The health challenges associated with pathogens and ectoparasites highlight the need for effective control approaches. Metal nanoparticles have been proposed as highly effective tools towards combatting different microbial organisms and parasites. The present work reports the antimicrobial and larvicidal potential of biosynthesized Ag/Ag₂O nanoparticles using aqueous leaf extract of Eupatorium odoratum (EO). The constituents of the leaf extract act as both reducing and stabilizing agents. The UV-VIS spectra of the nanoparticles showed surface plasmon resonance. The particle size and shape of the nanoparticles was analysed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The larvicidal study was carried out using third and fourth instar Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. The mosquito larvae were exposed to varying concentrations of plant extract (EO) and the synthesized nanoparticles, and their percentage of mortality was accounted for at different time intervals of 12 h and 24 h periods of exposure. The nanoparticles were more lethal against third and fourth instars of Culex quinquefasciatus larvae at the 24 h period of exposure with lower lethal concentration values (LC50 = 95.9 ppm; LC90 = 337.5 ppm) and (LC50 = 166.4 ppm; LC90 = 438.7 ppm) compared to the plant extract (LC50 = 396.8 ppm; LC90 = 716.8 ppm and LC50 = 448.3 ppm; LC90 = 803.9 ppm, respectively). The antimicrobial properties of the nanoparticles were established against different clinically-isolated microbial strains and compared to that of the plant extract (EO) and standard antimicrobial drugs. The nanoparticles were generally more active than the plant extract against the selected microbial organisms. The Gram-negative bacterial strains Escheerichua coli and Salmonella typhi were more susceptible towards the nanoparticles compared to the Gram-positive strains and the fungal organism.

Purpose: In line with current research efforts to develop eco-friendly strategies for corrosion mitigation, the purpose of this study is to appraise the anti-corrosion potential of selected amino acids on magnesium corrosion in sodium chloride solutions. Design/methodology/approach: The corrosion inhibition of magnesium in aqueous solutions in the presence of benign, eco-friendly and readily available amino acids (alanine, arginine, histidine, lysine, proline) were evaluated using electrochemical methods. Findings: Amino acids suppressed magnesium corrosion rate in aqueous sodium chloride solutions. The order of inhibition efficiency (%IE) was as follows: alanine < arginine < histidine < lysine < proline. The open circuit potential shift with respect to the blank was less than 0.085 V_SCE, indicating that the amino acids are mixed-type corrosion inhibitors. In addition, the %IE of the amino acids was inversely proportional to the molecular weight. The results obtained indicate that the amino acids can serve as sustainable eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors for magnesium with the best inhibition efficiency attributed to proline with an efficiency of 85.1%. Originality/value: New information on the application of amino acids as green sustainable corrosion inhibitors is provided herein.

The effects of variety and germination time on β-glucan components – total β-glucan (TBG), water insoluble β-glucan (WIBG) and water soluble β-glucan (WSBG) and β-glucanase (BG) levels – before and after malting in improved sorghum varieties SK5912, KSV8 and ICSV400 and their relationships to wort specific viscosity (SV) were studied. This study was part of efforts to aid local malting and brewing industries in the application of sorghum varieties that are abundantly available to reduce costs. At the fifth day of germination, variety ICSV400 had the lowest TBG, WIBG and WSBG levels in its raw and malt samples. Variety SK5912 had the highest TBG, WIBG and WSBG levels in its raw samples, while variety KSV8 had the highest levels of TBG, WIBG and WSBG in its malt samples. Similarly, variety ICSV400 malts developed the highest BG levels, while the KSV8 malts gave the lowest level. The effect of variety, germination time and variety × germination time interaction was significant (p < 0.05) on the TBG, WIBG and BG levels and was not significant on the WSBG levels. Weak and significant correlation of TBG levels with SV (0.25, p < 0.05 for SK5912; 0.24, p < 0.05 for KSV8; and 0.31, p < 0.05 for ICSV400) was observed in all the samples, suggesting that the low β-glucan levels may not be primarily and solely responsible for any viscosity impediments associated with sorghum worts during run-off. With improvement in the effective utilization of sorghum, ICSV400 appeared the most suitable variety for malting and brewing in Nigeria.Copyright © 2016 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling

The sorption of Cu2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ from aqueous solutions by unmodified (UBSH) and modified (MBSH) African breadfruit (Treculia africana) seed hull has been investigated. The amount of ions adsorbed by the hulls was dependent on the contact time range, 10 min – 120 min at optimum pH, 7.5 and temperature, 30 oC. Results revealed that the amount of metal ions adsorbed increased with time for both UBSH and MBSH, as well as a slight drop in the amount of Cd2+ adsorbed between contact time 60 min and 90 min for only UBSH. The rate of removal of the metal ions from their solutions was rapid, as appreciable amounts (96 % – 99 %) were adsorbed by the adsorbents at the least contact time (10 min) of the experiment. However, sorption capacity trend of the metal ions was Pb2+ > Cd2+ > Cu2+ for both UBSH and MBSH. Modification by thiolation of the adsorbent showed enhancement mainly in the sorption of Cu2+ and Cd2+ and a reduction for Pb2+ due to low affinity of Pb2+ for –SH groups. A comparison of kinetic models applied to the sorption process was evaluated for Pseudo-first order and Pseudo-second order models, with Pseudo-second order providing a better fit to the experimental data with high R2 values ranging 0.9999 to 1. McKay & Poot intraparticle diffusion model also pro-vided a good fit to the experimental data with more R2 values close to 1 than Weber & Morris model, thus suggesting the sorption process to be intraparticle diffusion controlled. Generally, the results from this study, indicates that a good adsor-bent can be obtained from both unmodified and thioglycollic acid-modified breadfruit seed hull.

This study investigated the optimum condition for biodiesel production at varying temperatures and time using melon (Cucumeropsismannii), groundnut (Arachis hypogea), and soybean (Glycine max) seed oils. Oil was extracted from Cucumeropsismannii, A. hypogea, and G. max using n-hexane(67.7-69.2oC) as the solvent. Biodiesel was produced from three different seed oils at varying temperatures of 65oC, 55oC, and 45oC at varied durations of 60mins, 50mins, and 40mins. The best percentage yield was obtained at 65oC for the duration of 60 minutes. The transesterification process was not complete at 40 min; however, at 50 min the process was completed. The process also remained incomplete at 45oC.The maximum percentage yield of biodiesel obtained through transesterification was 90.83% for G. max, 78.00%for A. hypogea, and 77.58% for Cucumeropsismannii seedoils. Fuel properties of biodeisels, such as kinematic viscosity, pour point, carbon residue, cloud point, water content, flash point, cetane index, and sulfated ash, were examined. The flashpoint, carbon residue, kinematic viscosity, and water content of biodiesels were within the standard specified for petrol diesel; however, cloud point and pour points of this product were found to be greater than that of petrol diesel. The cetane index of biodiesels was lower than the standard specified for petrol diesel. Additionally, the samples were not found to contain sulfated ash. Therefore, Cucumeropsismannii, A. hypogea), and G. max are goodsources of biodiesel production. Keywords biodiesel, energy, environment, fuel properties, renewable fuel Copyright (c) The Authors