O. Akaranta

A bioresource solvent for extraction of castor oil

Abstract Extraction of castor oil from castor seeds was carried out using a bioresource solvent and compared with the extraction capacity of a commercial solvent. The solvents used were feint, a liquid industrial waste from the distillery and commercial hexane. Results of the chemical and physical properties of the extracted oils indicate that feint could serve as an effective substitute solvent for commercial hexane in the extraction of castor oil intended for alkyd resin production. The extraction coefficients for enhanced oil removal from the seed meal and the enthalpy changes accompanying the extraction process were determined. The solvent power of the solvents was temperature dependent.

Plywood adhesives based on redonion-skin extract modified with cashewnut-shell liquid

Red-onion-skin-formaldehyde resins modified with cashewnut-shell liquid were prepared and used in the formulation of wood adhesives. Evaluation results showed that the adhesives had better water resistance and shear strength than those based on red-onion-skin-extract-formaldehyde resins.

Eco-Friendly Corrosion Inhibition of Pipeline Steel Using Brassica oleracea

The inhibition capacity of Brassica oleracea (BO) extract on the corrosion of pipeline steel in 0.5 M H2SO4 was evaluated using electrochemical techniques. The results showed an excellent inhibition efficiency which increased with initial increase in extract concentration and temperature to a point and decreased with further increase in BO extract concentration and temperature. Mixed inhibition behaviour was proposed for the action of BO. The unique behaviour of BO was attributed to the organic entities present in the extract.

Production of particle boards from bioresources.

Particle boards of 1.2 cm thickness were prepared from rubber seed pod, cashewnut shell, and their blends, using an adhesive resin based on cashewnut-shell liquid. Performance evaluation showed that the boards satisfied the ASTM specifications for construction-grade building boards. The bending strength, water resistance and swelling ratio of the boards were better than those obtained for a commercial board. The results also showed that cashewnuts can be fully exploited by production of cashewnut-shell liquid for adhesive resins and spent shells which can be used as a source of lignocellulosic material for particle boards.

Development of wood adhesives using flavonoid‐glycosides from orange mesocarp

Condensation products of orange mesocarp extract (flavonoid‐glycosides) and formaldehyde were modified with phenol, cashewnut shell liquid and resorcinol respectively. The copolymer resins formed were used in the formulation of wood adhesives. The glued veneers were evaluated for their shear strength and percentage wood failure assessed. The results showed that the adhesives cured to give gluelines of considerable strength and durability.

Some properties of cassava mesocarp carbohydrates-low density polyethylene blends

Cassava mesocarp carbohydrate and its modified form were used as fillers in low density polyethylene to give plastic films that were biodegradable. It was found that the tensile strength of the films decreased with an increase in the amount of the filler incorporated. The water absorption results of the films showed that modification of the cassava mesocarp carbohydrate made it hydrophobic and therefore more compatible with the polyethylene.

Electrochemical and anticorrosion properties of 5-hydroxytryptophan on mild steel in a simulated well-acidizing fluid

Abstract The anticorrosion effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) on mild steel (MS) was investigated by gravimetric and electrochemical techniques. Two different concentrations (1 M and 15%) of hydrochloric acid were used to simulate well-acidizing fluid. The results show that 10 × 10−5 M 5-HTP is 96.1% efficient in 1 M HCl and 78.1% efficient in 15% HCl at 30 °C. The efficiency decreases as the temperature increases, reaching 66.9% and 39.8% in 1 M and 15% HCl, respectively, at 90 °C. When 5-HTP is blended with potassium iodide and glutathione, the efficiency increases to above 88% and 78% in 1 M and 15% HCl, respectively, at 90 °C. Increasing the 5-HTP concentration decreases the double-layer capacitance and increases the charge-transfer resistance. 5-HTP behaves as a mixed‐type corrosion inhibitor with anodic predominance and is spontaneously adsorbed on the steel surface. Physisorption of 5-HTP is best described by the Langmuir adsorption model and is also exothermic with a resultant decrease in the entropy of the bulk solution. The results of SEM/EDAX, FTIR and UV–VIS studies support the hypothesis that a protective film of 5-HTP forms on MS facilitated by O, N and C=C functionalities.

Using carboxymethylated cassava (Manihot) wastes as thickeners for latex paint

Abstract Cassava ( Manihot ) starch wastes carboxymethylated to a degree of substitution in the range of 0·42–0·61 have been prepared and used as thickening agents for the formulation of water-based latex paints. It was found that paint thickened with cassava-waste-based sodium carboxymethyl starch acquires a mechanical strength and drying time comparable to paint formulated with the commercial grade thickeners such as Tylose and Natrosol.

Bituminous coating: effects of cashew nut shell liquid‐tannin resins

Copolymer resins of peanut skin tannin extract, aldehydes and cashew nut shell liquid were prepared. The resins were blended with bitumen and used in formulating oleoresinous wood varnishes. The film properties of the varnishes were determined and the results showed that the gloss and scratch hardness of the films increased with increase in the quantity of cashew nut shell liquid/tannin‐aldehyde resins incorporated. The results also showed that the resins improved the chemical resistance of the varnish films. Varnish compositions containing 50:50 of bitumen and the resins gave films with satisfactory physical and chemical properties. The study showed that it is possible to formulate excellent oleoresinous wood varnishes using blends of bitumen and cashew nut shell liquid/tannin‐aldehyde resins.

Equilibrium Studies of Some Metal Ions onto Modified Orange Mesocarp Extract in Aqueous Solution

This paper examines the equilibrium removal of Zinc, Copper, Nickel and Cobalt ions from aqueous solutions by cation exchange resins synthesized using orange mesocarp extract. The percentage metal ion exchange of Carboxylated-Toluene Di-isocyanate Orange Mesocarp Extract Resin (CTOR) increased with increase in pH of the solution phase, while that of Sulphonated-Toluene Di-isocyanate Orange Mesocarp Extract Resin (STOR) was relatively uniform with increase in solution pH. The results also showed maximum ion exchange of 61.48%, 67.24%, 69.82% and 78.96% for Zn