EFFECT OF ACIDITY ON FURFURAL PRODUCED FROM RICE HUSK AND GROUNDNUT SHELL

Asmau A.B Umar¹, Garba, U² Bagna, E.A⁴, Ibrahim S³ and Abdulmumin, U⁵

¹ House No 20 Wurnoroad Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria

^2-5Department of Chemistry, Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Nigeria

Email: asmauab01@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

This research work aimed to produce furfural from Rice husk and Groundnut shell and compare the effect of acid concentration on the yield of furfural produced which are lignocellulosic biomass consisting of pentosan which undergoes acid hydrolysis to yield furfural. The effect of acid concentration on the yield was investigated. The optimum furfural yield obtained was 9.48% and 36.78% for Groundnut-shell and Rice Husk respectively at 7.5% acid concentration. Thus it is concluded that the most favorable Sulphuric acid concentration for furfural yield is 7.5%, and that Rice husk shows a high optimum increase in % furfural yield than Groundnut-shell. Also the furfural obtained was characterized using FTIR and GC-MS spectroscopic techniques. The IR spectrum observed exhibited a very strong absorption at 1669 cm^-1 indicating the presence of the conjugated carbonyl (C=O) group. The presence of the aldehyde was proven by two peaks at 3134 cm^-1 and 2812 cm^-1. Also the result of the Gas chromatography-Mass spectrophotometer was in agreement with the target molecule (Furfural) for which the observed molecular weight and the empirical formula was 96.05 g/mole and C₅H₄O₂ respectively.

Keywords: Furfural, rice husk, Groundnut shell, FTIR,

PERCEPTION OF EMPLOYERS AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE GRADUATES ON SKILLS IMPROVEMENT NEEDS IN ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS REQUIRED BY TECHNICAL COLLEGE GRADUATES IN ADAMAWA STATE

ASSESSMENT OF THE HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES OF HbAS AND STEADY STATE HbSS SUBJECTS RESIDENT IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

¹Obiechina M. C, ²Sanya J. O, ¹Okpala S, ³Nwozor C. M, ¹Okey-Okoro C. C. ¹Nworgu C. N

¹Department of Physiology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus

²Department of Physiology, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State

³Department of Physiology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli Campus

Email: yvonnemaal@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Sickle cell trait (HbAS) has been regarded as a benign state, whereas there have been reported cases of morbidity associated with HbAS individuals inform of complications and crises. There is an apparent lack of awareness of the likely morbidity of these individuals. This study was conducted to compare the similarities in the hematological Indices of subjects with hemoglobin genotypes AS and Steady State SS. An outpatient population-based study was carried out in Maitama District Hospital, Maitama, Abuja and Kubwa General Hospital, Kubwa, Abuja. The HaemoglobinSS (HbSS), Red Blood Cell count (RBC), Pack Cell Volume (PCV), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular HaemoglobinSS (MCH) and Mean Corpuscular HaemoglobinSS SS Concentration (MCHC) and platelet (PLT) were measured.168 subjects in the age group 10-40 participated in the study, which included 56 HbAS, 46 steady state HbSS and 66 HbAA control. There was no significant differences between the hematological indices of subjects with hemoglobin genotypes AS and Steady State SS in this study. The result of this study will channel the focus of clinicians and researchers to the likelihood of HbAS being a diseased state and further pay more attention to the health status of HbAS patients.

Key words: HbAS, steady state HbSS, Abuja, hematological indices, assessment.