Thesis Chapters by Ifeanyichukwu C A J T A N C O L L I N S Iloabachie
Iloabachie I.C.C, 2022
In this work, the effect of heat treatment on the chemical composition of powdered Pentaclethra M... more In this work, the effect of heat treatment on the chemical composition of powdered Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod was studied. The Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod was picked from the bush, cleaned manually, soaked and washed with distilled water to further remove the dirt particles. The washed Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod was sun-dried for about six hours. This was followed by ovum drying at a temperature of about 110 o C for three hours to achieve a constant weight and allowed to cool. The dried Pentaclethra Macrophylla pods were crushed to powdered form using a locally fabricated crushing and grinding machines and later sieved. After sieving, the pod was divided into two samples with one carbonized and the other un-carbonized. The carbonized sample was packed in an earthen pot and covered with a lid. This was placed in a heat treatment furnace, heated to 950 o C and held for three hours at the carbonization temperature under inert atmosphere. The furnace was turned off and 24hrs cooling was allowed for the furnace to cool to room temperature. The carbonized powdered Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod in the earthen pot was taken out of the furnace using a pair of laboratory tongues for further cooling. The chemical composition of the heat treated Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod was determined using XRF, FTIR and proximate analysis. The results showed that Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod has alumina Al2O3 and silica SiO2 as the dominant metallic oxides. The results also showed that the heat treated Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod had higher composition of fixed carbon and lesser moisture and volatile matter. Therefore, Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod can be used as a refractory material and as reinforcement in composite development.
In this work, the effect of heat treatment on the chemical composition of powdered Pentaclethra M... more In this work, the effect of heat treatment on the chemical composition of powdered Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod was studied. The Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod was picked from the bush, cleaned manually, soaked and washed with distilled water to further remove the dirt particles. The washed Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod was sun-dried for about six hours. This was followed by ovum drying at a temperature of about 110 o C for three hours to achieve a constant weight and allowed to cool. The dried Pentaclethra Macrophylla pods were crushed to powdered form using a locally fabricated crushing and grinding machines and later sieved. After sieving, the pod was divided into two samples with one carbonized and the other un-carbonized. The carbonized sample was packed in an earthen pot and covered with a lid. This was placed in a heat treatment furnace, heated to 950 o C and held for three hours at the carbonization temperature under inert atmosphere. The furnace was turned off and 24hrs cooling was allowed for the furnace to cool to room temperature. The carbonized powdered Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod in the earthen pot was taken out of the furnace using a pair of laboratory tongues for further cooling. The chemical composition of the heat treated Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod was determined using XRF, FTIR and proximate analysis. The results showed that Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod has alumina Al2O3 and silica SiO2 as the dominant metallic oxides. The results also showed that the heat treated Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod had higher composition of fixed carbon and lesser moisture and volatile matter. Therefore, Pentaclethra Macrophylla pod can be used as a refractory material and as reinforcement in composite development.
