Extraction and Use of Potassium Hydroxide from Ripe Plantain Peels Ash for Biodiesel Production

The extraction of the ash of ripe plantain peels to obtain potassium hydroxide (KOH) and its application in the trans-esterification of refined rapeseed and crude jatropha oils have been investigated. At 30 _C, extraction time 1 hr and volume of 5, 7.5 and 10 ml/g ash, the percentage recovery of KOH progressively increased in the first stage, from 26.05 to 26.20 and then to 30.75% respectively, but decreased in the second stage (extraction of the spent ash from stage 1), from 2.20 to 2.10 and to 1.90% respectively. Same trend was also observed at 40 and 50 _C but cumulatively, KOH values recovered increased relatively with increasing extraction time and temperature. The percentage cumulative recovery of KOH was 40.10% at extracting temperature of 50 _C, extracting volumes 10 ml/g ash and extraction time of 3 hrs while it was 40.00% at 50 _C, 10 ml/g ash and 2 hrs extraction time. The least percentage cumulative recovery of KOH was 28.25% at 30 _C with 5 ml extracting volume/g ash and 1 hr extraction time. The percentage purity of the extracted KOH gave 80.0%. The trans-esterification of the two vegetable oils showed the percentage conversion obtained with rapeseed oil was 71.01% using 1 g of KOH extract from ripe plantain peels ash at reaction temperature and time of 75 _C and 4 hours respectively. Under the same reaction conditions, 1 g of commercial caustic potash recorded 70.06% conversion of the rapeseed oil. From the optimized batch process, 97.15% conversion was achieved with crude jatropha oil using 1 g caustic potash extract from ripe plantain peels ash; at reaction temperature and time of 83 _C and 4 hours respectively

Extraction and Use of Potassium Hydroxide from Ripe Plantain Peels Ash for Biodiesel Production

The extraction of the ash of ripe plantain peels to obtain potassium hydroxide (KOH) and its application in the trans-esterification of refined rapeseed and crude jatropha oils have been investigated. At 30 �C, extraction time 1 hr and volume of 5, 7.5 and 10 ml/g ash, the percentage recovery of KOH progressively increased in the first stage, from 26.05 to 26.20 and then to 30.75% respectively, but decreased in the second stage (extraction of the spent ash from stage 1), from 2.20 to 2.10 and to 1.90% respectively. Same trend was also observed at 40 and 50 �C but cumulatively, KOH values recovered increased relatively with increasing extraction time and temperature. The percentage cumulative recovery of KOH was 40.10% at extracting temperature of 50 �C, extracting volumes 10 ml/g ash and extraction time of 3 hrs while it was 40.00% at 50 �C, 10 ml/g ash and 2 hrs extraction time. The least percentage cumulative recovery of KOH was 28.25% at 30 �C with 5 ml extracting volume/g ash and 1 hr extraction time. The percentage purity of the extracted KOH gave 80.0%. The trans-esterification of the two vegetable oils showed the percentage conversion obtained with rapeseed oil was 71.01% using 1 g of KOH extract from ripe plantain peels ash at reaction temperature and time of 75 �C and 4 hours respectively. Under the same reaction conditions, 1 g of commercial caustic potash recorded 70.06% conversion of the rapeseed oil. From the optimized batch process, 97.15% conversion was achieved with crude jatropha oil using 1 g caustic potash extract from ripe plantain peels ash; at reaction temperature and time of 83 �C and 4 hours respectively

Use of a Mixed Formaldehyde and Sodium Hypophosphite Reducing Agent Bath in the Electroless Synthesis of Cu-Ni-Mo-P Electro-catalyst Active for Glycerol Oxidation

A new electroless bath was formulated in which two reducing agents - NaH2PO2 and formaldehyde – acted synchronously for the synthesis of electroless Cu-Ni-Mo-P/graphite electro-catalyst. The bath was operated at a pH of 10.2 and temperature of 80oC. Baths containing only sodium hypophosphite or formaldehyde reducing agents but with the same amounts of other bath constituents were used as controls in the deposition process. The deposits were characterized using SEM, EDX and XRD. Preliminary investigations conducted on oxidations of formaldehyde and glycerol show that the catalyst is an effective electro-catalyst as prepared, and that variations in the metallic composition of the electro-catalyst affect its electro catalytic activity

