ABSTRACT
im: Vegetables form a major component of the human diet; however, some agricultural practices may put consumers at risk of parasitic infections. There is high consumption of bitter leaf (Onugbu) in the rural part of Nigeria. They are eaten raw as medicinal herbs by some people. The culture of inadequate or poor washing of vegetables could pose significant and major health threats to the consumers. The aim of the study was to identify some of the parasites that may be attached to the locally consumed edible vegetable Vernonia amygdalina called Onugbu amongst Igbo speaking dialect in south eastern Nigeria. Study Design: This study is a survey that evaluated the parasitic contamination of bitter leaf grown in selected farms in Nimo in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Duration: The study lasted for six months. Methodology: V. amygdalina leaf samples were bought directly from the farmers at 300 Naira per rap. The examination of sample was carried out using sedimentation method. Samples weighing 50g were gently washed in normal saline water. The water used in washing was filtered and centrifuged at 300g to concentrate the parasitic stages and also to avoid damages. The sediments obtained were transferred unto labelled clean slides and examined under the light microscope at x 40 objective lens. Results: Parasites were detected in all samples collected from the farm. The commonest parasite was Entamoeba histolytica (cyst 45.5%); other parasites seen are Entamoeba coli (cyst 13.6%), B. coli (trophozoite 27.3%), Ascaris lumbricoides (ova 9.1%) and Strongyloides stercolaris (larva 4. 6%). Conclusion and Recommendations: The results provide evidence of contamination of bitter leaves from farms in Nimo in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria with parasites of public health importance. To avoid infection, humans should wash the leaves of this vegetable with running water or salt and water before it is eating raw.
ABSTRACT
Resumen Gracias a su débil polaridad y gran área superficial, los soportes de carbón activado tienen el potencial de aumentar la dispersión de los sulfuros metálicos. La ausencia de una interacción fuerte metal-soporte puede conducir a la formación de una fase Ni-Mo-S muy activa y estable. En este estudio se prepararon catalizadores por el método de co-impregnación, con diferentes cantidades de níquel y molibdeno y soportados sobre carbón activado comercial, y se caracterizaron por técnicas BET, XRF y SEM. Se evaluó su actividad catalítica para el hidroprocesamiento de aceite de Jatropha utilizando un reactor por lotes, y se determinó la composición de los productos líquidos y gaseosos. Los resultados mostraron que los productos gaseosos están compuestos principalmente de grandes cantidades de propano y pequeñas cantidades de otros hidrocarburos livianos (C1 a C5). Los hidrocarburos líquidos fueron principalmente una mezcla de n-parafinas de C15-C18 y de algunos compuestos oxigenados. Los catalizadores presentaron una fracción de masa de 3 % Ni, 15 % Mo (Ni3Mo15/AC) y mayor selectividad hacia hidrocarburos C17-C18, con una distribución de productos similar al catalizador Ni-Mo-S soportado en alúmina comercial.
Abstract Due to their weak polarity and large surface area, activated carbon supports have the potential to enhance the dispersion of metal-sulfides. It is expected that the absence of a strong metal-support interaction can result in the formation of a very active and stable Ni-Mo-S phase. In this study, catalysts with different amounts of nickel and molybdenum supported on a commercial activated carbon were prepared by a co-impregnation method and characterized by BET, XRF, and SEM techniques. The catalytic activity for hydroprocessing of Jatropha oil was evaluated in a batch reactor, and the composition of the liquid and gaseous products were determined. Results showed that gaseous products are mainly composed of high amounts of propane and small amounts of other light hydrocarbons (C1 to C5). Liquid hydrocarbon products consisted of a mixture containing mainly n-paraffins of C15-C18 and some oxygenated compounds. The catalysts with a mass fraction of 3 % Ni, 15 % Mo (Ni3Mo15/AC) presented the highest selectivity toward C17-C18 hydrocarbons, with a product distribution similar to a commercial alumina-supported Ni-Mo-S catalyst.
Resumo Devido a sua baixa polaridade e amplia área superficial, os suportes de carvão ativado possuem o potencial de aumentar a dispersão de sulfetos metálicos. A ausência de uma forte interação suporte-metal pode levar a formação de uma fase Ni-Mo-S muito ativa e estável. Neste estudo, foram preparados catalizadores com diferentes teores de níquel e molibdênio suportados em carvão ativado comercial por um método de co-impregnação e caracterizados pelas técnicas BET, XRF e SEM. A atividade catalítica foi avaliada para o hidroprocessamento do óleo de Jatropha em um reator por lotes, e se determinou a composição dos produtos líquidos e gasosos. Os resultados mostraram que os produtos gasosos são compostos principalmente por altos teores de propano e pequenos teores de outros hidrocarbonos leves (C1-C5). Os hidrocarbonos líquidos consistiram de uma mistura contendo principalmente n-parafinas de C15-C18 e alguns compostos oxigenados. Os catalizadores apresentaram uma fração de massa de 3 % Ni, 15 % Mo (Ni3Mo15/AC) e uma maior seletividade em relação aos hidrocarbonos C17-C18, com uma distribuição de produtos similar ao catalizador comercial Ni-Mo-S suportado em alumina.