Nigerian Journal of Chemical Research

Characterization, Efffects and Chemical Treatment of Heavy Metals in Produced Water from Injection Wells using Hydroxide Precipitation

2024-01-01T17:13:37+00:00

Produced water obtained from five (5) water injection Wells in the Niger Delta area Nigeria were analysed for heavy metal ion concentrations using Themo Elemental Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Results obtained show that concentrations of lead (Pb²⁺), cadmium (Cd²⁺), chromium (Cr²⁺), nickel (Ni²⁺), cobalt (Co²⁺), vanadium (V²⁺), zinc (ZN²⁺), mercury (Hg⁺), silver (Ag⁺) and copper (Cu²) were above acceptable limits as specified by Environmental Guidelines and Standard for Petroleum Industries in Nigeria (EGASPIN). The concentrations of As²⁺, Fe²⁺, K⁺ and Mn²⁺ were within specification. Commingled produced water from the five water injection Wells were subjected to hydroxide precipitation using Ca(OH)₂ at concentrations of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 ppm respectively. Results obtained show that all the heavy metal ions reduced within acceptable limit at 30 ppm chemical concentration. Heavy metal ions reduced with increase in chemical concentration with a corresponding increase in the pH of the solution which was however still within specification. The hydroxide converts the metal ions dissolved in solution into solid particles for easy sedimentation. Ca(OH)₂ precipitates metal ions by changing the pH and electro-oxidizing potential of the solution. Properly treated produced water can be reinjected into the reservoir to enhance oil recovery, used in agriculture for irrigation purposes, discharged into the sea and other water bodies during offshore operations or even used in drilling services. Produced water discharged into the soil are non-biodegradable so must be adequately treated before discharge. Plants pick up heavy metals through their roots by the release of a variety of root exudates which changes the rhizosphere pH of the metal ion in solution thereby making them bioavailable for plant uptake by osmosis. Heavy metals in plants can exert a variety of toxic actions by damaging plant chloroplast thereby disturbing photosynthesis. Humans take in heavy metals into their system by consuming contaminated plants, water as well as inhaling contaminated air. Consumption, ingestion and inhalation of heavy metals by humans can cause a wide range of ailments such as cardiovascular diseases, kidney related problems, neurocognitive diseases, renal damage, heart disease, coronary artery disease, lung fibrosis, nasal cancer.

Investigation into the Bioavailability of Some Essential Health Based Elements in Ripe and Unripe Noni Fruits (Morinda citrifolia)

2024-01-01T17:27:10+00:00

Noni (Morinda citrifolia) fruit has recently been gaining attention in the area of nutraceutical research due to its potential health benefits. The Fruit of the morinda citrifolia plant, also known as Indian mulberry, has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries in Polynesia and Southeast Asia and recently in Africa. The fruit has gained significant attention for its profound therapeutic and nutritional benefits in treating various ailments. This study aims to contribute to the existing literature by analyzing the presence and quantity of selected elements relevant to human health, namely Calcium, Manganese, Potassium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Nickel, Mercury, Lead, Arsenic, Chromium, and Cadmium, in both ripe and unripe Noni fruits. The highly sensitive atomic absorption spectroscopic (AAS) technique was employed for this purpose. The results revealed that ripe Noni fruit contained higher concentrations of Calcium, Potassium, Chromium, and Phosphorus, while unripe Noni fruit had higher levels of Manganese, Sodium, and Nickel.

Comparative Analysis of the Physico-Chemical Properties and Trace Metal Content of Palm Oil, from Selected Markets in Jos South and Jos North LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria.