This research work evaluated the characterization of Eha-Ndiagu clay in Enugu State, SouthEast Ni... more This research work evaluated the characterization of Eha-Ndiagu clay in Enugu State, SouthEast Nigeria for its industrial potentials. The chemical analysis was performed at National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency (NSRMEA), Kaduna, using a Perkin Elmer Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) while the physical properties were investigated following American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM) stipulated standards. The physical properties determined were apparent porosity, bulk density, linear shrinkage, apparent density, modulus of rupture, plasticity index, Atterberg Limit and water absorption capacity. The result of the chemical composition analysis showed that the, the clay contains mainly Silica Oxide (SiO2) 56.71%, Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) 21.05% and Iron oxide (Fe2O3) 5.31% with other oxides such as MgO (1.50%), K2O (1.92%) and TiO 2 (1.03%) in appreciable amounts. The physical analysis showed a variation in the linear shrinkage (3.35 to 7.88%), total shrinkage (5.06 to 9.46%), apparent porosity (41.02 to 32.57%), bulk density (1.52 to 1.76 g/cm3), water absorption (15.22 to 8.9%) and modulus of rupture (12.86 to 24.78kgF/cm 2) with increase in firing temperature from 900 o C to 1200 o C. The Atterberg Limit result showed that the clay has high plasticity. The overall analysis of the results showed that Eha-Ndiagu clay deposit is siliceous in nature and of the alumino-silicate refractories that may be classified as kaolinitic fireclay. This result therefore, showed that Eha-Ndiagu clay has good industrial potentials and can be useful in the manufacture of ceramics, high melting clays, refractory, bricks, tiles and in the paper and
Precipitation kinetics of Al-4.5% Cu in water quench media at 0°C, 25°C, 40°C had been studied. T... more Precipitation kinetics of Al-4.5% Cu in water quench media at 0°C, 25°C, 40°C had been studied. The aluminum and copper ingots used as raw materials for furnace charge were melted in a tilting crucible furnace (electric) of 150 kg capacity. The molten alloy was thereafter, poured into metallic moulds directly from the crucible pot and allowed to solidify in the mould and cool at ambient temperature, after which the samples were removed from the mould. The cast samples were solutionized for one hour in a muffle furnace at about 545°C and plunged into the water at 25°C where it was held for 10 minutes. Precipitation heat treatment was carried out in the furnace at 130°C. The procedure was repeated but with water at 0°C, 40°C, and distilled water at room temperature at different aging times. As-quenched hardness and post aging hardness was determined using Rockwell hardness tester (Model HRS 150) in observance of ASTM D785. The results obtained showed that the peak hardness value of 23.8 was obtained at eighty minutes for the sample quenched in water at 0°C. The studied alloy may find application in development spare parts for automobile industries.
Carbonization is often used to enhance the structural properties of bio-fiber material like cocon... more Carbonization is often used to enhance the structural properties of bio-fiber material like coconut shell. This research work studied the effect of two carbonization temperatures 450 o C and 850 o C on the proximate analysis of coconut shell. The coconut shell was sun dried for 48 hours before being carbonized in a heat treatment furnace. The heating rate was 5 o C/min with a soaking time of three hours. The carbonized coconut shell was then heated in a muffler furnace for proximate analysis in observance of ASTM standards E-871, E-1755, E-872 for moisture at 110 o C, ash at 715 o C and volatile matter at 925 o C using a muffler furnace. The result of the proximate analysis showed that fixed carbon content was higher at 850 o C as a result of pyrolytic decomposition of the raw coconut shell. Also the volatile matter was drastically reduced at 850 o C. Lower ash content was again obtained at 850 o C.
Carbonization is often used to enhance the structural properties of bio-fiber material like cocon... more Carbonization is often used to enhance the structural properties of bio-fiber material like coconut shell. This research work studied the effect of two carbonization temperatures 450 o C and 850 o C on the proximate analysis of coconut shell. The coconut shell was sun dried for 48 hours before being carbonized in a heat treatment furnace. The heating rate was 5 o C/min with a soaking time of three hours. The carbonized coconut shell was then heated in a muffler furnace for proximate analysis in observance of ASTM standards E-871, E-1755, E-872 for moisture at 110 o C, ash at 715 o C and volatile matter at 925 o C using a muffler furnace. The result of the proximate analysis showed that fixed carbon content was higher at 850 o C as a result of pyrolytic decomposition of the raw coconut shell. Also the volatile matter was drastically reduced at 850 o C. Lower ash content was again obtained at 850 o C.
This research was carried out to investigate the effect of particle size on the flexural strength... more This research was carried out to investigate the effect of particle size on the flexural strength, ultimate tensile strength, density and water absorption characteristics of uncarbonized coconut shell/unsaturated polyester composite. Two particle sizes of 425micron (fine Sample UFS) and 170microns (coarse Sample UCS) of uncarbonized coconut shell particles were used as reinforcement. Flexural strength, ultimate tensile strength, density and morphological properties of the developed composites were determined. Maximum flexural and ultimate tensile strengths were both obtained at 20wt. % for the 425microns sample reinforced composite. The 30wt% of the 425microns coconut shell reinforced composite sample absorbed more water. The density of both composite particle sizes decreased with increase in filler content indicating use in applications requiring light weight.
