Chrysophyllum albidium seed shell, an abundant, biodegradable and inexpensive natural resource was used as a precursor to bioadsorbent production for the removal of suspended and dissolved particles (SDP) from initially coagulated Brewery Effluent (BRE). Influence of key parameters such as contact time, bioadsorbent dose, pH and temperature were investigated using batch mode. The thermal behavior studies were evaluated using Thermogravimetric and Differential scanning calorimetric analyses. The morphological observations and functional groups of the bioadsorbents were determined using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. The adsorption equilibrium, thermodynamics and kinetic of SDP adsorption on H3PO4-treated shell and NH4Cl-treated shell were examined at specified temperatures. Equilibrium data sufficiently fitted the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 > 0.99; SSE < 0.09). The pseudo-second order kinetic model provided the best correlation (R2 > 0.99; SSE < 0.14) with the experimental data. The values of ΔG° and ΔH° indicated the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the process. This study demonstrated that C. albidium seed shell could be utilized as low cost, renewable, ecofriendly bioadsorbent for the uptake of SDP from BRE.

Noise pollution associated with household electricity generators is an emerging environmental degradation in many developing nations. The aim of this study is to evaluate noise pollution from the use of household electricity generators in a high-density residential area. A survey was conducted with 302 households who participated as respondents, and the procedure adopted noise measurements and a descriptive survey. Measured noise levels were compared with levels allowed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The average noise level of 97.60 dB obtained exceeded the WHO value of 50 dB allowed for residential areas. There was a significant test difference (p < 0.05) in the means and variances of the noise level in the study area and the WHO standard. A principal component analysis (PCA) version of factor analysis was used to assess the respondents’ attitudes on the machines’ usage. There was a significant Bartlett's sphericity test difference (p < 0.05) in the residents’ perceptions. The respondents identified various factors arising from noise pollution to include social and health effects, awareness of the impact of noise pollution from electricity generating sets, and the need for government intervention, among others. This makes it imperative for the environmental regulatory authorities to be proactive on compliance and to create awareness on noise pollution control programmes. Increased power generation is also sought to reduce the use of electricity generators and thus lower noise pollution from this source.

This article explores an experimental effort to develop a short-term informal learning experience to achieve awareness, confidence and knowledge in geography and geospatial technologies related to environmental and climate change for all participants but particularly for female secondary learners. The intervention incorporated various elements to promote gender-sensitive technical and cultural literacy through an international outreach and science diplomacy framework, justified by various kind of literature in STEM learning. We recount the experiences of three cohorts of students learning about impacts of climate change at sites in Bolivia, South Africa and Panama. The results of student surveys before, immediately after, and 9 months post-participation reveal the extent to which the design met objectives for learning, across genders. Our experimental conclusion reinforces the idea that even short-term, informal learning programs can elicit greater confidence, knowledge and abilities in all students, especially female students, when as many as possible of the elements known to improve gendered participation for STEM are taken into consideration into the very design of the experience. We coin the term “overdetermined design” to designate this kind of approach to take reinforcing, even redundant steps to increase the likelihood of obtaining desired results of improved confidence overall and reducing the gender gap, particularly through the use of geospatial technologies.