the treatment reactor and the control reactor to which no biostimulator was added. Most of the Hydrocarbon degradation occurred within the first four weeks of the experiment. It was found that moringa seed oil extract was very effective and suitable for remediation of petroleum sludge polluted clay soils due to the high degradation rates of the individual hydrocarbons recorded in the biostimulated reactor against the low degradation rates of those of the control reactor with no form of bio-treatment

Predictive Analysis of Homosexualism as the Prime Cause of HIV/AIDS Outbreak

In this work, HIV/AIDS data from homosexuals, heterosexuals and lesbians were obtained from the internet. Computational tablenbsp ofnbsp ratiosnbsp ofnbsp homosexualsnbsp to heterosexuals,nbsp lesbiansnbsp tonbsp homosexualsnbsp fornbsp bothnbsp HIVnbsp andnbsp AIDSnbsp patientsnbsp asnbsp a functionnbsp ofnbsp timenbsp werenbsp madenbsp andnbsp plottednbsp usingnbsp shapenbsp preservingnbsp interpolantnbsp in MATLAB 7.9 toolbox. Observations were made of those ratios, as a function of time, that are above and below y-axis = 1. It was seen that homosexual to heterosexual HIV shoots off in 1998 and continues to rise. Homosexuals to heterosexual AIDS ratio are to cross y=1 line and continue to rise in the future (fig.2). Also in fig. 4, Hho/Nho rises geometrically, showing HIV as the cause of the rise. In fig 5, plots of HIV to normal people and AIDS to normal people show another geometric rise indicating that HIV and AIDS are responsible for the rise.nbsp From the foregoing observations, it is therefore imperative to assert that homosexualism has a big and major role to play in the advent of HIV/ AIDS. This result can be used by World Health Organisation (WHO), Centre for Disease Control (CDC) for the control of the spread of HIV/AIDS, and also by hospitals for those treating HIV/AIDS, especially those practicing homosexualism