Volume 5, Issue 1 (December)

1

Research Article

Investigation and comparison of the optimal condition for the production of biodiesel from shea butter oil and groundnut oil using homogeneous catalysis

YUSUF N^*

Due to the depletion of world petroleum reserves and increased environmental concerns, recent interest in alternative source for petroleum-based fuels has been developed. Biodiesel arose as the potential candidate for a diesel substitute due to the similarities it has with petroleum-based diesel. Chemically biodiesel is monoalkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable feedstock...

Dec, 2014 pp. 1-5

2

Research Article

Intercalation of anionic surfactants into Zn-Al hydrotalcites of varying composition: preparation and characterization

OMONMHENLE S. I^*, SHANNON I J

The synthesis and characterisation of Zn-Al hydrotalcite-like compounds intercalated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) have been investigated in details. The synthesis has been carried out following calcination-regeneration method. The organic modification was intended to derive hydrotalcite-like compounds appropriate for various applications such as ...

Dec, 2014 pp. 6-12

3

Research Article

Phytochemicals and antimicrobial screening of an indigenous Caesalpinia Coriaria (Divi-Divi)

OPARAH E N^*, AKAWU I, FEKA D P, EMEKA C., AGHO B. O, ADAMS D. A, FATAI A.

Caesalpinia coriaria has been screened for their Phytochemicals and antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus spp. and Salmonella spp. The tannins extracted using water, acetone and methanol exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtillis, Escherichia Coli, Proteus vulgaris,...

Dec, 2014 pp. 13-17

4

Research Article

Electrical characterisation and microstructure of metal oxide-doped ZnO varistors

AKINNIFESI J. O^*, AKINWUNMI O O

Zinc oxide ceramic varistors were realized by doping ZnO with small quantities of MnO2 and PbO. The preparation technique of Direct Mixing of Constituent Phases (DMCP) was used. The samples were pelletized at a pressure of 1.24 X 103 N/cm2 and sintered in ambient atmosphere at a temperature of 850°C for a period of 36hours. They were characterized by measuring the current-voltage response to e...

Dec, 2014 pp. 18-21

5

Research Article

Assessment of physical properties of some selected clay deposits in Jigawa state for refractory application

MAHDI MAKOYO^*, YAU YUSUF

The physical properties of clay deposits located in Mailolo in Hadejia Local Government Area, Gwaram in Ringim Local Government Area and Firimo in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State were assessed for use as refractory materials. Jigawa State is blessed with abundant deposits of clay, which is mostly used for the production of potteries, mud houses and structures. Samples of clay...

Dec, 2014 pp. 22-27

6

Research Article

A proposed design framework for the provision of appropriate footwear for people suffering with diabetics

TAGANG J. I^*, CHEN C C, PEI E, HIGGETT N

A frequently referenced component in the prevention of diabetic foot problems is the use of therapeutic footwear. Thus, footwear should be designed to relieve pressure areas, reduce shock and shear forces and be able to accommodate foot deformities by supporting and stabilizing them. There is however lack of adequate knowledge about the role of footwear and multidisciplinary approach in the ma...

Dec, 2014 pp. 28-34

7

Research Article

Oil-water flows characteristics in pipes of different diameter

EDOMWONYI-OTU L C^*, HERNANDEZ-BARRAL A, ANGELI P

The flow patterns during oil-water flows were investigated in two acrylic pipes that had different diameters, 38 mm ID and 14 mm ID respectively. Water (ρ = 1000 kgm-3, μ = 0.001 kgm-1s-1) and Exxsol D140 oil (ρ = 830 kgm-3, μ = 0.0055 kgm-1s-1) were used as test fluids, while the patterns were recorded with a high speed camera. Dispersed and rivulet flows were seen in the small pipe but not in...

