Soybean Peroxidase Catalyzed Oligomerization of Acetaminophen and Selected Parabens for Wastewater Treatment

Esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens) commonly used as universal preservatives, para-hydroxybenzoic acid, the degradation intermediate of parabens and the common analgesic/antipyretic pharmaceutically active ingredient, acetaminophen have been detected in the environment around the world largely because they are inefficiently removed by conventional wastewater treatment processes. These compounds are emerging contaminants, thus necessitating research for an alternative treatment regimen for their efficient removal from wastewater treatment plants effluent before discharge into receiving water bodies. Soybean peroxidase-catalyzed reaction in the presence of peroxide at appropriate pH was employed to treat these contaminants in synthetic wastewater with compound removal monitored using high performance liquid chromatography. Oligomers formed were determined with the aid of mass spectroscopy, using appropriate ionization techniques. The parameters influencing the removal process were optimized, both for single-compound treatment and in a mixture of the five compounds (mix-5), targeting ≥95% removal efficiency under both study conditions. Optimal pH for four single compounds was 6.5 while that for acetaminophen was 8.0; mix-5 showed optimal removal at pH 6.5. SBP requirement varied between 0.006 U/mL and 2.3 U/mL in the increasing order of Acetaminophenbutyl paraben≈propyl paraben\u3e para-hydroxybenzoic acid≈methyl paraben but followed the order of acetaminophen\u3ebutyl paraben\u3e para-hydroxybenzoic acid\u3epropyl paraben≈methyl paraben in mix-5. Mass spectroscopic analysis for single compounds showed the formation of oligomers of varying sizes ranging from dimers of para-hydroxybenzoic acid, to pentamers of acetaminophen, hexamers of propyl paraben and heptamers of methyl paraben and butyl paraben. Mass spectral analysis of mix-5 showed evidence of homo- and hetero-oligomers up to pentamers. The results support the possibility of soybean peroxidase-catalyzed treatment of the contaminants of emerging concern, both as single compounds and as a mixture. The possibility of mixture treatment is important for dealing with real wastewater effluents. These results show prospects for scaled-up processes with potential applications to hospital, industrial and pharmaceutical company wastes where these compounds may be predominantly found, before discharging such wastewaters to municipal treatment plants and thence receiving water bodies

Assessment of Heavy Metals Accumulation in Tissues of Tilapia zilli and Clarias gariepinus Found in Lake Akpoko and River Benue, Nigeria

Water run-offs from up lands polluted by human activities constitute a potential source of heavy metal contamination of the aquatic flora in surrounding water bodies. For instance, lake Akpokpo has abattoir effluents emptying into it all through the year. To investigate this, two commonly consumed fish species, namely Tilapia zilli (Tilapia fish) and Clarias gariepinus (cat fish) were assessed for heavy metals contamination in the gills, intestines and muscles of freshly caught samples following standard procedures. Heavy metals were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that the gills of Tilapia zilli from river Benue has the highest concentration of all the metals, while the muscles of cat fish from the lake has the lowest metals concentration. Heavy metals accumulation in the samples ranges in the order TGR>TGL>TIL>CGL>CGR>TIR>CIL>CIR>CMR>TML>CML. In the organs, the range of accumulation is Gills > intestine > muscles. The concentration of heavy metals in the river is in the order Fe> Zn >Cr>Pb>Mn>Cd>Cu. Lead was 12.15 mg/kg in the gills of Tilapia zilli, but 2.08 mg/kg in the muscles of cat fish, both from the lake. The river samples showed lead concentration of 11.585 mg/kg and 2.24 mg/kg, for the Tilapia gills and cat fish muscles respectively. Fishes constitute a staple food for river bank communities. Considering daily permissive intake limits, discussions and recommendations were made. Key words: Heavy metals pollution, Tilapia zilli, Clarias gariepinus, water pollutio

A Study of the Nutritional Composition of Freshly Squeezed and Processed Orange Juices

