Articles

Effect of Goat Dung, Saboak and Corn Cobs Charcoal Mixture on the Physicochemical Properties of Biochar Briquettes

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The experiment goals to investigate the physicochemical properties of biochar briquette mixed of goat dung, saboak shell and corn cob charcoal. Research used a completely randomized design with 4 different treatments were: P1 = 25% of goat dung + 75% saboak shell charcoal; P2 = 25% of goat dung + 50% saboak shell + 25% corn cob charcoal; P3 = 25% of goat dung + 25% saboak shell + 50% corn cobs charcoal; P4 =25% of goat dung + 75% corn cobs charcoal. Variables measured included yield, density, moisture, ash, calorific value, volatille matter and fixed carbon. Data were analyzed according to the statistic analysis procedure. The mean values obtained were yield 57.54%; density 0.62 g/cm3; moisture 4.67%; ash 16.93%; calorific value 5198.75 cal/g; volatile matter 25.18%; fixed carbon 53.23%. The results of variance analysis showed that the treatment had a very significant effect (P<0.01) on density and calorific value but not significant (P>0.05) on yield, moisture, ash, volatile matter and fixed carbon. It can be concluded that using of corn cobs as substitute of saboak shell ini briquettes making blend of goat manure  can be improve the calorific value, with  similar ini yield, moisture, ash, volatile matter and fixed carbon. The best characteristic of briquettes find out  in mixing of 25% goat manure + 25% saboak shell + 50% corn cobs.

Effect of Goat Dung Charcoal Blend of Lontar Shell and Other Biomass on Physical and Chemical Properties of Biocharcoal Briquettes

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This study aims to determine the physicochemical properties of biocharcoal briquettes blend of goat dung charcoal, lontar shell charcoal and various biomasses. This study used a completely randomised design with 4 treatments and 4 replicates. The treatments were T1: 50% goat dung charcoal + 40% lontar shell charcoal + 10% lontar male fruit charcoal, T2: 50% goat dung charcoal + 40% lontar shell charcoal + 10% rice husk charcoal, T3: 50% goat dung charcoal + 40% lontar shell charcoal + 10% corn cob charcoal, T4: 50% goat dung charcoal + 40% lontar shell charcoal + 10% lamtoro twigs charcoal. The variables studied were briquette yield, density, moisture content, ash content, calorific value, volatile matter, and fixed carbon. The statistical analysis showed that the treatment had a very significant effect (P<0.01) on density, moisture, ash content, calorific value, volatile matter, and fixed carbon, but no significant effect (P>0.05) on yield. The average of yield 56.41%, density 0.68g/cm3, moisture  5.39%, Ash 22.24%, fixed carbon 43.04%, volatile matter of 29.34% and calorific value 4555.67 cal/g.  It was concluded that biocharcoal briquettes produced blend of goat dung charcoal, lontar shell, and various biomasses (lontar male fruit, rice husk, corn cob and lamtoro twigs) had varying physical and chemical properties, but in this study using lontar male fruit charcoal, rice husk and lamtoro twig, were better.

Water Quality Assessment of Lower Usuma Dam Water from Treatment plant to points of Consumption in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

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This study investigated and compared the bacteriological, physicochemical and heavy metals concentrations of drinking water quality of Lower Usuma Dam from treatment plant to the points of consumption in three Area Councils (Bwari, Abuja Municipal and Gwagwalada) of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria.  Most probable number technique was employed for coliform detection. Molecular characterization of isolated bacteria was carried out. Seven out of the 26 water samples analyzed in this study were contaminated in the range of 7 MPN/100ml to >23 MPN/100ml. Physicochemical parameters such as colour, pH, temperature, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness, electrical conductivity, total alkalinity and seven heavy metals were also determined using Atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results showed that Bwari had the highest value for colour, 16.67 Pt.Co while AMAC had the least with 1.00 Pt. Co, Gwagwalada had the highest pH value (7.33±0.12) and Bwari the lowest pH of 6.77±0.06. Bwari also had highest temperature of 30.23±2.80oC while AMAC recorded the least (27.29±0.26oC). Turbidity ranged from 1.86 to 2.83 NTU. The highest level of the other parameters [(TDS 54.27 mg/L, conductivity 90.10 µs/cm, total hardness 34.00 mg/L, total alkalinity 28.00 mg/L, Cl– 20.82 mg/L)] was observed in water samples from Gwagwalada Area Council. Gwagwalada recorded the highest values for iron and zinc at 0.09mg/l and 0.003mg/l respectively. Copper concentration was highest in AMAC (0.043mg/l) and lowest in Bwari area council (0.007mg/l). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the concentration of Cr detected in all the water samples. There is need for provision of adequate sanitation facilities and improvement on monitoring of distribution system in order to maintain drinking water quality and prevent water borne disease outbreaks.