School of Biological Sciences

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Browsing School of Biological Sciences by Author "Chukwudi, Peter"

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    Assessment of sullage chemical properties treated with activated carbon from selected agrowastes
    (Elixir Publishers, 2019) Nduka, Chidimma Adamma; Okereke, Josephath Nwabueze; Chukwudi, Peter
    Sullage was treated with selected carbonized Agro-wastes (rice husk, corn cob and coconut husk). The Agro-wastes were first carbonized at 600oC and chemically activated using phosphoric acid (H3PO4). They were then used as adsorbents for the removal of chemical compounds: pH, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), nitrate (NO3-), phosphate (PO4-), chloride (Cl-) and sulphate (SO4 2-) from sullage using titration and spectrophotometer methods. Initial concentration of the chemical parameters of sullage samples showed COD to be 486.2±87 mg/l; BOD: 175.0±3.1 mg/l; pH: 7.33±0.1; Cl-: 31.0±5.5 mg/l; NO3-: 28.6±24 ppm; PO4-: 7.08±3.2 ppm and SO4 2-:347.08±67.1 ppm. After treatments, COD ranged from 122.2±10 - 190.5±25 mg/l; BOD: 44.0±3.5 – 68.6.0±9.0 mg/l; pH: 7.08±0.1 - 7.18±0.1; Cl-: 17.28 - 21.13 mg/l; NO3-: 0.0 - 12.79 ppm and SO4 2-: 117.7 - 251.7 ppm. There was significant difference (p≤0.05) between the untreated and the treated sullage samples. The efficiency of the individual adsorbents in absorbing the chemical parameters was of this order: ricehusk>corncob>coconut husk. In combination it was, rice husk+corncob+coconuthusk > ricehusk+corncob > corncob+coconuthusk > ricehusk+coconuthusk. High percentage reduction observed of chemical properties revealed that activated carbons from rice husk, corn cob and coconut husk can be used singly or combined for the purification of sullage.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Microbial assessment of grey water samples treated with activated carbon forms of selected agro-wastes
    (UP, 2020-10-26) Nduka, Chidimma Adamma; Okereke, Josephat Nwabueze; Chukwudi, Peter
    This study evaluated the efficacy of activated carbon from rice husk, corn cob and coconut husk wastes in the reduction of microbial properties of grey water samples harvested from students’ hostels. Microscopic characterization, enumerations and identification of microbial isolates were carried out to determine the microbial community before and after the treatment with activated carbon. Staphylococcus sp, Micrococcus sp, Bacillus sp, Salmonella sp, Saccharomyces sp and Penicillium sp were observed to be present in the grey water. Before treatment, Total Heterotrophic Count (THC) was 1.2 x 1011cfu/ml, Total Coliform Count (TCC), 6.4 x 106cfu/ml and Total Fungi Count (TFC) 2.2 x 1010cfu/ml. THC after the treatment ranged from 1.69 x 109 - 7.6 x 1010cfu/ml; TCC, 2.2 x 105 - 7.3 x 108cfu/ml and TFC 1.0 x 108 - 1.2 x 109cfu/ml. Reduction in the microbial load after treatment revealed that activated carbons from rice husk, corn cob and coconut husk can be used singly or in combined states for the treatment of wastewater.