2024-01-01T17:41:06+00:00

The quality of palm oil samples collected from three different markets in Jos South and Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State were analyzed and evaluated using standard analytical laboratory procedures. The relative ranges of the physicochemical values obtained were as follows; Moisture Content (MC): 0.56 - 1.89, Iodine value (IV); 51.88 - 55.57 g I₂/100g, Peroxide Value (PV): 0.98 - 4.16 mEq02/kg, Saponification Values (SV): 198.46 - 201.54 mgKOH/g, Acid Value (AV): 9.93 - 57.65, and Refractive Index (RI), 1.4576 - 1.4580. The moisture content, iodin value, pH values and acid values were found to exceed the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) permissible limits of moisture content (0.29 mgKOH/g), iodine value (45 - 53 mg I₂/100g), pH (5 - 7 mg/L), and acid value (0.7 max mg/L) for edible oils respectively while the refractive index, saponification values, peroxide values falls within the SON allowable limits of refractive index (1.4612-1.4707 mg/L), saponification value (195-205 mgKOH/g) and peroxide value (10 mEq02/kg) respectively . The amounts of trace metals (Cu, Zn, Fe, Pb and Cd) determined in the palm oil using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer ranged from Cu(0.34 - 0.52 mg/l), Zn(1.58 - 2.33 mg/l), Fe(19.18 - 26.74 mg/l), Pb(2.87 - 4.06 mg/l) and Cd(1.58 - 2.24 mg/l). However, the levels of Zn, Fe, Pb and Cd exceeded the WHO/FAO recommended values of (1.50, 1.00, 0.05 and 0.02 mg/L) respectively while only Cu concentration was below the WHO/FAO limits of 2.00 mg/L for trace metals in edible palm oil. Consequently, the results of this study shows that the palm oil consumed from these selected markets does not meet the standard quality specification for edible palm oils and hence can post significant health threat to consumers. Therefore, food regulatory agencies should strengthen their surveillance to promote food and health safety of the populace.

Evaluation of Bioactive Agents in Calotropis Procera Plant Parts Through Anti-Microbial, Proximate, and Antioxidant Studies.

2024-01-01T17:51:53+00:00

Successive extraction of the aerial plant parts of Calotropis procera using soxhlet extraction yielded the phytochemicals; saponins, alkaloid, tannins, phenol, flavonoids, anthraquinones, and glycosides. Bioassay analysis using standard procedures like Mueller Hinton dilution experiment, demonstrated antibacterial potentials against microbes. E. coli, C. albicans, S. aureus, S. pyogenes, P. aeruginosa, S. typhi, and C. stellatoidea. 27 mm to 41 mm indicated zones of inhibition range. The MBC and MFC for all the microorganisms were at 25 mg/ml except for S. pyogenes which was at 12.5 mg/ml. The MIC for the most sensitive organisms was 12.5 mg/ml with the exception of P. aeruginosa and S. pyogenes which had theirs at 6.25 mg/ml. Proximate analysis used standard AOAC method, and in antioxidant analysis, free radical scavenging method of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) were employed. The results are as follows, proximate analysis revealed the percentage contents of fat, crude fiber, protein, ash, and carbohydrates to be 2.93, 7.05, 1.68, 56.50, and 18.69, respectively. In the antioxidant studies, free radical scavenging technique employing 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) was used. Samples and standards were determined using the IC50. The active sample was hexane extract, with an IC50 of 0.0878, followed by ethyl acetate (0.8811) and methanol (0.9215).

Phytochemical Contents and In Vitro Pathogenic Microbial Growth Inhibitory Activities of Acanthus montanus Root and Leaf Extracts

2024-01-03T06:41:11+00:00

The study was directed at extraction, bioactivity analysis and ascertaining phytochemical composition of the leaf and root extracts of Acanthus montanus. Acanthus montanus (Acanthaceae family) is a shrub that is popularly grown in tropical countries of the world. The plant materials were harvested from Choba community in Rivers State, Nigeria. Extracts of Acanthus montanus (28.3, 19.45 and 25.5 g of n-hexane, ethylacetate and ethanol leaf extracts; and 3.45, 11.32 and 12.44 g of n-hexane, ethylacetate and ethanol root extracts respectively) were obtained through sequential maceration and were separately subjected to in vitro bioassay against a wide range of pathogenic microbes using the agar well diffusion method. Fifteen microorganisms were employed in the investigation, eight bacteria which included Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sonniea, Shigella dysentariae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pyogenes and seven fungi which included Candida albicans, Sacharomyces cerevisiae, Rhizopus eligastus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigates, Fusa equisetti and Aspergillus niger. The crude extracts exhibited high microbial growth inhibitory activities with zones of inhibition which ranged between 14 and 34 mm, though there was moderate (19 mm zone of inhibition), or no activity observed for the n-hexane leaf and root extracts. All test organisms were sensitive to the extracts. Standard analytical methods and Gas Chromatography - Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) were used for analysis and quantification of the phytochemicals present in the extracts. Major phytochemical contents of the leaf and root extracts included flavonoids (86% - 52.66%), alkaloids (10.66% - 3.25%) and other phenolic compounds (20.52% - 6.38%). In conclusion, the leaf and root extracts of Acanthus montanus are broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents also rich in flavonoids.