Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 15 (11), pp. 001-007, November, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of Luffa cylindrica-Derived Biofuel Blends with Diesel: Fuel Property Analysis

A. Isaac Bamgboye1* and O. O. Oniya2

1Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. 2Department of Agricultural Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 25 June, 2024

Fuel properties of loofah oil and its ethyl ester blended with diesel were experimentally determined. Biodiesel blends (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100%) of loofah oil and its ethyl ester by volume with diesel was used. The fuel properties of the biodiesel blends were determined according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. Pure Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) was used as a reference fuel. The viscosity in the blends of loofah oil and its ethyl ester with AGO from B10 to B100 ranged from 4.5 - 43.1 mm2/s. It was observed that the viscosities of 10 - 40% loofah ester-diesel blends fell within limit specified by ASTM standards. The cloud points, the pour points and the flash points increased as the percentage of loofah oil and its ethyl ester increased in the blends. The specific gravity of all the loofah biodiesel blends ranged from 0.863 - 0.89 and fell within limit specified by international standards. The heating values of the loofah biodiesel blends decreased from 42.55 - 28.75 MJ/L. All the loofah biodiesel blends had sulphur contents ranging from 9.16 - 13.2% and lower than that of reference AGO. The ash content of all the biodiesel samples produced from loofah oil ranged from 0.01 - 0.02% and were lower compared to AGO obtained as 0.12. The blends of loofah ethyl ester (LEE) of B10 and B20 were found to have acceptable fuel properties to power compression ignition engines.

Key words: Loofah ethyl esters, biodiesel, compression ignition engine, automotive gas oil (AGO).
 

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 15 (11), pp. 001-006, November, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of Tannery Wastewater on Oreochromis mossambicus: A Toxicological Study

P. S. Navaraj* and J. Yasmin

Department of Zoology, Yadava College, Madurai, India.

Accepted 18 July, 2024

This paper investigates the impact of tannery industry wastewater on O. mossambicus. The histopathological changes observed in gills, liver, kidney and brain of the studied fish have demonstrated the quality status of industrial waste water. In the vital organs, the following marked changes were observed: filament cell proliferation, cellular infiltration, haemorrhage and epithelial lifting in gills, vacuolation of hepatocytes and necrosis in liver, exfoliation and swollen with pyknotic nuclei in kidney and enlarged pyramidal cells, binucleated nuclei, vacuolation, and necrosis in brain. These changes might be due to the various components of tannery wastewater on fish. Hence, proper treatment of tannery industry wastewater is highly recommended through this study.

Key words: Oreochromis mossambicus, acute toxicity, histopathology, tannery mill wastewater, liver, gills, kidney, brain.
 

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 15 (11), pp. 001-010, November, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Speciation of Metals in Sediments of Aiba Reservoir, Iwo, Nigeria: Implications for Aquatic Ecosystem Health

Godwin Oladele Olutona*, Olapeju Gifty Aribisala and Emmanuel Adewuni Akintunde

Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Bowen University, P.M.B. 284, Iwo, Nigeria.

Accepted 14 June, 2024

The species and total mean metal concentrations of some potentially environmental toxic metals (manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb)) in the sediments of Aiba reservoir were examined. The total mean value were in the order of Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb. The metal concentrations (mean ± standard deviation (SD) in µg/g dry weight) were Mn, 28 ± 0.88; Fe, 42.03 ± 1.11; Cu, 5.82 ± 0.21; Zn, 11.91 ± 0.37; and Pb, 0.44 ± 0.02. Some physico-chemical parameters of the bottom sediments were also measured and their average levels and range are pH, 6.2 to 6.6; conductivity, 104 5 µScm-1 (50 to 170 µScm-1); water absorbency, 54.66 ± 2.17 (50 to 63.3). The speciation result revealed that high levels of these metals studied (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb) were associated with exchangeable and carbonate bound fractions, pointing out that they are in potentially available forms and may pose serious problems to the reservoir ecosystem.

Key words: Bottom sediments, speciation, Aiba reservoir, metals.
 

