ISOLATION OF MICROORGANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH DEGRADATION OF PLASTIC AND POLYTHENE IN SOIL

Yabaya A* and Idris  A.

Department of Microbiology

Kaduna State University, Kaduna

amosyabaya2002@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Biodegradation of polythene bags (PB) and plastic cups (PC) in soil were studied for five weeks using the weight loss method. The results revealed that weight loss begins after the third week, the rate of biodegradation was observed to be minimal and ranged between 2.1 – 2.4% for PB and 0.17 – 1.2% for PC. Heterotrophic bacterial count ranged between 2.3X10⁴ – 6.8 X 10⁴ cfu/g for PB and 2.3X104 – 5.4 X 104 cfu/g for PC, while fungal count revealed 2.2 x 10⁴ – 8.9 x 10³ cfu/g for PB and 2.3 X 103 – 8.3 X 103 cfu/g for PC. The following microorganisms were found to be associated with biodegradation of PB and PC in soil: Streptococcus species, Staphylococcus species, Pseudomonas species, Micrococcus species and Aspergillus species. Micrococcus species recorded the highest incidence for both PB and PC amongst the bacterial isolates whereas the fungus, Aspergillus niger occurred frequently for both PC and PB. The results revealed the role of microorganisms in the biodegradation of both PB and PC although at a slow rate.

Key words: Biodegradation, Plastic cup, Polythene bags, Soil

EFFECTS OF PIG PRODUCTION ON AMBIENT AIR QUALITY OF EGBEADA IN MBAITOLI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Ubuoh, Emmanuel. Attah* and Akhionbare, Stella M. O.**

^*Department of Geography, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

^** Dept. of Environmental Management, Federal University of Technology, Owerri

E-mail: attahubuoh@gmail.com.

ABSTRACT                                                                                       

The study of air quality was carried out in Egbeada, Mbaitoli, Owerri, Imo state during January, 2011, to ascertain impacts of piggery production on human environment. Air quality samples were taken at distant that ranged from 50m, 100m, 150m, and 200m using appropriate procedures. Air quality indices considered include odour, NO₂, SO₂,NH₃, CO, H₂S, CH₄, and PM. The results indicated that, concentrations of air quality indices decreased with an increased distant from piggery that was influenced by wind speed of  0.2 m/s. Apart from methane, all other indices were above the WHO/FMENV, Standards for ambient air quality. These were found to have very serious epidemiological implications on human health and his environment. This then lead to recommendations: implementation of air quality standard to observe compliance, relocations of piggery and using of helmet by workers for sustainable piggery production.

Keywords: Ambient, Air Quality, Pig, Pollutant

SUITABILITY OF THE USE OF RICE HUSK IN CONCRETE

S.  Yusuf and B. Adejo

Department of Civil Engineering

Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna

email: ibnyusuf2005@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

In order to verify the compressive strength of concrete cube when rice-husk ash is used as partial replacement of cement, a laboratory analysis was carried out in this paper. The rice-husk percentages used are: 10%, 20% and 25% and a mix ratio G 20 i.e. 1:2:4 was used. The results obtained shows that up to 20% of rice- husk can be used to replace cement in the mixture, because nearly 20N/ mm² is achieved, which is within the compressive strength limit expected  from concrete mix ratio of 1:2:4. However, the percentage ratio of the rice-husk should not be increased to above 20% say 25%. This is because the results obtained when 25% rice-husk was used after curing for 7,14,21,28 days, are 12.70, 10.80, 9.10 and 7.8 N/ mm² respectively. All these are far less than the 20 N/ mm² the minimum compressive strength expected.