Science and Development Journal

The Effects of slow Pyrolysis on the Microbial, Nutritional and Elemental properties of Biochar Produced from Rice husk

Kwabena Owusu Ansah — 2025-12-08

Wastes from rice systems, such as rice husks, are burnt openly, polluting the environment and affecting human health. This study was conducted to valorize rice husk, a rice system waste, by converting it into biochar. Rice husk was slowly pyrolyzed to biochar at a temperature of 350 ℃ to assess the changes in proximate (volatile matter, ash, dry matter and organic matter), elemental (fixed carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, potassium, calcium, C/N ratio and electrical conductivity) and microbial count (Total aerobic, Total yeast, E. coli, S. aureus (MacConkey agar), Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas spp. and Bile tolerant bacteria). Results from proximate analysis of biochar indicated negligible levels of ether extract, crude protein and crude fibre. Volatile matter, ash and organic matter contents of biochar were 56.37%, 43.40% and 56.60%. Elemental composition of rice husk and biochar showed a significant reduction in EC (down from 1.15 to 0.91 mS/cm), C/N ratio (43.32 to 30.94) and sodium (0.40 to 0.1 mg/kg) content of biochar and significantly increased the pH (5.83 to 7.42), fixed carbon (27.03 to 38.3%), Nitrogen (0.63 to1.24%), phosphorus (0.19 to 0.51 mg/kg), potassium (0.65 to 1.29 mg/kg), calcium (0.3 to 0.42 mg/kg) and magnesium (0.11 to 0.21 mg/kg) contents after pyrolyzing rice husk into biochar. Microbial analysis indicated that E. coli, Salmonella typhi, and Pseudomonas spp were not detected on both rice husk and rice husk biochar. Pyrolysis, however, significantly reduced total aerobic count, total yeast/mould and S. aureus and eliminated bile-tolerant bacteria. Microbial, elemental and proximate properties of biochar indicate the potential of biochar as a feed additive for the growth and reduction in the environmental footprints of livestock.

Leaf-Based Packaging Innovation: Bridging Indigenous Practices and Sustainable Biomimetic Solutions

Vitus Atanga Apalangya — 2025-12-08

Current food packaging systems made mainly from plastics are derived from exhaustible petroleum sources. They are unrenewable, nonbiodegradable and unsustainable. Plastic production processes emit harmful greenhouse gases threatening climate health and potentially undermining our civilization. In developing countries, such as Ghana, end users wholly dumped plastics disfigure the aesthetics of the environment, blocking drains causing perennial flooding resulting in thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths. Microplastics persist in the environment, accumulating in aquatic, freshwater animals and plants destroying biodiversity and posing serious health risks to consumers. There is therefore a growing interest in adopting sustainable food packaging systems that maintain food quality in the food supply chain while safeguarding the health of the environment and the climate. Native leaf packaging once considered primitive is re-emerging as a biorenewable and sustainable system of food packaging. This review therefore seeks to observe the trend of leaf food packaging from its native form to modern day with the view to examining the application of native plant leaves for traditional food packaging/wrappings and identifying the inherent challenges of using native plant leaves for food wrapping. The review also seeks to provide a discussion on the modern physical transformative process of native leaves into containers for food use, while examining their cosbenefit, scalability and comparing the traditional package system to modern packaging system. The research also observed that scientists can seek bio-inspiration by the superhydrophobic surface properties of Lotus leaves and successfully replicate this natural phenomenon to develop advanced packaging films with enhanced moisture resistance. The review concludes by making recommendations for future research directions and policy implications.