Precipitation kinetics of Al-4.5% Cu in water quench media at 0°C, 25°C, 40°C had been studied. T... more Precipitation kinetics of Al-4.5% Cu in water quench media at 0°C, 25°C, 40°C had been studied. The aluminum and copper ingots used as raw materials for furnace charge were melted in a tilting crucible furnace (electric) of 150 kg capacity. The molten alloy was thereafter, poured into metallic moulds directly from the crucible pot and allowed to solidify in the mould and cool at ambient temperature, after which the samples were removed from the mould. The cast samples were solutionized for one hour in a muffle furnace at about 545°C and plunged into the water at 25°C where it was held for 10 minutes. Precipitation heat treatment was carried out in the furnace at 130°C. The procedure was repeated but with water at 0°C, 40°C, and distilled water at room temperature at different aging times. As-quenched hardness and post aging hardness was determined using Rockwell hardness tester (Model HRS 150) in observance of ASTM D785. The results obtained showed that the peak hardness value of 23.8 was obtained at eighty minutes for the sample quenched in water at 0°C. The studied alloy may find application in development spare parts for automobile industries.
In this study, cow dung was evaluated as substrate for the production of biogas under anaerobic c... more In this study, cow dung was evaluated as substrate for the production of biogas under anaerobic conditions. Fermentation slurry was prepared by the addition and vigorous mixing of dried cow dung and dried poultry droppings separately with an equivalent amount of water needed for maximum yield in the ratio 1:1. 2 batch-type anaerobic-digesters of 25 L each were equipped with pH probe, stirrer, thermometer and sampling port. Digestion was carried out for 30 days at room temperature. The substrates were characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) according to the method of AOAC and Proximate analysis of the substrates was carried out according to the method of AOAC. The pH value of the cow dung substrate was found to be mainly alkaline which favored digestion and biogas production. The retention time of the substrate cow dung in the bio-reactor affected the quantity of biogas produced. This results of this study established cow dung substrate as an effective feedstock for biogas production.
From cleaner production to energy efficiency, biodegradable products to recycling, sustainable de... more From cleaner production to energy efficiency, biodegradable products to recycling, sustainable development is the topic that is demanding global attention. In this context, bio-plastics and bio-composites are gaining ground as the materials for the future. The main reasons for the development of this industry are its attraction with reference to the cost and the weight of the materials produced. Further, bio-composites are ecologically sustainable, and require low energy for production. They are also easier to dispose off at the end of the product life cycle. Bio-composites are made from bio-based polymers and resins. These polymers and resins are either directly taken from plants or are derived from plant based feedstock by various processing techniques. The two major areas of applications of bio-composites are construction and automotive industry. They are also used in bio-medical engineering and various other engineering applications. This paper discusses the various raw materials used in the manufacture of bio-composites, applications of bio-composites in engineering, their advantages and challenges. It also looks at the current status of the bio-composite industry and its future trends.
Carbonization is often used to enhance the structural properties of bio-fiber material like cocon... more Carbonization is often used to enhance the structural properties of bio-fiber material like coconut shell. This research work studied the effect of two carbonization temperatures 450 o C and 850 o C on the proximate analysis of coconut shell. The coconut shell was sun dried for 48 hours before being carbonized in a heat treatment furnace. The heating rate was 5 o C/min with a soaking time of three hours. The carbonized coconut shell was then heated in a muffler furnace for proximate analysis in observance of ASTM standards E-871, E-1755, E-872 for moisture at 110 o C, ash at 715 o C and volatile matter at 925 o C using a muffler furnace. The result of the proximate analysis showed that fixed carbon content was higher at 850 o C as a result of pyrolytic decomposition of the raw coconut shell. Also the volatile matter was drastically reduced at 850 o C. Lower ash content was again obtained at 850 o C.
