Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

About: Ladoke Akintola University of Technology is a education organization based out in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 2786 authors who have published 3066 publications receiving 36850 citations. The organization is also known as: Oyo State University of Technology & LAUTECH.

Sustainable conversion of agro-wastes into useful adsorbents

Abstract: Preparation and characterization of raw and activated carbon derived from three different selected agricultural wastes: kola nut pod raw and activated (KNPR and KNPA), bean husk raw and activated (BHR and BHA) and coconut husk raw and activated (CHR and CHA) were investigated, respectively. Influences of carbonization and acid activation on the activated carbon were investigated using SEM, FTIR, EDX, pHpzc and Boehm titration techniques, respectively. Carbonization was done at 350 °C for 2 h followed by activation with 0.3 M H3PO4 (ortho-phosphoric acid). Results obtained from SEM, FTIR, and EDX revealed that, carbonization followed by acid activation had a significant influence on morphology and elemental composition of the samples. SEM showed well-developed pores on the surface of the precursors after acid treatment, FTIR spectra revealed reduction, broadening, disappearance or appearance of new peaks after acid activation. EDX results showed highest percentage of carbon by atom respectively in the order BHA > KNPA > CHA respectively. The pHpzc was found to be 5.32, 4.57 and 3.69 for KNPA, BHA and CHA, respectively. Boehm titration result compliments that of pHpzc, indicating that the surfaces of the prepared adsorbents are predominantly acidic. This study promotes a sustainable innovative use of agro-wastes in the production of cheap and readily available activated carbons, thereby ensuring more affordable water and effluent treatment adsorbents.

Valorization of Corn-Cob by Fungal Isolates for Production of Xylanase in Submerged and Solid State Fermentation Media and Potential Biotechnological Applications

Abstract: The increasing awareness of importance of xylanases in various industrial processes has led to intensive research in effective production of xylanases. In this study, eight fungal strains were screened for the production of xylanases in submerged (SmF) and solid state fermentations (SSF) in corncob-based media. Positive results of reddish orange halo-zones of hydrolysis were obtained for qualitative screening. In SmF, xylanase activity from Aspergillus fumigatus SD5A yielded highest activity (50.55 U/ml) in 168 h, while Aspergillus flavus SD4A, A. fumigatus L1, Fusarium solani SD3C, Aspergillus niger L3, Trichoderma longibrachiatum L2, Botryodiplodia sp. L5 and A. flavus L4, showed xylanase activities ranging from 10.38 to 44.81 U/ml. In SSF, xylanase activities ranged from 12.30 to 48.63 U/g in 120 h, with the highest activity obtained from A. fumigatus L1. Optimum temperatures for xylanases obtained in SmF ranged from 55 to 70 °C, while that of SSF ranged from 50 to 70 °C. Also, the optimum pH for xylanases obtained in both SmF and SSF ranged from 5.0 to 7.0. All the fungi did not produce aflatoxin on neutral red desiccated coconut agar. The fungal xylanases improved dough rising of bread and clarification of orange juice by 1.87–2.2-folds and 58.12–74.22% respectively. The results reported here showed that the range of characteristics exhibited by the xylanases could make them widely applicable in various industries, and also an important way for the valorization of agricultural waste.

Mathematical modeling of drying kinetics of untreated and pretreated cocoyam slices.

Abstract: The effect of pretreatment and drying temperature on the drying kinetics and quality of cocoyam was investigated in this study. The best model to predict the drying kinetics was also determined. Cocoyam slices were pretreated by water blanching (WB) and soaking in sodium metabisulphite (SM) and dried in a hot air oven at temperatures of 50, 60 and 70 °C while untreated samples were sun dried. Seventhin layer drying models (Exponential, Generalized Exponential, Page, Logarithmic, Parabolic, Wang and Singh and Two-term) were fitted to the experimental data and selection was done basedon model with highest correlationcoefficient (R2), and lowest reduced chi-square (χ 2), sum square error (SSE) and root mean square error (RMSE) respectively. The Logarithmic and Parabolic model was found to best describe the oven and sun drying of cocoyam respectively. The vitamin C and beta-carotene value of the dried cocoyam slices, which varied from 0.0038 to 0.0075 and 4.1 to 5.888 mg/100 g respectivelygenerally decreased with an increase in drying temperature.

Prevalence of erectile dysfunction and possible risk factors among men of South-Western Nigeria: a population based study.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: erectile dysfunction (ED) is currently one of the most common sexual dysfunctions worldwide but it is usually underestimated because it is not a life threatening condition. The associated stigma makes men who have it to suffer in silence. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and the possible associated risk factors among Nigerian men. METHODS: the study was a descriptive cross-sectional population based survey among men aged 30-80 years in Ogbomoso, South-west, Nigeria. A multistage random sample method was used. The instrument used was the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire-5 (IIEF-5). Unadjusted odds ratios of possible risk factors were calculated by univariate analyses. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to eliminate the effect of possible confounders on the risk factors to get the adjusted odds ratios. RESULTS: the general prevalence of ED in this study was 58.9%. Sixty-seven (47.2%), 16 (11.3%) and 59(41.5%) respondents had mild, moderate and severe ED respectively. Age, hypertension, use of anti-hypertensive drugs, diabetes mellitus and heart disease all had significant unadjusted associations with ED, but their adjusted associations were not statistically significant. Diabetes mellitus maintained a positive statistically significant relationship with ED after adjustment for potential confounders [OR= 8.31(95% CI 1.02 - 67.65), P= 0.048]. CONCLUSION: the prevalence of ED is high among south-western Nigeria male adults. Physicians, especially primary care ones, need to pay more attention to the sexual history of their patients in order to diagnose and manage ED more frequently.