Comparative Assessment of some Physicochemical Properties of Adulterated and Unadulterated Palm Wine samples from Oil and Raffia palm trees

Augustina Eloha Akpobasahan — 2025-12-08

Palm wine is a traditional beverage with significant nutritional and economic importance. This study investigated the physical, chemical, and electrical properties of palm wine samples from oil and raffia palm trees, exploring their interrelationships. Eight palm wine samples (four from oil palm and four from raffia palm trees) were collected from two sources in Enugu State, Nigeria. The samples were analyzed for viscosity, electrical conductivity, pH value, refractive index, specific gravity, and sugar content using standardized instruments. The results showed that the measured properties ranged as follows: viscosity (1.7188 to 0.9577 mPa.s), electrical conductivity (928 to 7790 µS/cm), pH value (2.79 to 5.21), refractive index (1.3486 to 1.3351), and specific gravity (1.0619 to 0.9716). The sugar content analysis revealed sucrose (1.5 to 10.5%), glucose (0.15 to 5.46%), and fructose (0.06 to 2.57%). The study indicated that the palm wine samples were fresh within the first two days of tapping. Notably, palm wine samples from raffia palm trees had relatively lower electrical conductivity values compared to those from oil palm trees, likely due to differences in ionic content. The study concluded that unadulterated palm wine from both oil palm and raffia palm trees exhibits high electrical conductivity, which increases with fermentation time, while viscosity, pH values, specific gravity, and sugar content decrease as fermentation progresses. This study sheds light on palm wine fermentation dynamics through a detailed analysis of physicochemical changes, enabling improved quality control, enhanced consumer safety, and optimized fermentation processes.

Comparative Analysis of Atmospheric pollutant dispersion using a theoretical model (ADMM), AERMOD and observational data

Joseph K. Ansong — 2025-12-08

Genetic Effect of five Commercial Breed of Broilers raised in the humid tropics Of Enugu State Nigeria on growth, carcass and haematological parameters

Augustine Emeka Ibeziako — 2025-12-08

The study was designed to investigate whether strain of broiler has influence on growth performance, carcass characteristics and hematological parameters of chickens managed under controlled management. 250 finisher broiler chickens comprising of fifty each of the five breeds (Ross, Cobb, Abor Acre, Hubbard and Marshall) were used in a completely randomized design experiment which lasted for 28 days of 5 replicates of 10 birds each treatment. The birds were given the same finisher feed ad libitum, and they were also given unrestricted access to water. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to analyse the data, and the Duncan Multiple Range Test was used to separate the means at 0.05 significance levels. Results showed non-significant (P>0.05) differences in final weight, total weight gain and daily weight gain between the breeds. However, Ross strain consumed significantly (P<0.05) more feed (5496.25g) than Marshal (5123.45g), followed by Abor Acre (5031.30g), which in turn consumed more than Hubbard (5001.22g) then Cobb (3959.43g) consuming significantly (P<0.05) the least. This pattern was repeated in the daily feed intake; consequently, resulting to a better feed conversion ability of the Cobb strain which had significantly (P<0.05) better FCR (2.11%) than Hubbard (2.58%); Abor Acre (2.50%); Marshall (2.70%) and Ross (2.74%) being significantly (P<0.05) the poorest feed converter. For carcass characteristics, there were no significant (P>0.05) differences in the live weights, eviscerated weights, carcass weights and dressing percentage of the broiler breeds, however, in the prime cuts, there were significant (P<0.05) differences in the thigh; Ross (13%); Abor acre (12.33%); Cobb (11.99%) and Hubbard (10.67%) and Marshall (9.85%) being the least. This pattern repeated in breast muscle. The hematological parameters of the different breeds were non-significantly (P>0.05) different. However, PCV, RBC, Hb, Eosinophil and Basophil were within the range of normal avian blood parameters but WBC and lymphocyte were above while Neutrophil value was below the normal avian range. The finding indicates no genetic effect of breed of broiler on growth and carcass weight as well as on haematological parameters, however, the increase in WBC and lymphocyte counts may confer higher degree of disease resistance of the birds to the local environment.

