Browsing by Author "Uzondu, F. N."
Now showing 1 - 10 of 10
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Open Access Chemical composition of the nest and models of the metamophic polymorphism of the mud dauber wasp(U. P., 2015-07) Kamalu, C. I. O; Nwakaudu, M. S.; Nkuzinna, O. C.; Uzondu, F. N.; Effiong, E. E.; Obibuenyi, J. I.The work involves the determination of the chemical composition of the nest and modeling of metamorphors polyphenism of the Mud Dauber wasp. The samples were analyzed at Fugro consultants (Nig.) Ltd; a high standard laboratory with sophisticated equipments, which aided in producing an acceptable result considering the state of the place of analysis. Research showed that wasp generally excretes saliva to the mixture of water and their various building materials which include paper and clay soil. The composition of their saliva was found to contain Phosphorus, Magnesium, Sulphur, Chlorine, Potassium, and Calcium. The result showed that Phenol and Iron were found to have been present in the saliva, while nest showed a decrease in the quantity of potassium in ordinary clay soil. More, so, the models developed with the data obtained from the study of the specie, Brachymenes dyscherus, actually represented the biological and biochemical systems. The methods of analysis used are those stipulated by institutions such as America Public Health Association (APHA), America Society for Testing and Material (ASTM), and Chemical Analysis of Ecological Materials (CAEM)Item Open Access Curve-fitting of bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by co-composting using roost manure(EverScience Publications, 2016) Kamalu, C. I. O.; Nwakaudu, A. A.; Onyelucheya, O. E.; Uzondu, F. N.; Kamen, F. L.; Nwakaudu, M. S.; Obijiaku, J. C.In this work, ten polluted sites with oil were obtained from Niger Delta, mixed homogenously with compost manure and sent to FUGRO International Laboratory Port Harcourt Nigeria, for bioremediation experiments and analyses. The 4800g sample was divided into twelve (12) equal parts of 400g for bioremediation; 6 parts for the experiments and 6 parts for the control. Particular ringed PAH was isolatedly tested for bioremediation for each of the five ringed PAHs (1 to 5 rings) and the 800g sample was used for respiration test of compost incubation. It was found that the efficiency of bioremediation increased from one to three rings and decreased exponentially for the rest of the rings, showing that bioremediation is not effective for higher ring PAHs. It was also found that bioremediation yields best (optimum) result between two and three ringed PAHs. The respiration of the compost microorganisms improved during incubation by more than two-third i.e 67.7%. The result of this work can be used in bioremediation studies when trying to isolate or choose a particular ringed PAHs for such bioremediation jobs.Item Open Access Effects of extraction techniques on the yield and mechanical properties of empty plantain fruit bunch fibers(Vandana Publications, 2015-12) Obijiaku, J. C.; Kamalu, C. I. O.; Osoka, E. C.; ,Onyelucheya, O. E.; Uzondu, F. N.; Obibuenyi, J. I.Two major techniques; water retting and dew retting, were used to extract natural fiber from empty plantain fruit bunch. Four different size categories each comprising of a group of six (6) bunches were used for the water retting experiments and two size categories each of six (6) bunch samples were used for the dew retting experiments. Results for the water retting experiment showed that the fiber yield is enhanced by the addition of a load/weights on the retting bunch and the bunch size, while results for the dew retting revealed that fiber yield is dependent on both retting time and bunch size. Results of statistical analysis produced optimum yield value of 85.95% with a maximum dded weight of 5kg and bunch diameter size of 4cm for the water retting, and for dew retting, an optimum yield value of 60.38% for the bigger bunch size of 5.5cm when extracted on the same day of harvest. Mechanical tests on fiber from the two techniques showed better mechanical properties for the water retting categories with a maximum tensile strength of 823.295N/mm2 and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of 644.318N/mm2. The fiber extracted finds use in the manufacture of reinforced composite materials which are fast replacing the use of metallic and plastic materials, due to the quest for materials that are light and cheap, yet strong.Item Open Access Environmental assessment