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 15 (11), pp. 001-009, November, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Environmental Impact of Limestone Quarrying on Topsoil: Heavy Metal Loading in South Western Nigeria

Effiong U. Etim and Gilbert U. Adie*

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Accepted 25 June, 2024

Loading of Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Fe in topsoil samples (TS) collected from the vicinity of limestone quarry in South Western Nigeria was investigated. Thirty TS were sampled within ½ km radius from exploration area and 5 background samples from undeveloped area 10 km away from the study area. Limestone rock samples (RK) were also analyzed for metals’ content. All samples were pretreated and leached with appropriate acid solutions for some properties. All leachates were analyzed with atomic absorption spectrophotomer (AAS) technique. Soil pH ranged from 6.65 to 8.23, sand from 55.8 to 75.0%, silt from 16.6 to 34.6%, clay from 8.43 to 13.6%, and organic matter from 0.97 to 4.84%, respectively. These properties compared with those of background samples. Rock samples (RK) showed high Fe and Mn enrichment. Metals levels (mg/kg) in TS with background levels in parenthesis ranged as follows: 11.5 to 27.7 (10.5) Pb, 0.28 to 3.18 (0.55) Cd, 12.1 to 17.4 (5.50) Cr, 80.6 to 55.8 (3.81) Cu, 8.93 to 23.5 (11.1) Co, 262 to 710 (637) Mn, 6.34 to 17.4 (6.10) Ni, 36.0 to 620 (24.4) Zn, and 6585 to 13440 (4563) Fe. The elevated enrichment suggests influence from exploration activities. Residual phase showed highest enrichment for all metals possibly, because of high sand content. Positive correlations were shown between all metals, except Mn and Cd that were negative. Geoaccumulation index rating showed <0 for Mn denoting uncontamination, while others ranged from 1 to 2 indicating moderate contamination.

Key words: Heavy metals, limestone, quarry, topsoil, pollution.
 

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 15 (10), pp. 001-012, October, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Restoring Degraded Hills in Western India: Impact of Rainwater Harvesting and Afforestation on Soil and Emblica officinalis Growth

G. Singh*, A. U. Khan, Ashok Kumar, N. Bala and U. K. Tomar

Arid Forest Research Institute, Division of Forest Ecology, New Pali Road, Jodhpur-342005 (Rajasthan), India.

Accepted 20 July, 2024

Effect of rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures like Contour trench (CT), gradonie (GD), box trench (BT), V-ditch (VD) and afforestation with EMBLICA OFFICINALIS Gaertn (planted in August, 2005) were studied in <10%, 10-20% and >20% slopes with a view to improve soil status, plant growth, sequester carbon and rehabilitate hills for local benefits. Soil pH and EC decreased and percent soil, SOC, NO3-N and PO4-P increased in June 2010 over 2005. Enhanced soil water and nutrients in <10% slope facilitated height and collar diameter growth of E. OFFICINALIS. Soil water was 14.0 and 51.4% greater in >20% and <10% slopes, respectively than in 10-20% slope, whereas it was 17.8, 16.1, 24.2 and 14.0% greater in CT, GD, BT and VD treatments, respectively over control. The highest plant growth was in CT plots in all slopes. Second best treatment was BT in <10% slope and VD in other slopes. Conclusively, RWH and afforestation facilitated soil improvement but CT/BT treatments were more efficient in conserving soil and water facilitating plant growth and helped restore the degraded hill. However, further research is required on soil water use and its partitioning in different vegetation component and the benefits accrued from it for the local people.

Key words: Plant growth, hill restoration, soil carbon, soil nutrients, water dynamics.
 

Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251, Vol. 15 (10), pp. 001-007, October, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Microbial Enhancement of Anaerobic Composting: A Study on Pyrethrum Waste Treatment with Effective Microorganisms

W. Mwegoha

School of Environmental Science and Technology, Ardhi University, P. O. Box 35176, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +255 786 316055.

Accepted 2 July, 2024

This study investigated the use of effective microorganisms (EM) for enhancement of biogas production through composting of solid pyrethrum remains after extraction of pyrethrins (marc). The laboratory scale experiment involved composting of the waste as substrate mixed with EM at different ratios consisting of a control, substrate with EM at of 1:250, 1:500, and 1:1000 v/v. Results show highest production of biogas at EM ratio 1:500 v/v, while biogas produced at EM ratio of 1:250 v/v had the highest methane yield. It was also found that carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratios for all mixtures fall within the optimal range (10:1 to 15:1) as compared to the control, which was out of range. This study was able to establish an optimal mixing ratio of the substrate and EM preferably to be 1:250 v/v at a dilution ratio of 1:4 m/m since it is observed to have the highest methane composition of 69% compared to the other treatments. The composted pyrethrum waste at all ratios can also be used as bio-fertilizer since the final COD of the compost is on an average of 134 g/L, suitable for soil conditioning.

Key words: Biogas, composting, effective microorganisms (EM), methane, marc.