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence on Building Technology Undergraduates’ Skills Acquisition for Sustainable Employability in Oyo State, Nigeria

Amos Aderemi Ayoola — 2025-12-08

This study examines harnessing Artificial Intelligence on building technology undergraduates’ skills acquisition for sustainable employability in Oyo State, Nigeria. Three objectives were raised for the study with three research questions. The study employed descriptive survey research design. The population for the study consisted of 140 building technology students in their 100 and 200 levels in Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo. The entire 140 students were involved in the study because the size is manageable. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence Questionnaire” (HAIQ) which was designed on a modified 4-point Likert scale. The instrument was validated by research experts in measurements and evaluation and also experts in Technology Education. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was obtained through Cronbach Alpha method and the reliability co-efficient (r) value of 0.90 was obtained. The questionnaires retrieved by the researcher and were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The result showed that AI has the capacity of influencing soft and life skills acquisitions of undergraduates especially building technology students. Acquisition of these skills will go a long way in assisting them to set up their own ventures and manage them. It was therefore recommended that administrators of tertiary institutions should device effective strategies capable of attracting and motivating the unskilled, inactive and unemployed population in Nigeria such that development of relevant skills and knowledge that will make them active and functional in the society.

The Impact of Device Age on Phototherapeutic Efficacy in Neonatal Jaundice Management

David Ebo Anderson — 2025-12-08

The use of phototherapy (PT) has become the mainstay treatment modality for neonatal jaundice (NJ), a condition endured by the majority of preterm and term babies in their early days of life. Nonetheless, the potency of the phototherapy device is dependent on technical metrics such as mean irradiance, spatial homogeneity, irradiance uniformity, and therapeutic guidelines. Notwithstanding the high use of the PT device, there is limited evaluation of their performance over varied ages of lamps and manufacturers. A quantitative analysis of 50 neonatal phototherapy devices was conducted, evaluating their spectral irradiance and uniformity for compliance with American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) therapeutic guidelines. The findings revealed varied device performance, poor spatial uniformity, and an alarmingly significant portion (85%) of the devices failed to meet therapeutic guidelines, particularly those with high running hours (>2000 hrs.). These deficiencies in device performance led to suboptimal treatment efficacy, prolonged treatment times, and increased risk of complications. The study demonstrated that the performance of PT devices, in terms of mean irradiance and spatial uniformity, declines significantly with increased operational age, with most devices exceeding 1500 hours failing to meet clinical standards for effective neonatal jaundice treatment. These findings highlight the urgent need for regular irradiance assessment and timely replacement of aging PT devices in resource-constrained settings to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

An Analysis of the Physical Characteristics of DC-MSF (Destarched Cassava Maize Soybean and Fishmeal) Fish Feed

Vanessa Alagbo Afari — 2025-12-08

Physical properties of fish feed are critical for ensuring structural integrity and efficacy of fish feed. Fish feeds are expensive and feed makers look for ways to produce less expensive feeds, ingredients used affect integrity of fish feed. Poorly prepared feed causes pellet disintegration, nutritional leaching and also lowers fish feed consumption. Quality of a fish feed depends mainly on its physical properties and feeds for fish species are selected based on the physical properties of feed. In this study, the physical properties of DC-MSF were assessed and compared to the control feed. Physical properties (diameter, height, volume and surface area before and after expansion, bulk and pellet density) of the two feeds were assessed. Diameter and height of DC-MSF were measured with Vernier caliper as well as diameter of Control feed. Volume and surface areas were calculated from results obtained from height and diameter. Measured pellets were kept in water for 10, 20 and 30 minutes and diameter and height recorded. Bulk density was assessed from weighing a 25ml of beaker with feed filled to the mark and calculated with a formula. Results indicated that DC-MSF had higher diameter measurements with highest increase in diameter after 10 minutes. Due to shape of the control (spherical), height was inaccessible but the highest height recorded was after 20 minutes for DC-MSF. The shape of DC-MSF (cylindrical) resulted in high mass of the feed and can lead to obesity in fish. Surface area to volume ratio was higher in DC-MSF than control feed which affect leaching of nutrient in water of feed. Control feed had higher expansion rate than DCMSF but DC-MSF obtained higher bulk and lower pellet density resulting in faster sinking rate of DCMSF and recommended, mass, height and surface area to volume ratio reduced.