In this study, cow dung was evaluated as substrate for the production of biogas under anaerobic c... more In this study, cow dung was evaluated as substrate for the production of biogas under anaerobic conditions. Fermentation slurry was prepared by the addition and vigorous mixing of dried cow dung and dried poultry droppings separately with an equivalent amount of water needed for maximum yield in the ratio 1:1. 2 batch-type anaerobic-digesters of 25 L each were equipped with pH probe, stirrer, thermometer and sampling port. Digestion was carried out for 30 days at room temperature. The substrates were characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) according to the method of AOAC and Proximate analysis of the substrates was carried out according to the method of AOAC. The pH value of the cow dung substrate was found to be mainly alkaline which favored digestion and biogas production. The retention time of the substrate cow dung in the bio-reactor affected the quantity of biogas produced. This results of this study established cow dung substrate as an effective feedstock for biogas production.
In this study, poultry droppings and cow dung were evaluated and characterized under anaerobic co... more In this study, poultry droppings and cow dung were evaluated and characterized under anaerobic conditions as substrates for the production of biogas. Fermentation slurry was prepared by the addition and vigorous mixing of dried cow dung and dried poultry droppings separately with an equivalent amount of water needed for maximum yield in the ratio 1:1. 2 batch-type anaerobicdigesters of 25L each were equipped with pH probe, stirrer, thermometer and sampling port. Digestion was carried out for 30 days at room temperature. The substrates were characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) according to the method of AOAC and Proximate analysis of the substrates was carried out according to the method of AOAC. The pH value of the cow dung substrate was found to be mainly alkaline which favoured digestion and biogas production. The result of the proximate analysis revealed that the cow dung substrate had a higher calorific energy value and carbon content. The XRF result showed that poultry droppings substrate contained traces of heavy metals (which act as inhibitor to anaerobic digestion) more than that of cow dung. This results of this study established that cow dung substrate is a better effective feedstock for biogas production.
In this research work, the effect of carbonization on the flexural strength, hardness, water abso... more In this research work, the effect of carbonization on the flexural strength, hardness, water absorption and density of coconut shell/unsaturated polyester composite was studied. A portion of the coconut shell was carbonized at 700 o C in a heat treatment furnace with a soaking time of three hours while the other portion was uncarbonized. They were ground and sieved into two particle sizes. Flexural strength, hardness, density and water absorption properties of the developed composites were determined. The 30wt% of the 1700microns uncarbonized coconut shell particle reinforced composite sample absorbed more water. Maximum flexural strength was obtained at 20wt. % for the 425microns sample reinforced composite while that of hardness was at 30wt.%. The density of the composite decreased with increase in filler content. The SEM showed the distribution of coconut shell particles within the composite. The carbonized coconut shell particle reinforced composite recorded the least density value, therefore, this composite can be used in applications requiring light weight material.
In this research work, the effect of carbonization on the flexural strength, hardness, water abso... more In this research work, the effect of carbonization on the flexural strength, hardness, water absorption and density of coconut shell/unsaturated polyester composite was studied. A portion of the coconut shell was carbonized at 700 o C in a heat treatment furnace with a soaking time of three hours while the other portion was uncarbonized. They were ground and sieved into two particle sizes. Flexural strength, hardness, density and water absorption properties of the developed composites were determined. The 30wt% of the 1700microns uncarbonized coconut shell particle reinforced composite sample absorbed more water. Maximum flexural strength was obtained at 20wt. % for the 425microns sample reinforced composite while that of hardness was at 30wt.%. The density of the composite decreased with increase in filler content. The SEM showed the distribution of coconut shell particles within the composite. The carbonized coconut shell particle reinforced composite recorded the least density value, therefore, this composite can be used in applications requiring light weight material.
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Thesis Chapters by Ifeanyichukwu C A J T A N C O L L I N S Iloabachie