Experimental and theoretical assessment of phenomena linked with separation and purification of biodiesel from Ricinus communis seed oil.

This study investigated the phenomena associated with the separation and purification of biodiesel produced from Ricinus communis oil seeds using experimental and theoretical approaches. The alkaline transesterification technique was used to produce the biodiesel from the Ricinus communis oil seeds which were later compared with standards based on EN and ASTM. Experimental investigation of the components in the mixture for separation and purification was conducted using the standard turbidimetric method for binodal solubility and tie-line compositions. The gas chromatographic technique was used to determine the composition of the homogeneous mixture. Novel components separation and purification of the Ricinus communis seed oil biodiesel was achieved using ternary diagrams highlighting the constituent components of the biodiesel at different temperatures for enhanced separation and purification. At the coexisting extract and raffinate phases, the orientation angle of the component compositions increases as the methanol concentration increases and temperature increases. The analysis of seed oil in terms of its physicochemical properties showed density, refractive index, acid value, and free fatty acid values of 905 kg/m3, 1.486, 0.79 mg KOH/g, and 0.390 mg KOH/g respectively. The fatty acid composition of the seed oil and biodiesel revealed that the major characteristics of the oil and biodiesel were defined by the presence of linoleic acid (C18:2) and a ricinoleic acid hydroxyl group (C18:1, OH) with compositions of approximately 30% and 20% respectively. Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectrometry analysis of the oil and biodiesel showed that the absorption spectrum in terms of the wave number (cm-1) ranged from 1000 to 4000 cm-1 with esters as the main functional group providing the main structural backbone. The presence of different fatty acids leads to lateral homogeneity of the biodiesel molecules which can serve to organize the molecules into discrete domains with different properties for enhanced separation and purification at the investigated temperatures. Optimal separation and purification were achieved at the different temperatures showing the castor oil biodiesel, glycerol, and methanol components system at the prevailing composition, time, and temperatures from the tie-lines and binodal solubility compositions. This approach provides a means for the design of a more efficient separation process for optimal biodiesel purification after production with knowledge of how the components are distributed in the ternary mixture after the transesterification reaction. This, leads to greater efficiency of the process, reducing material and operational costs and eliminating environmental issues linked with the biodiesel production process as the volume of wastewater generated would be hugely eradicated. The findings of this study will be useful in the setting up of a small-to-medium-size biodiesel production facility with improvement in the efficiency of product separation and purification.

Application of nanofibrous protein for the purification of contaminated water as a next generational sorption technology: a review.

Globally, wastes from agricultural and industrial activities cause water pollution. Pollutants such as microbes, pesticides, and heavy metals in contaminated water bodies beyond their threshold limits result in several diseases like mutagenicity, cancer, gastrointestinal problems, and skin or dermal issues when bioaccumulated via ingestion and dermal contacts. Several technologies have been used in modern times to treat wastes or pollutants such as membrane purification technologies and ionic exchange methods. However, these methods have been recounted to be capital intensive, non-eco-friendly, and need deep technical know-how to operate thus, contributing to their inefficiencies and non-efficacies. This review work evaluated the application of Nanofibrils-protein for the purification of contaminated water. Findings from the study indicated that Nanofibrils protein is economically viable, green, and sustainable when used for water pollutant management or removal because they have outstanding recyclability of wastes without resulting in a secondary phase-pollutant. It is recommended to use residues from dairy industries, agriculture, cattle guano, and wastes from a kitchen in conjunction with nanomaterials to develop nanofibrils protein which has been recounted for the effective removal of micro and micropollutants from wastewater and water. The commercialization of nanofibrils protein for the purification of wastewater and water against pollutants has been tied to novel methods in nanoengineering technology, which depends strongly on the environmental impact in the aqueous ecosystem. So, there is a need to establish a legal framework for the establishment of a nano-based material for the effective purification of water against pollutants.

Insights to proteomics and metabolomics metal chelation in food crops.

Metal pollution of water and soil ecosystems has been linked to stress and/or toxicity in plants, thus affecting the quality and productivity of food crops. This condition has further aggravated the essential food demand caused by the increase in the human population. Reports from previous studies have shown that correcting the noxiousness due to metal stress tolerance, requires several modes of action in the systemic, tissue, cellular, physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels in food crops which might be apparent in terms of enhanced productivity. The possible targets of the toxicity impact of metals in food crops are the MG (methylglyoxal) and ROS (reactive oxygen species) which could result in damage to the DNA structure, enzymes inactivation, protein oxidation, and lipids' peroxidation. This current review evaluates insights into proteomics and metabolomics of metal chelation in food crops with special effects on the toxicity, tolerance, and partitioning of metals towards better health. Detailed information on the biochemical and physiological mechanisms of plant stress from metal induction and tolerance was highlighted. The specific information of various tolerance strategies of food crops under trace element toxicity, the function of metabolites, proteins, and food crop hormones in stress tolerance to heavy presences of metal contents in plants is discussed. Information on the partitioning of trace elements in food crops was enlisted. The health benefits and possible risks from the consumption of trace metals in food crops were evaluated followed by recommending the future research directions.

Probabilistic risk assessment and water quality index of a tropical delta river.

Water plays a major role in supporting the wellness and life processes in living things as well as in the ecological structure's stabilities. However, several environmental scientists have recounted the alarming menace unfit water quality portends as well as the shortfalls of its global utilization in various spheres of life. This study aims to determine the fitness of the Ossiomo River and its likely health risk impact when consumed or used for other domestic purposes. The outcome of the physicochemical and heavy metal characterization showed that most of the parameters surpassed the slated benchmarks. Findings from the study revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) for water temperature, color, TDS, BOD5, HCO3, Na, Fe, Mn, and THC across the four stations respectively. Meanwhile, pH, salinity, turbidity, TSS, DO, Cl, P, NH4H, NO2, NO3, SO4, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and V showed no significant (p > 0.05) across the four stations respectively. The pH level of the water was slightly acidic at the range of 4.40-6.82. The outcome of the computed water quality index showed that station 1 (66.38) was poor for human ingestion which was above the set slated benchmarks of 26-50. However, stations 2-4 (163.79, 161.79, and 129.95) were unsuitable for drinking which was above the set slated benchmarks of 100. The outcome of the health risk evaluation revealed that the hazard quotients (HQs) were considered greater than 1 (>1) for Cr (2.55). The hazard index (0.46) via the dermal pathway was <1 while the ingestion (4.35) pathway was >1. The sum of the HQs (4.81) was also > 1. Thus, there are possible non-carcinogenic health risks via direct ingestion of the water. The outcome from the carcinogenic risk for Pb, Cr, and Cd (6 × 10-3, 4.00 × 10-1, and 1.22 × 100), was somewhat greater than the target goal (1.0 × 10-6 to 1.0 × 10-4) of carcinogenic risks stipulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water, respectively, especially for Cd. There might be a potential carcinogenic risk if the water is consumed when the metal contents are higher than the target limits set. Sustainable farming and treatment of wastes from industrial outputs should be the main management of this watercourse.