Journal of Basic Physical Research

CORROSION INHIBITION OF ALUMINUM COUPON IN HCL SOLUTION USING TELFAIRIA OCCIDENTALIS STALK EXTRACT

2021-11-11T09:38:42+01:00

This work studied the corrosion inhibition of aluminum using ethanoic extract of Telfairia occidentalis stalk. Significance of this work is that locally sourced biomass will be used to inhibit corrosion of Aluminum coupon in HCL solution. The aluminum coupon was subjected to corrosion with 0.1M and 0.2M HCL solutions and gravimetric method was used to study the corrosion rate. Phytochemical analysis was done on the stalk to ascertain its inhibition potential. Effect of inhibitor concentration, and time on both inhibition efficiency and corrosion rate was studied. Kinetics and thermodynamic studies were done. It was observed that Telfairia Occidentali stalk contains saponin and tannins which indicates inhibition potency of the sample. Inhibition efficiency was found to increase as inhibitor concentration was increased while corrosion rate decreased. As time was increased, it was observed that weight loss increased while corrosion rate decreased. The reaction was found to be first order while adsorption isotherm followed Langmuir model. Negative Gibbs free energy suggested that the reaction was spontaneous, while negative enthalpy confirmed it to be exothermic in nature. This study has proved that Telfairia Occidentalis stalk extract inhibited the corrosion of Aluminum coupon in HCL solution.

ASSESSMENT OF SOME NIGERIAN CLAYS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CERAMICS

2021-11-11T09:58:54+01:00

The need to assess available Nigerian clays for the production of ceramics and to reduce high importation of ceramic wares necessitated this study. Two clay samples were collected; Sample A from Emene in Enugu State while sample B from Ukpo in Anambra State. The clays were prepared for moulding and allowed to age for one week to react with the body so as to get a homogenous mixture. Thereafter, it was used to mould flower vases. The clay samples collected were analysed using X-ray Fluorescence spectrophotometer (X-RF) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM). X-RF result showed that the samples contain different chemical components; Emene clay contains Al2O3 (27.63%), CaO (0.83%), Cr 2O3 (0.10%), Fe 2O3 (6.01%), K2O (3.34%) and MgO (2.01%) while Ukpo clay contains Al2O3 (31.51%), CaO (0.18%), Cr 2O3 (0.02%), Fe 2O3 (0.87%), K2O (1.83%) and MgO (0.16%). The concentration and weight of the chemicals present in the sample were noted to vary as Ukpo clay tends to have high weight as compared to Emene clay. More so, the SEM result showed the microstructure of the clay samples with more holes and smaller particles. This suggests that the clay is light and more compact, on the other hand, Ukpo clay showed less holes and bigger particles which make it heavy, but with the use of deflocculants, it can be used for the production of ceramics. The results indicated that the two clay samples are good for the production of ceramics due to their chemical and surface morphological properties. Hence, the study recommended that Nigerian clays should be utilized in the production of ceramic wares in order to reduce the importation of these ceramics into Nigeria; thereby creating employments for Nigerian youths, reducing high cost of ceramics and the support of indigenous goods.

ANALYSIS OF OPTCAL TRANSMISSION ARCHITECTURE FOR INTEROPERABILITY OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD OVER A DISTANCE OF 209KM COVERING FIVE SELECTED HOSPITALS

2021-11-11T10:10:56+01:00

The analysis of optical transmission architecture for the interoperability of electronic health record between five selected hospitals is presented. It is to communicate real time patient health information between hospital specialists for further, fast and better quality of medical service. It tries to facilitate the quality of services rendered to patients when transferred from one hospital to another thus eliminating delay and time wasted to perform new series of test and check-up before treatment begins. This was achieved using single mode optic fiber, power amplifiers, converters, modulators, optical connectors, circulators, among other major components listed in the methodology. The work was implemented using optisystem software and deployed at the University of Nigerian Teaching Hospital Enugu (UNTH) (Hospital A), Parklane hospital Enugu (Hospital B), Nnamdi Azikiwe teaching hospital Nnewi (Hospital C), Immaculate Heart and Maternity Hospital Ukwuani (Hospital D) and Delta state teaching hospital (DSTH) (Hospital E) with an overall distance of 209KM apart. The performance was tested between UNTH and DSTH and the result showed that when data was sent from UNTH, noise reduced to quality to -100dbm, however, the application of filters and amplifiers were used to boast the quality of the EHR data and at the receiver end (DSTH) quality of data collected has a power of -19dBm when measured with power meter.