EVALUATION OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS OF THE 2015 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Democracy has gained universal acceptance and periodic eledion is one of basic feature of democracy. Since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999, several elections have been conducted at both national, state local government levels. However, the 2015 general elections served as turning points to the entire electoral process in Nigeria due to the higher acceptance of their outcomes and peaceful transition recorded. The paper evaluates electoral process of the 2015 gubernatorial election in Lagos State. The study adopted the historical method by using relevant journal articles, newspaper~ magazines and reports of eledoral bodies and agencies obtained from the internet. The study was anchored on the Procedural Theory of Democracy. The Content analysis method was used to gather from the data obtained, issues related to the eledoral process. The units of analysis include intra-party politics/candidates selection, campaign~ voting process and voters' behaviour, declaration of results and matters arising as well as performance of INEC Findings show that there was little intra-party democracy in the seledion of flag bearers among the two leading parties. Furthermore, the paper found that candidates engage in different kinds of political campaigns such as media tour~ rallies, and social media posts. The study recommends that political parties should condud proper primary elections and that INEC should improve its performances in future eledions by recruiting and training qualified personnel for proper electoral conduct in order to advance democracy for development in Nigeria

Activity of varying compositions of CoeNieP catalysts for the methanolysis of ammonia borane

Various compositions of CoeNieP catalysts supported on a palladium-activated Al2O3 (Pd eAl2O3) substrate were synthesized, characterized and investigated for catalytic methanolysis of ammonia-borane (AB, H3NBH3). The CoeNieP/PdeAl2O3 catalysts were synthesized by polymer-stabilized Pd nanoparticle-catalyzation and activation of the Al2O3 substrate support and the electroless deposition of cobalt-nickel (CoeNi) metal particles on the surface of the Al2O3 support for a plating time of 30 min. The CoeNieP/PdeAl2O3 catalysts are stable enough to be isolated as solid materials and characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). At 40 ± 0.5 �C, the isolable, re-dispersible and reusable catalysts were found active in the methanolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia-borane retaining up to 65% of its initial activity after five cycles. Rates of hydrogen evolution were used to determine the kinetics of methanolysis reaction. The ranges of examined catalyst particle amounts, AB concentrations and temperatures were 15.75e63 mg, 50e200 mM, and 30e55 �C, respectively. Hydrogen desorption was identified as the rate controlling step in the methanolysis reaction and using the data, the kinetic rate constant (€kH2 ), the hydrogen desorption equilibrium constant (KH2 ), and the overall equilibrium constant (K1) parameters in a LangmuireHinshelwood rate expression were determined to be 1.4 mol/g-cat. s, 1.5918 L/ mol and 1.5986 L/mol, respectively. Activation parameters such as enthalpy of activation (DH), entropy of activation (DS), and activation energy (Ea) that were obtained by Eyring and Arrhenius equations are reported for the various catalyst ratio

Studies on characterization of solid fuel using municipal solid waste from Bida, Nigeria

Municipal solid waste (MSW) in Bida, Nigeria consists of domestic waste with the addition of commercial waste. Disposal of this wastes constitute environmental problem in Bida and Nigeria in general. Selected amounts of MSW were considered in this study which are dried grass, melon peels, paper, sugarcane bagasse and saw dust. These materials were carbonized at 350 degree Celsius and the solid carbon fuel obtained were analyzed using particle size, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The particle size measurement showed that dried grass has percentage intensity using dynamic light scattering at Z-average (135.2 nm), polydispersity index (0.453) and duration of 60 s. The mineralogical properties observed from XRD analysis showed that minerals like calcite, graphite, quartz, magnesium and gypsum were present. The peaks indicated at 2θ were within the range of 21 degree Celsius - 58.5 degree Celsius. Out of these, 21 degree Celsius was for sugar cane bagasse in crystal area and 58.5 degree Celsius for saw dust in amorphous area. The morphological properties revealed rough surface, hollow structure, homogeneous particle and irregularity. The particle size, mineralogical and morphological properties indicated that the solid carbon produced can be applied in direct carbon fuel cell, cement industry, iron and steel industry. The proper application of these solid carbon fuels can reduce environmental problems associated with MSW disposal in Nigeria