of vehicular emission in Port-Harcourt City, Nigeria(U. P., 2017) Nkwocha, A. C.; Ekeke, I. C.; Kamalu, C. I. O.; Kamen, F. L.; Uzondu, F. N.; Dadet, W. P.; Olele, P. CPort Harcourt is a coastal city located in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, with very short dry season and long heavy rainy season periods. The objective of this study was to assess air pollution level from vehicular emission during the rainy season period. Three locations in the city noted for high traffic congestion were selected for the study. Air sampling in these locations were carried out for 11 days, covering peak and off peak periods. The following air pollutants were measured namely; nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and unburnt hydrocarbons (CxHy), as well as climatic elements – ambient temperature and relative humidity. The air pollutant levels obtained were compared with local and international standards. CO complied with interthe health risk associated with ainational standard, but exceeded local standard. There is need for effective air pollution monitoring and control, this will go a long way to reduce the health risk associated with air pollution in the city..Item Open Access Mathematical modelling of drying characteristics of pepper (Capsicum annum)(U. P., 2015-09-15) Nkwocha, A. C.; Kamalu, C. I. O.; Dadet, W. P.; Uzondu, F. N.; Ogbonna, O. C.The effects of drying condition on the drying behaviour of pepper (C. annum) and the applicability of three thin-layer drying models namely; Page, logarithmic and Flick’s law, to predict the drying behaviour of pepper were studied. The experiments were conducted in a constant temperature hot air drying oven. Three temperatures (50, 60, and 700 C) were studied. Drying air temperature was found to be the main factor affecting the drying kinetics of pepper; raising the drying temperature from 500C to 700 dramatically reduced the drying times. Higher equilibrium moisture contents were obtained at lower temperatures. Furthermore, drying was observed only in the falling rate period, and comparison among drying models was made using statistical analysis to select the best fitting model for the drying curves. Among the three tested models, Page model was found to be superior to the other models in terms of fitting performance, in fitting the experimental data, providing the highest coefficient of determination (R2) value -0.9944, and the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) value - 0.03032.Item Open Access Modeling the kinetics of photosynthetic chemistry(U. P., 2015-11) Kamalu, C. I. O.; Nwakaudu, M. S.; Obijiaku, J. C.; Okwara, C. A.; Kamen, F. L.; Uzondu, F. N.; Osoka, E. C.In this work, the chemical kinetics of photosynthesis was extensively explored. Kinetic models were established. Existing data from the internet were used for the validation of the models. It was observed that the models are real and natural as they follow the growth profile nature of photosynthetic release, together with the uptake of oxygen and carbon dioxide respectively. The models actually conform to what was found in literature. Therefore photosynthetic activities could be studied using natural growth models, in conjunction with the specificities of photosynthetic phenomena. This work can be employed in the growth study of plants in agriculture, carbon cycle, and perhaps ozone layer depletion or carbon sequestration.Item Open Access Prediction and analysis of variable parameters of some established models in batch beer fermentation(U. P., 2019) Kamalu, C. I. O.; Onuoha, O. E.; Uzondu, F. N.; Effiong, E. E.; Obibuenyi, I. J.; Onyelucheya, O. E.Abstract:In this work, established models of renowned scholars in fermentation technology are analytically solved. Fermentation experiments were also performed on the production of ethanol and biomass from substrate (grain i.e. malted barley) with time and used to validate the analytical solutions of the scholarly models. The result shows that the models were real and true to life as they gave coefficient of correlation of 99.63%. It is also observed that during this fermentation, there was serious interaction between substrate concentration and ethanol concentration, substrate concentration and biomass concentration. From this model, it was found that the yield of ethanol (product) was 79.34%, yield of biomass was 43.8%, initial ethanol before fermentation was 1.45g/lit. Substrate at the beginning, S0= 8.114g/lit. and initial biomass X0 was 0.8098g/lit. This result can be