IMAGING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SUBSURFACE ROCKS AT AMENYI DUMP SITE, AWKA, SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA, USING THE ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY METHOD

2021-11-11T10:30:47+01:00

Two-dimensional (2D) Electrical Resistivity survey has been conducted at the dumpsite located at Amenyi, Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria, in order to investigate subsurface rock characteristics and delineate subsurface contamination plume. Three profiles at the dump site and one profile away from the dump site which serves as control were conducted using Wenner array. The field data was analyzed using the Res2Div inversion software. Grain size analysis was also done to characterize the rocks in the area and model their hydraulic properties. Hydrogeochemical analysis of groundwater samples collected in the area was carried out to investigate the effects of the dump site on the groundwater resources in the area. The results of the 2D resistivity survey showed that leachates from the waste dumps are infiltrating downwards and also laterally ways from the dump. The leachate plumes are associated with the low resistivities (?m) interpreted from zones at depth ranging from 0 to 8 m. The leachate transport is enhanced by the nature and geology of the overburden as hydraulic property modelled from grain size distribution analysis showed that the overburden rocks are significantly permeable. This collaborates with the inferences from the aquifer protective capacity analysis of the overburden rocks from resistivity data which classifies the aquifer protective capacity of the overburden rocks as weak. The results of the Hydrogeochemical analysis showed that the groundwater in the area has been contaminated by leachates from the waste dump as samples gave higher concentrations of chloride, total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity. It is therefore recommended that the dump site be relocated from the present location and established in other locations where the overburden geology is such that leachate are contained and prevented from infiltrating and polluting groundwater. Such areas should be underlain by rock of very low permeability.

ENHANCING QUERY TIME USING A VOLUME-ADAPTIVE BIG DATA MODEL OF RELATIONAL DATABASES

2021-11-11T10:47:57+01:00

Big Data has been traditionally associated with distributed systems, the reason being that the volume dimension of Big Data, it appears, can be best accommodated by the continuous addition of inexpensive resources. It is within this implementation context that the non-distributed database models such as the relational database model have been faulted and departure from their usage contemplated by the database community. The atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability (ACID) properties of the relational database model however constitute a major attraction especially for applications that process transactions. A transaction-laden application may demand a lot more of the ACID properties of a database so as to maintain data integrity while requiring that the ever-increasing volume of data is also accommodated. This means that a one-size-fits-all database as proposed by several researchers may end up as a mirage and the current trend suggests that databases be made adaptive in the areas of their weakness rather than throw the baby away with the bath. This paper appreciates that the query time is negatively impacted as data volume increases in a relational database and therefore proposes a Big Data model of the relational database that partitions a relation thereby allowing volume to grow within partitions rather than a single relation. The results of the experiments performed show that the query time is enhanced as more data is accommodated in the partitions.

IMPACT OF MIXED AGRO WASTE AS HYBRID FILLERS ON THE MECHANICAL, MORPHOLOGICAL, WATER ABSORPTION AND BIODEGRADATION PROPERTIES OF HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITES.

2021-11-11T11:08:00+01:00

Agricultural waste is yet an untapped source of raw materials that can, in case of proper application enhance greatly the sustainability of polymers and their composites leading to eco-friendly and environmental degradation of plastics. The impact of the mixed agro wastes; rice husk and sugarcane bagasse on the mechanical, morphological, water imbibition and degradability properties of high density polyethylene was studied. The fillers were mixed in the ratio of 50:50. The mixed fillers were incorporated into the HDPE polymer resin at different proportions (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%), and the composites were fabricated via injection moulding technique. The mechanical properties; tensile strength, %elongation at break, compressive strength, shear modulus and hardness test of the composites were analysed according to ASTM standards. Also, the morphological properties were studied with a Scanning Electron Microscope. The result of the mechanical properties test showed a reduction in tensile strength and percentage elongation at break, and an increase in hardness, with the optimum hardness observed at 10wt% filler loading. The lowest tensile strength values were observed at 5wt% and 20wt%, the lowest value for the percentage elongation at break was also observed at 20wt%. An increase in compressive strength and shear modulus of the composites were also observed, 20wt% had the optimum compressive strength and shear modulus. The result of the morphological study showed that there is good adhesion and interfacial bonding between the filler and the polymer matrix as a result of good dispersion of the fillers in the polymer matrix. Biodegradation study showed a reduction in the mass of the composites after a 3-month burial period indicating that the composite is more environmentally benign. Result from the water absorption test indicated no increase in the mass of the composites after immersion in water. This is an indication that the composite can be utilized in wet environments.