Exploring the Impact of Nanoceria Particles on the Essential Nutrients of three varieties of Mungbean under Arsenic Stress

Gideon Olarewaju Okunlola — 2025-12-08

This study was carried out to determine the role of nanoceria particle on the nutritional quality of mung bean under arsenic stress. The study was a complete randomized design (CRD) involving three different cultivars of mungbean (Tvr-156, Tvr-162 and Tvr-145), four different concentrations of arsenic (0 mg/L, 20 mg/L, 50 mg/L and 100 mg/L), and six replications. Mungbean seeds were sown in nursery and later transplanted into seventy-two pots containing soil spiked with the four concentrations of arsenic. Two weeks after transplanting and after the seedlings were fully established, CeO2-NPs (200mg/L) was applied to the foliage at a rate of 25mL/ pot. This was repeated at two weeks interval. At harvest, seeds of the mungbean plants were analyzed for proximate content (crude protein, crude fiber, moisture content, total ash content, and crude lipid). Mineral content analysis (Mg, Ca, Na, K and P) as well as Vitamin content (A, C and E) were also carried out. The results obtained from the study show that application of nanoceria to plants in different stressed regimes improved moisture and ash content, crude fiber and crude lipid and fat content. Variations were observed in the proximate content determined across the different varieties of mungbean seed. High concentration of Magnesium and Calcium were accumulated at higher arsenic concentration while low arsenic concentration led to higher accumulation of potassium and phosphorous. The study concluded that nutrient content of the mungbean cultivars were enhanced with application of naboceria especially at low arsenic concentration.

Preliminary trial results for encroacher and invasive biomass based torrefied wood chips as household fuel: Feedstocks from South Africa, Namibia and Botswana

Charles Rashama — 2025-12-08

The performance of torrefied wood chips when used as a household fuel has been evaluated in comparison to that of raw wood chips, firewood, briquettes and charcoal. The torrefied wood chips were produced from a superheated steam technology using encroacher and invasive bushes found in Southern Africa. Laboratory tests included measurement of the physicochemical characteristics and water boiling tests of the fuels. Field trials were conducted within communities of Namibia and Botswana that were involved in cooking and barbeque activities. Charcoal had the highest calorific value of 23.71 MJ/kg and it also displayed the best fire holding capacity. Although torrefied wood chips had the second highest calorific value of 18.73 MJ/kg, its fire holding capacity was the poorest among the tested fuels as it burned quite fast and vigorously. Charcoal also outperformed all the tested solid fuels in terms of thermal efficiency of 26%. The lowest efficiency was recorded on raw wood chips at 19.5%. Briquettes and torrefied chips stood at 25% and 20% thermal efficiency, respectively. Field measurements of cooking times, amount of food cooked and frequency of fuel feeding into the stove corroborated with laboratory-based results. Overall, the torrefied wood chips demonstrated potential use as firelighters and there is scope to technically improve the attributes of the chips so that they can compete with traditional fuels in terms of cost and accessibility to consumers. There is great potential for encroacher and invasive biomass valorization through torrefaction to produce solid fuel in Southern Africa towards the fulfilment of several sustainable development goals through this initiative.

Analysis of Octave spanning Supercontinuum generation in a solid normal dispersion Photonic crystal fiber

Joanna Aba Modupeh Hodasi — 2025-12-08

Supercontinuum (SC) generation in a lead-silicate all-normal dispersion photonic crystal fiber was experimentally investigated by pumping with 100 fs pulses at a repetition rate of 80 MHz from an erbium-doped fiber laser at 1565 nm. The generated SC spectrum, spanning from 1100 nm to 2150 nm, was characterized and analyzed. The broadening mechanisms were found to be dominated by self-phase modulation, optical wave breaking, and four-wave mixing. The impact of coupling efficiency on spectral evolution was also examined. The outcome showed that increasing coupling efficiency enhanced spectral broadening. The experimental results were compared to similar experimental works and numerical simulation from peer reviewed literature, revealing good agreement while highlighting polarization noise as a limiting factor. These findings contribute to the optimization of coherent, broadband SC sources for ultrafast spectroscopy and metrology applications.