applied in fermentation planning in any brewing company of research centers to predict variation of certain parameters.Item Open Access Predictive modeling of Nigerian peak condensate using Hubbert’s zero annual reserve rate(Vandana Publications, 2015) Kamalu, C. I. O.; Appah, D.; Obah, B.; Anyanwu, E. E.; Obijiaku, J. C.; Uzondu, F. N.; Okolie, I. J.; Oghome, P.In this work, a model was developed using Kamalu’s (2010) natural resource depletion word equation in one hand and Hubbert zero rate of annual reserve concept on the other hand. Experimental data was collected from Nigerian Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals, 7 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos to validate the model. It gave coefficient of correlation of 0.99997 and 0.99517 for discovery and production of Nigerian condensate respectively. It was also established that Nigerian condensate will exhaust in the year 2518 AD when the discovery and production values will be equal to 110MMB. The research reveals that there is a gentle interaction between the cumulative discovery and production and serious interaction between annual discovery and production as years roll by. This work can be used by Nigerian government to plan their condensate budget both nationally and internationally and to cushion their position in OPEC and the worldItem Open Access Studies on optimal conditions for the preservation of ‘Zobo’ drink(Vandana Publications, 2015-11) Ekeke, I. C.; Nkwocha, A. C.; Kamen, F. L.; Kamalu, C. I. O.; Uzondu, F. N.The study was carried out to determine the combination of preservation techniques (hurdles) that can best extend the shelf life of Zobo drink. Zobo drink was prepared from the calyx of Hibiscus sabdariffa. Two types of spices - Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Caryophillus oromatics (cloves) were prepared and added in the following proportions 150g: 20g; 150g:10g; 100g:20g; and 100g:10g respectively, to 400ml of zobo drink. Samples of the drink were pasteurized at two different temperatures 167 C for 5min and 72 C for 6 min. All the samples were stored at ambient temperature (30 ± 20) for 9 days. Microbial analysis was performed on the samples every 2 days. The various combinations of the spices alone could not preserve the drink beyond 2 days, but, when coupled with pasteurization, the shelf life was extended. A combination of ginger (150g) and cloves (20g) was found to be more effective, and when in conjunction with pasteurization, kept the drink in sterile condition for 3 days, and extended the shelf life to 5 daysItem Open Access Vaporization models of varying crude oil characteristics(Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011) Uzoije, A. P.; Uzondu, F. N.; Agu, P. C.The purpose of this study is to provide models for quick assessment of vaporized hydrocarbon from an oil spilled soil. Vaporization is a dominant mechanism which manifests at the initial period of crude oil spill. Quantification of these vaporized hydrocarbons without going through the rigorous methods of weighing and other experimental methods is always beneficial to science and technology. Modeling of the crude oil vaporization rates enhances quick quantification of vaporized hydrocarbon concentrations. In this study, the experimental data obtained from the vaporization process of crude oil of different consistency (different hydrocarbon concentrations) spiked on different soil samples (soils of different textural characteristics) were fitted into the following kinetic models; zero, first and second order. It was observed that zero order kinetics best fitted the vaporization of sample A crude oil (crude oil of the highest hydrocarbon concentration) from different soil samples with vaporization from soil D (soil with the highest percentages of clay and organic matter) showing the highest linear coefficient (R2) of 0.95. The kinetic study equally showed that first order kinetic model was sufficient to quantify the vaporization rate of crude oil sample C (crude oil sample with lowest hydrocarbon concentration) given the fact that the rate equation models for its vaporization from all the soil samples showed linear coefficients (R2) of between 0.611-0.87. Vaporization rate of oil sample B obeyed the second order kinetic model. Generally, the results showed the dependability of the kinetic models to varying crude oil and soil types. The models help us get good insight into providing solution to our environmental problems as it pertains to crude oil spill on land.