DETERMINATION OF THE WATER QUALITY INDEX (WQI) OF OKULU RIVER IN ELEME, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

2021-11-11T11:33:05+01:00

The aim of the research was to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of Okulu River in Eleme, Rivers State, in order to establish the status of the water body as a result of the numerous industrial activities that take place in the area. Five sampling stations were selected along the river stretch and sampling made for six months. Water samples were collected for physicochemical and microbiological analyses using titrimetric, spectrophotometric and microbiological techniques. Sediment samples were also collected for physicochemical and heavy metal level analyses. The mean result of the physicochemical characteristics in water ranged as follows: Temperature (29.03±1.40 0C– 29.82±1.680C); pH (6.25±0.48 – 6.73±0.44); Electrical conductivity (3070.0±491.67?s/cm - 5187.50±1071.23?s/cm); Salinity (1.57±0.97ppt – 2.55±1.26ppt); Turbidity (9.68±5.91NTU – 19.87±9.68NTU) and Total Dissolved Solids (1540.83±242.69mg/l – 2603.00±539.60mg/l); on the other hand, levels of Cadmium, Nickel and lead ions were below detection limits while chromium levels recorded ranged between 0.015±0.01mg/l and 0.01.8±0.01mg/l in some stations. Microbiological study of the water showed that mean level of Total Heterotrophic Bacteria ranged between 4.28±1.37cfu/ml and 9.13±1.57cfu/ml, Total Coliform Bacteria (66.17±13.20MPN/100ml – 615.33±143.76MPN/100ml) and Fecal Coliform Bacteria (3.17±2.79MPN/100ml – 165.17±44.49MPN/100ml). In the sediment, the levels of the physicochemical characteristics ranged as follows: pH (5.95±0.64- 6.30±0.30); Electrical conductivity (2303.00±1238.20?s/cm – 3417.67±789.70?s/cm) and Phosphate (7.52±1.06mg/kg – 16.17±3.48mg/kg). The ranges of Chromium and Nickel ion levels were 0.89±0.30mgkg – 6.66±0.95mg/kg and 2.93±0.63mg/kg – 9.99±20mg/kg respectively. The levels of Cadmium and lead ions were below detection limit (0.001mg/kg. The water Quality index of (2098.62) showed that Okulu River might not be suitable for some domestic use.

ESTIMATION OF DEPTH TO BASEMENT, HEAT FLOW AND HYDROCARBON POTENTIALS FROM ANALYSIS OF AEROMAGNETIC DATA IN SOME PARTS OF BIDA BASIN

2021-11-11T11:49:33+01:00

This study investigated the thickness of sedimentary pile, hydrocarbon potential and heat flow in Central Bida Basin using aeromagnetic data. The study area covers about 12,100 km2, between latitude 8030?N to 9030?N and longitude 5000?E to 6000?E. Digital magnetic data consisting of Total Magnetic Intensity TMI with geospatial attributes covering four (4) sheets were used in this study. Data enhancement operations were applied to the TMI maps to improve interpretation. Depth estimates to the magnetic basement from power spectrum analysis and source parameter imaging methods showed that the thickness of the sediments range from 1.47 km to 2.95 km. Estimated geothermal gradient ranges from about 10.0 - 16.5 0C/100m (100-1650C/km), while heat flow values ranges from 2.50 – 4.10 Wm-2. Two prominent structural trends in the Northeast – Southwest and Northwest – Southeast directions were identified. Mineralization within the study area seems to be structurally controlled. This study suggests that most parts of the study area will not be favourable for hydrocarbon generation because of the high geothermal gradient and heat flow.