ABUAD Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Isolation and Identification of Microorganisms Associated with Faecal Droppings of Broiler Fed with Feed Compounded with Mineral-Fortified Pleurotus ostreatus

2025-05-25T13:50:41+00:00

Health and performance are important aspects in the broiler industry. The promotion of good, healthy products and environmental friendly wastes from poultry is the target of sustainable development goals. The effects of feed supplemented with mushroom enriched with minerals in broiler faeces have not been investigated. This experiment was conducted to study the potential effects of iron and Selenium fortified P.ostreatus on microbial load and types associated with faecal droppings of broilers fed mushroom-formulated feed. This experiment was conducted to study the potential effects of non-fortified, Iron fortified and Selenium fortified P.ostreatus on microbial load and types associated with faecal droppings of broilers fed mushroom formulated feed. This experiment was performed for 42 days on broilers. Dietary treatments include standard basal diet as control, non-fortified mushroom feed group (NFM), Iron fortified mushroom feed group (FeFM) and Selenium fortified mushroom feed group (SeFM) at 1.5%, 5% and 10% inclusion levels. Faecal droppings of broilers fed 1.5% NFM feed had the highest bacterial count (2.25 × 107 CFU/g). A total of eleven (11) bacterial and fungal isolates were obtained from the faecal droppings and these are: Micrococcus luteus, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus. The fungal isolates incudes: Aspergillus sp, Fusarium sp, Rhizopus sp and Candida sp. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were observed to be absent in the faeces of broilers fed 1.5% NFM and SeFM dietary treatments. Fusarium solarium was absent in the faecal sample of broilers fed NFM, Candida tropicalis was not present in the faeces of broilers fed FeFM while Candida tropicalis and Rhizopus stolonifer were observed to be absent in SeFM (1.5%, 5% and 10%) respectively. Feeding broilers with mushroom fortified feed at all inclusion levels 1.5%, 5% and 10% had observable decrease on microbial loads and types of broiler faecal droppings. Fortification of mushroom with minerals could reduce the level of microorganisms released into the ecosystem through poultry droppings that finds its way to the final consumers, humans.

Empirical Study of Grewia Gel as an Alternative Thickening Agent in Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid

2025-05-25T14:06:33+00:00

This research work studied a new fracturing fluid material (Grewia gel) that can be used in stimulating oil and gas wells. The local base bio-polymer was sourced within the Bayara community in Bauchi, Bauchi State. The gel was extracted by hydrating the dried Grewia sample in water for 24 hours. The mixture was then stirred and passed through a muslin bag to remove extraneous materials. The filtrate was dried in an oven at 50 °C for 24 hours and subsequently dry-milled. The dried product was passed through a 1.0 mm sieve and stored in an air-tight container. A combination of analytical techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Filtration Control Test (FCT), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) was used to characterise the sample. The experiment was designed using the Box Behnken Design (BBD) model, where independent variables such as pH, gel, and cross-linker concentration and the dependent variables of viscosity and gel strength were considered. The effect of the independent variables on the responses was studied. The optimum composition of the fluid sample was found to be 29.91 pptg of the gel sample and 5.16 pptg of borate crosslinker at a pH condition of 9.59. Experimental results showed that the rheological characteristic of the gel is comparable with guar gum over the shear and temperature ranges under study and suitable for temperatures up to 160 °F. In addition, the gel has a better aqueous solubility (92%) when compared to the conventional guar gum with 85%. The Grewia gel can be considered a promising alternative for its application in the petroleum industry as a fracturing fluid gelling agent owing to its improved solubility, rheology, thermal stability, proppant suspension ability, and cheaper cost when compared to the imported guar gum.

Liquid-liquid Extraction of Lactic Acid from Aqueous Medium Using Menthol-lauric Acid and Thymol-lauric Acid Deep Eutectic Solvent

2025-05-25T14:20:50+00:00

Chemistry is paying more attention to deep eutectic solvents, a kind of environmentally benign solvent that may be used to extract and separate target molecules from a variety of samples. This paper focuses on the use of non-ionic hydrophobic-based deep eutectic solvents (DES) for the extraction of lactic acid from an aqueous medium and to determine the physiochemical properties that make them unique from other extraction solvents. According to the results of this work, a ternary phase diagram composed of menthol and lauric acid (1:1) and thymol and lauric acid (1:1) was determined at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure. The tie lines show that the raffinate phase contains no DES and the extract phase contains no water in it. This is an important advantage of DES as a solvent compared to organic solvents since it could reduce the number of purification steps in the extraction unit and thus reduce its operating cost. The synthesised DESs’ component FTIR spectra were examined. The findings revealed shifts (stretch and vibration) that may be related to interactions, structural modifications, and the development of chemical bonds between the bands at 3242 (cm⁻¹) and 3417 (cm⁻¹). The density values of DES A range from 0.897 to 0.853 g/cm³, and those of DES B fall between 0.936 and 0.837 g/cm³. The synthesised DESs’ surface tensions were tested; DES A displayed a greater surface tension of 31.14 mN/m, while DES B displayed a lower surface tension of 29.29 mN/m. These surface tension values fall within the literature range of 20–60 mN/m for DESs; hence, they can be used as a potential alternative solvent to conventional organic solvents for lactic acid extraction owing to their attractive and eco-friendly properties. The systems displayed a higher extraction efficiency of 99%, indicating the potential use of DESs as solvents for the separation of lactic acids from an aqueous medium.