University of Nigeria, Nsukka

About: University of Nigeria, Nsukka is a education organization based out in Nsukka, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 10211 authors who have published 13685 publications receiving 138922 citations.

Extent of heavy metals pollution and health risk assessment of groundwater in a densely populated industrial area, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract: Exposure to heavy metals pollutions in water predisposes consumers to human and environmental health deterioration. In this study, the extent of heavy metals contamination, water quality index, ecological and human health risk assessments of groundwater resources in Ajao industrial area of Lagos, Nigeria were carried out. Results revealed that Cu is the most prevalent heavy metal, contaminating 85.71% of the analyzed water samples. Based on the groundwater quality index, 76.19% of the samples are of excellent water quality and suitable for drinking, domestic and industrial purposes. However, the quality of 23.81% variedly deteriorated. Ecological risk assessment revealed that 85.71% and 14.29% of the samples pose low and moderate ecological risks, respectively. This assessment also showed that Cu was the major heavy metal posing ecological risk in the industrial area. Based on hazard quotients, Cu impacted the potentiality of chronic diseases than other heavy metals. Health hazard index analysis revealed that children are more exposed to non-carcinogenic chronic health risks due to ingestion of contaminated groundwater than the adult population. Probability of cancer risk (PCR) revealed that 19.05% of the samples pose high Cr cancer risk for both adult and children, while 14.29% pose high Cd and Ni cancer risks. Correlation and factor analyses indicated that the origin of the heavy metals in water is majorly attributed to anthropogenic inputs rather than natural, geogenic processes. Awareness programs towards protecting the groundwater in this area should be launched and encouraged. Moreover, contaminated water should be treated before use.

Influence of Cooking Conditions on the Protein Matrix of Sorghum and Maize Endosperm Flours

Abstract: To understand the influence of the sorghum and maize endosperm protein matrix honeycomb structure on starch hydrolysis in flours, three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy was applied to floury and vitreous endosperm flours cooked under various conditions. Cooking caused the collapse and matting of the sorghum and maize vitreous endosperm matrices, with the effect being greater in sorghum. The effect of cooking was rather different in the floury endosperm in that the protein matrices expanded and broke up to some extent. These effects were a consequence of expansion of the starch granules through water uptake during gelatinization. Cooking in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol caused an expansion of the vitreous endosperm matrix mesh due to breakage of disulfide bonds in the protein matrix. Mercaptoethanol also caused an increase in the proportion of β-sheet structure relative to α-helical structure of the endosperm proteins. Increased energy of cooking caused collapse of the sorghum matrix. Disul...

Eco-friendly asbestos free brake-pad: Using banana peels

Abstract: The use of asbestos fibre is being avoided due to its carcinogenic nature that might cause health risks. A new brake pad produced using banana peel waste to replace asbestos and Phenolic resin (phenol formaldehyde), as a binder was investigated. The resin was varying from 5 to 30 wt% with an interval of 5 wt%. Morphology, physical, mechanical and wear properties of the brake pad were studied. The results show that compressive strength, hardness and specific gravity of the produced samples were seen to be increasing with an increase in wt% of resin addition, while oil soak, water soak, wear rate and percentage charred decreased as the wt% of resin increased. Overall samples, containing 25 wt% in uncarbonized banana peels (BUNCp) and 30 wt% in carbonized (BCp) gave better properties. The result of this research indicates that banana peel particles can be effectively used as a replacement for asbestos in brake pad manufacture.

Effects of eggshell on the microstructures and properties of Al-Cu-Mg/eggshell particulate composites

Abstract: The effects of eggshell particles (ES) on the microstructures and properties of Al–Cu–Mg/ES particulate composites have been studied. A total of 2–12 wt.% ES particles were added. The microstructures of the Al–Cu–Mg/eggshell particulate composites produced were examined by a scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM/EDS). The physical and mechanical properties measured included: density, tensile strength, hardness values and impact energy. The results revealed that the tensile strength increased by 8.16% at 12 wt.% uncarbonized ES and 14.28% at 12 wt.% carbonized ES, the hardness values increased by 10.01% at 12 wt.% uncarbonized ES and 25.4% at 12 wt.% carbonized ES with decrease in the density by 6.50% at 12 wt.% uncarbonized ES and 7.4% at 12 wt.% carbonized ES. The impact energy decreased by 23.5% at 12 wt.% uncarbonized ES and 24.67% at 12 wt.% carbonized ES particles, respectively. These increases in strength and hardness values are attributed to the distribution of hard phases of the ES particles in the ductile Al–Cu–Mg alloy matrix. These results showed that using the carbonized eggshell as reinforcement in the Al–Cu–Mg alloy gives better physical and mechanical properties as compared to uncarbonized ES particles. Hence addition of ES particles upto 12 wt.% can be used as a low cost reinforcement for the production of metal matrix composites for engineering applications.