Dec, 2014 pp. 35-40

8

Research Article

Extraction of atili (blackdate) oil from the pulp using aqueous biphase system

MAINA N. S^*, OKOKO O. J

In this research, Atili (blackdate) oil (Canarium Schweinfurthii) was extracted from the pulp using aqueous biphasic system (ABS) prepared from fixed concentration (40%) of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and varying concentrations of salt (di-sodium hydrogen phosphate (Na2HPO4)) at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% respectively. The partitioning of the atili oil to the PEG-rich phase for the various combin...

Dec, 2014 pp. 41-44

9

Research Article

Bleaching of atili (blackdate) oil for use as white oil

MAINA N. S^*, AMEH A. O, EDOH O.

Atili (blackdate) oil was bleached in this research using three different adsorbents; acidic fuller’s earth, activated carbon, and the mixture of fuller’s earth and activated carbon. The adsorbents were compared to give the most suitable of the three. The bleaching process was carried out by agitation of varying amounts of the different adsorbents at 80oC and a contact time of 45mins. The bleac...

Nov, 2014 pp. 45-48

10

Research Article

Physical properties of subgrade soils from Nigerian highway master test section 1 (Kano-Kaduna region)

Murana A A^*, OLOWOSULU A T, JOEL M

Subgrade materials from Master Test Section (MTS) 1 were tested to obtain their physical properties. Three samples each from the MTSs making a total eighteen (18) samples were obtained and subjected to laboratory test to determine their basic physical properties. Testing include particle size distribution, Atterberg limits and specific gravity tests. The samples were classified according to Ame...

Dec, 2014 pp. 49-53

11

Research Article

Modelling reliability of distribution network fault diagnostic tools using petri-nets

OKORIE P U^*, ALIYU U O, JIMOH B, SANI S. M

The aim of the work presented in this paper is to evaluate and develop a framework for reliability analysis of distribution system modeling and simulation using Petri-Nets. The problem of detecting, isolating and restoring fault events in dynamic systems modeled is considered. As the complexity of power system increases, fault diagnosis become very difficult task therefore necessitate the devel...

Dec, 2014 pp. 54-59

12

Research Article

Electrical conduction and dielectric loss characteristics in natural ester dielectric fluid

ABDELMALIK A. A^*

Alkyl ester derivatives of palm kernel oil have been prepared for use as bio-dielectrics in oil filled High Voltage (HV) electric equipment. Electrical conduction and loss characteristics of the ester derivatives were studied to understand the behaviour of the material under applied electric field. Frequency response analyzer was used to study electrical conduction within the fluids since diele...

Dec, 2014 pp. 60-67

13

Research Article

Effect of groundnut shell ash on the particle size and plasticity characteristics of black cotton soil

IJIMDIYA T. S^*

The paper presents the results of a laboratory study on the effect of groundnut shell ash on the particle size distribution and plasticity characteristics of black cotton soil. Black cotton soil was treated with a maximum 10 % groundnut shell ash by weight of dry soil. The results show that there was a substantial reduction in the amount of fines content with higher doses of groundnut shell ash...

Dec, 2014 pp. 68-72

14

Research Article

Processing, degradation and applications of synthetic biodegradable polymers: A review

UKANAH P S^*, GADIMOH S., AMEURU S U

Biodegradable polymers can either be natural or synthetic and they have been greatly applied across fields especially in medicals due to their bioabsorbability, biocompatibility and biodegradability. A lot had been achieved through the efforts of polymer scientist in using synthetic materials in human body and this is due to the versatility and biodiversity of the materials. Synthetic biodegrad...

Dec, 2014 pp. 73-84

15

Research Article

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan from locust

ALANI O. A^*, Mohammed K. Yakubu, BUKHARI M. M, GADIMOH S.

Chitin was isolated from locust using a standard procedure as described in literature with slight modifications. Chitosan was then synthesized from the isolated chitin by treatment with 50% concentration of NaOH, the degree of the deacetylation obtained was 64.4% using Potentiometer Titration method. Both chitin and chitosan ash content and moisture content were then analyzed. They were then c...

Dec, 2014 pp. 85-91