Large quantities of oranges, Citrus sinensis are lost at postharvest due to an array of factors. Processing is considered a means of minimizing losses. However, the question of loss in nutrients remains a major challenging factor deterring the acceptability of processed juices. To compare the nutritional composition of processed and freshly squeezed orange juices, four samples were used including two varieties of  oranges (valencia and Ibadan sweet) and two brands of processed orange juice (fumman and chi-exotic) were collected. Proximate composition, vitamin C and mineral content were determined, using standard methods. The result shows that freshly orange juice has more vitamin C than processed orange juice (Ibadan sweet = 10 mg/100g, Valencia = 8 mg/100g, chi-exotic = 2.56 mg/100g, fumman = 2.30 mg/100g). The samples showed high moisture content (89.10%) and valencia had the lowest (86.00%). Ibadan sweet had the highest ash content (45 mg/100g) while valencia, fumman and chi-exotic had 40 mg/100g, 35 mg/100g and 32 mg/100g respectively. Valencia had the highest protein content (385 mg/100g), Ibadan sweet, fumman and chi-exotic had 350 mg/100g, 328 mg/100g and 241 mg/100g respectively. Both varieties of freshly squeezed contained the same amount of fibre (20 mg/100g) while fumman and chi-exotic had 12 mg/100g and 8 mg/100g respectively. Valencia had the highest amount of carbohydrate (13.555%), Ibadan sweet, fumman and chi exotic had 13.085%,11.425% and 10.619% respectively. Fumman had the highest calcium content (0.050 ppm), chi-exotic had the highest sodium and iron content (0.3176 ppm and 0.1287 ppm) while valencia had the highest potassium content (0.210 ppm). Key words: Citrus sinensis, nutrients, proximate parameters, processing

Nutritional Evaluation of Milk Bush (Thevetia neriifolia) Seed Oil in Wistar Albino Rats

The nutritional value of milk bush Thevetia neriifolia seed oil was carried out in Wistar albino rats, 5%, 10% and 15% of the seed oil were administered to Wistar rats for 42 days (6 weeks) and various parameters like food intake, body weight changes, biochemical parameters like serum creatinine, liver and kidney catalase activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, lipid peroxidation, liver and heart cholesterol and triglycerides were determined. There was a significant decrease in liver cholesterol synthesis and triglycerides. On the other hand, there was a significant increase in kidney SOD catalase activity and a non-significant increase in liver SOD when the test rats were compared with the control group. A significant decrease in body weight and feed intake were observed when rats fed with 10% and 15% test diet were compared with the control. Finally, there was no significant change in liver and kidney catalase activity when test animals were compared with the control. The physicochemical studies of the seed oil showed the presence of 2.115 acid value, 70.125 mgKOH/g saponification value and 4.145 iodine value. Therefore, Thevetia neriifolia meets the nutritional requirements and if detoxified could be recommended for consumption

Effects of Drying Methods on the Nutritional Composition of Unripe Plantain Flour

Food processing is often thought to bring about changes in nutrients content, thus decreasing its patronage. To investigate this in a Nigerian staple, unripe plantain (Musa paradisiaca) flours were prepared following sun drying and oven drying methods. These were compared against fresh plantain for their nutritional composition. Unripe plantain was purchased from railway market, Makurdi metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria. Proximate composition, phytochemical screening, vitamin C content and inorganic minerals contents were determined following AOAC methods, colorimetric methods and titration methods respectively. The results showed that the unripe plantains pulp contained 59.77%, 1.42%, 1.51%, 1.40%, 7.65%, 28.23%, 40.22% and 38.80% of moisture, ash, fat/oils, crude fibre, crude protein, carbohydrates, dry matter and organic matter respectively. Calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, and nitrogen were determined to be 0.1534 ppm, 0.2613 ppm, 0.3034 ppm, 0.7808 ppm and 0.2240 ppm respectively. Saponin, tannins, and phenols were not detected in both the processed and fresh samples. Vit C was 5.00 mg/100g in the fresh sample, and 1.24 and 1.27 mg/100g in the oven dried and sun dried samples respectively. Both of the processing methods produced flour with similar nutritional composition. However, oven drying gave the lowest moisture content in the flour, suggesting a higher capacity to prevent microbial growth and decay in dried sample, hence prolonging storage life. Keywords: phytochemicals, vitamin C, proximate composition, Musa paradisiac

Screening for Lignocellulolytic Fungi From Biowastes Show Fungi with Hyper-Cellulase Producing Capability

The decomposition of organic wastes, such as lignocellulosics to release the energy trapped therein has been remarked as one of the most important events of the carbon cycle.  The organisms involved in these processes, if harnessed could be useful bio-resources for the production of value added products, such as cellulase. To screen for these organisms, decomposing waste materials were collected from different places in the environment. Screening was done following established methods. Four fungi species were obtained. These were Aspergillus niger, Fusarium spp, Spadicoides spp and Aspergillus spp. Of all these, Aspergillus niger had the highest (0.085 mg/ml) extracellular cellulase secreting ability, when cultivated on sodium carboxy-methyl cellulose (Na-CMC). All the organisms grew were on sugar cane bagasse (SCB) sore carbon sourced media. These organisms have been implicated in cellulase production previously, while Spadicoides spp has rarely, if at all ever been reported for having high extracellular cellulase secreting ability and is hereby reported for further studies. Key words: Aspergillus niger, Spadicoides spp, cellulase, Sugar cane bagasse (SCB