African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 8 (4), pp. 001-010, April, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Lifecycle assessment of biofuel production from wood pyrolysis technology

S. V. Manyele

Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 35131, Dar es Salaams Tanzania. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 21 May, 2019

Abstract

Due to a stronger dependency on biomass for energy, there is a need for improved technologies in biomass-to-energy conversion in Tanzania. This paper presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of pyrolysis technology used for conversion of wood and wood waste to liquid biofuel. In particular, a survey of environmental impacts of the process is presented. The LCA covered the steps from feedstock collection and supply, the facility itself and the end-use of the product with emphasis on different geographic, temporal, technical and environmental scenarios. The assessment was conducted starting from process synthesis, establishment of LCA parameters, and product parameters. The importance of the biofuel project is the economic growth, reduced national dependency on petroleum fuels and change in the standard of lining in the rural areas of Tanzania were critically analyzed. The study shows that biofuel has little negative impacts to human health and the environment during its life cycle. The impacts of the project on air quality, land use sustainability and on forestry and agriculture were analyzed and control strategies were recommended for offsetting the negative impacts. The biofuel have excellent performance in the combustion facilities, with lower emission levels below standard limits compared to petroleum fuels.

Key words: Biofuel, life cycle assessment; geographical/temporal scenarios, sensitivity analysis, land use sustainability, air quality.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 8 (2), pp. 001-007, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Composting certain agricultural residues to potting soils

M. Saber¹, Badr-el-Din, S.¹, Awad, N.¹ and Mohammed, Z.²*,

National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.

Faculty of Science, Cairo University Egypt.

Accepted 17 September, 2019

Abstract

Four agricultural residues, namely, sheath of peanut pods, flax shivers, red sawdust, and white sawdust were composted with different amendments for four months under greenhouse and field conditions. Results emphasized that composting proceeded at different rates and was principally influenced by the type of residues and/or added amendments. Initial bio-fortification of residues with cellulose decomposing microorganisms exhibited a recognized trend of stimulation and led to a higher rate of organic carbon loss. Percentage losses in organic carbon of the sheath of peanut pods after composting were higher in bio-fortified treatment. The organic accelerator associated with bio-fortification led to a loss in the organic carbon amounting to 15.61% of the initial value of flax shivers after 120 days of composting. Bio-fortification of red sawdust receiving either an organic or a chemical accelerator increased the amounts of bio-oxidized organic carbon to 9.13% in control and to 16.45 or 12.97% respectively in amended red sawdust. In white sawdust, the differences in the percentage of oxidized carbon were hardly detectable. The nitrogen (N) concentrations increased in the final compost, and the largest amount was found in the sheath of peanut pods, reaching 2.6%. The level of total N was more or less the same in composts prepared from either flax shivers, red or white sawdust where it was 1.65, 1.63 and 1.5%, respectively. Oxidation of organic matter associated with the increase in nitrogen concentrations, whether initially or during composting, led to a reduction in carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios in the final composts. Generally, all bio-fortified composts had narrower C/N ratios compared to the non-biofortified ones. The lowest organic carbon and total nitrogen contents and consequently C/N ratios were found in sheath of peanut pods compost compared to other residues. Initial neutral pH values of different composted residues were slightly shifted towards acidity before settling around neutrality. Total soluble salts in the final composts varied within the type of agricultural residues used. Nevertheless, values in all composts at the end of the composting did not exceed safe levels.

Key words: Potting soil, biofortification, composting, cellulose decomposing microorganisms, sawdust, carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 8 (1), pp. 001-010, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Extractive contents from parts of Anthocleista djalonensis (A) in different diameter classed-trees in parts of Rivers State, Nigeria

David-Sarogoro, Nwiisuator

Department of Forestry & Environment, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt

Accepted 17 April, 2019

Abstract 

The study analyzed and quantified the extractive contents of the leaves, stembarks, rootbarks and diameter classes (DCs) of woods of Anthocleista djalonensis and used Randomized Complete Block Design with seven treatments replicated three times. DCs of trees 3-10cm, 11-15cm and 16-25cm were measured with a diameter tape. The results of wood DCs showed significant difference (P≤0.05) between the extractive contents (ECs) of DCs: tannin ranged from 0.10% to 0.36%, flavonoid was fairly constant within 0.30% to 0.40%, saponin ranged from 5.43% to 8.56%, there was no cyanogenic glucoside in the species. Oxalate ranged from 1.60% to 2.64and alkaloid ranged 2.56% to 4.61% while results of ECs on DCs in leaf and rootbark indicated significant difference (P≤0.05: P-v= 0.035822 ) between the DCs of the leaf and rootbark: in 3-10cm DC in Tai, Eleme and Agric Farm, RSU had tannin 0.56% and 0.60% but decreased from 0.70% to 0.40% within 11-15cm DC in all locations but in Agric Farm, RSU, flavonoid showed was significance (P≤0.05: P-v= 0.001593): in the rootbark, flavonoid ranged from 1.89% to 2.66% in all the locations and within all the DCs while in the leaf, it ranged from 1.24% to 1.98%. Saponin showed highly significance (P<0.05: P-value=1.16E-10): saponin ranged from 0.60% and 1.65%, oxalate content ranged from 1.10% to 1.43% and 10.23% to 14.67% in leaf and rootbark respectively in all locations and DCs and showed very high significance (P<0.05: P-v=6.2E-13), phytate content in leaf ranged from 0.65% to 0.83% while in rootbark, it ranged from 0.87% to 1.56%: phytate was more in rootbark than in the leaf and indicated P<0.05:P-value=4.34E-05 and alkaloid ranged from 0.78% to 9.12% in the leaf while in the rootbark, it ranged from 3.67% to 4.78% but showed no significance (P>0.05:P-value= 0.615367). The wood of Anthocleista djalonensis contained anti-nutritional properties which confers durability and strength which could enhance its utilization status. Consumption in moderation of Anthocleista djalonensis by human is recommended since phytate content is far lower than the standard. The high extractive contents of the species could be precursors or raw materials in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, therefore further study into this is recommended.

Keywords: Extractive contents, diameter classes, rootbark.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 8 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Anticandidal screening and antibacterial of Citrullus colocynthis in South East of Iran

Rasool khatibi and Jahanbakhsh Teymorri

Department of Rangeland and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Zabol, 98615, Zabol, Iran.

Accepted 21 October, 2019

Abstract

Resistance to current antibacterial drugs and the rise of opportunistic fungal infections are growing global concerns. Traditional medicine is a potential source of new antibacterials and antifungals. Citrullus colocynthis Schrad (Cucurbitaceae) endemic in Southern Iran is used in folk medicine against dermatological, gynaecological and pulmonary infections. To assess in vitro antibacterial and anticandidal activity of aqueous and diluted acetone extracts of C. colocynthis Schrad. MIC and MBC/MFC were determined for plant organs at different maturation stages. C. colocynthis Schrad. was harvested and its identification was verified. Aqueous and diluted acetone extracts (from the plant’s roots, stems, leaves and three maturation stages of its fruit and seeds) were screened for activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) and various Candida spp. (Candida glabrata, Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and Candida kreusei). All extracts showed activity against all strains. The highest MICs and MBCs/MFCs were obtained from the fruit aqueous extracts (MIC 0.10 mg/ml against C. albicans and C. glabrata, 0.20 mg/ml against E. coli and P. aeruginosa), lowest activity from the root extracts. C. colocynthis Schrad shows antibacterial and anticandidal properties. The folk medicinal use as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent is validated.

Key words: Citrullus colocynthis Schrad, aqueous extract, acetone extract, antibacterial, anticandidal, Iran.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 7 (11), pp. 001-004, November, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

New data about Hésperis pýcnotricha in Romania

Iulian Costache

University of Craiova, Faculty of Horticulture, Department of Biology, 15 Libertăţii Street, 200583 Craiova, Romania. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected].

Accepted 22 July, 2019

Abstract

There are presented new data about Hésperis pýcnotricha in Romania. In 2004, the species was first identified in Gura Motrului Locality in Romania. Since then, the species has been pursued and so far, we have come up with new data on its origin and chronology. To our joy, the plant (ornamentally planted) has been identified in the same locality in a backyard adjacent to the first resort. Subsequently, the plant has been identified in other locations such as at the edge of abandoned farms and their premises in Cerna Valcea District; in some local households in Ponoarele Mehedinti District. Travelling in Turkey, at Marmara University in Erasmus, the author had the opportunity to see ornamental plants, inside the yard of Dolmabahçe Palace. Comparing the material collected from Turkey with that from Romania, he realized that both samples have the same morphologically characteristics. From bibliography sources, at the European level (like in Moldova, Slovakia, Turkey in Europe and Ukraine), it is known as a native plant or entered in Krym, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Russian Federation. The species is also known in Sweden while in Lithuania, it is mentioned in the list of invasive plants. The presence of the species in Romania, although was pointed out from 2004, is not consigned at the European level.

Key words: New chronology, Hésperis pýcnotricha, Romanian, flora.