S.O. Olabanji

PIGE-PIXE analysis of chewing sticks of pharmacological importance

Abstract PIGE and PIXE techniques were employed for the determination of the major, minor and trace elemental concentrations in chewing sticks of pharmacological importance namely: Butyrospermum paradoxum, Garcinia kola, Distemonanthus benthamianus, Bridelia ferruginea, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Terminalia glaucescens and Fagara rubescens, respectively. The concentration of fluorine which is very important for human dental enamel was specially determined using the 19F(p, p′γ)19F reaction. For decades these chewing sticks when used alone without toothpastes have proven to be very efficient, effective and reliable in cleaning the teeth of many people particularly in Nigeria and some other countries in Africa. The teeth of users are usually very strong, clean, fresh and devoid of germs and caries. Even with the advent of modern toothpastes with special additions of fluorine, the use of these popular and efficient chewing sticks is still unabated. Many people including the elite use them solely, a few others combine their use with modern toothpastes and brush. Proton beams produced by the 7 MV CN and 2.5 MV AN 2000 Van de Graaff accelerators at INFN, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (LNL), Padova, Italy were used for the PIGE and PIXE analysis, respectively. Results of this novel study are presented and discussed.

PIGE-PIXE analysis of medicinal plants and vegetables of pharmacological importance

PIGE and PIXE techniques were employed to the study of elemental constituents of some traditional medicinal plants generally used in curing many diseases and ailments in southwestern Nigeria. Analyses were also carried out on commonly edible vegetables of medicinal and pharmacological importance. PIGE measurements were carried out using 3.5-MeV collimated protons from the 7 mV CN Van-de-Graaff accelerator of INFN, LNL, Legnaro (Padova), Italy, whereas the PIXE measurements were carried out using 1.8 MeV from the 2.5 MV AN 2000 Van-de-Graaff accelerator of the same laboratory. The results show that many of the medicinal plants contain elements of cardinal importance in human metabolism. The results from the vegetables also show the presence of vital elements that are needed for growth and development. In addition, some of the toxic elements, which include As, Cd, Hg, and so forth, were not detected. However, some of the recipes contain trace amounts of Pb at very low concentrations. This calls for proper control of dose rates in some samples to prevent the attendant negative cumulative effects.

PIXE analysis of some medicinal plants used in cleaning teeth in southwestern Nigeria

Sixteen medicinal plants used for cleaning teeth in southwestern Nigeria were analyzed using the particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique. These medicinal plants have other therapeutic uses, but the emphasis and main focus were on their beneficial effects on human teeth. PIXE measurements were carried out using 1.8 MeV collimated proton beam from the 2.5 MV AN 2000 Van de Graaff accelerator at the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Padova Italy. The results showed the presence of 18 different elements at different concentrations, 2 plants had traces of gold, and none of the plants contained any toxic heavy metals. The metabolic roles of the detected elements were discussed especially as they affected the formation, growth, development, and protection of human teeth. The results of this study are presented and discussed.

PIGE-PIXE analysis of Nigerian tar sands

As a rapidly growing vast country, there is need in Nigeria to develop alternative energy sources to meet its ever increasing energy demands. Tar sands apart from its popular use as a source of asphaltic material for road surfacing is a new energy raw material in Nigeria. The immense industrial applications and utilization of the by-products of tar sands provide great incentives for its development. PIGE and PIXE techniques were employed for the determination of the major, minor and trace elemental concentrations in Nigerian tar sands including sulfur which occurs as pyrites, organic sulfur and sulfates. Proton beams produced by the 7 MV CN and 2.5 MV AN 200 Van de Graaff accelerators at I.N.F.N. Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (LNL) at Padova, Italy, were used for the PIGE and PIXE analysis, respectively. Results of this novel study are presented, discussed, and compared with some data from previous worker and values from Athabasca (Canada).

Applications of PIXE, PIGE, SEM and EDAX techniques to the study of geological samples

Abstract The complementary nuclear techniques of PIXE, PIGE, SEM and EDAX were employed to the study of geological samples from Wuyo, North East of Nigeria. The geological samples studied include (i) sandstones (fresh, mylonised and silicified), (ii) granites (fresh and brecciated) and (iii) brecciated and uraniferous samples. The microstructure of the samples was studied using SEM, while PIXE, PIGE and EDAX gave the qualitative and quantitative geochemical data of the major, minor and trace elements in them. PIXE and PIGE measurements were carried out using proton beams produced by the 2.5 MV AN-2000 and 7 MV CN Van de Graaff accelerators at INFN-Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (LNL), Padova, Italy, respectively. The facilities at the same institute were used for the SEM and EDAX measurements. Results of this novel study are presented and discussed.

Nigerian coal analysis by PIXE and RBS techniques

PIXE and RBS techniques were employed for the measurement of the concentrations of the major, minor and trace elements in Nigerian coal samples from a major deposit. The samples were irradiated with 2.55 MeV protons from the 3 MeV tandem accelerator (NEC 3 UDH) in Lund. The PIXE results are reported and compared with an earlier work on Nigerian coal using FNAA and INAA analytical techniques while the RBS results are compared with ASTM previous results. The results show that Nigerian coals have a low (0.82–0.99)% sulfur content. This is quite important for pollution control reasons.

PIGE analysis of Esie museum soapstone sculptures

Abstract Recent studies have shown that Esie stone sculptures, the largest collection in Africa, were carved using talc-tremolite, talc-chlorite, talc-tremolite-anthophyllite, and talc-amphibolite schists. However, the light elements were not covered because PIXE is not adequate for elements lighter than silicon. For the first time, PIGE analysis of the sculptures and the outcrops were carried out using protons produced by a 7 MV CN Van de Graaff accelerator at INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Padova, Italy, and a Ge(Li) detector. Talc-schists, the material from which the sculptures were carved, are quite important economically, finding use in the manufacture of paint, ceramics, abrasives, tiles, asbestos, cement and a few other metallurgical applications. Results of these novel measurements are presented.

Evaluation of nigerian animal feeds by particle-induced X-ray emission

There is need to evaluate the locally available animal feeds in Nigeria so as to be able to combine them in acceptable proportions to the animals to achieve the desired growth rate. The technique of particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) was employed for the evaluation of these locally available animal feeds, which include Panicum maximum (Guinea grass), Cynodon plectostachyum (grass), Leucaena leucephala (legume), Calopogonium mucunoides (legume), Gliricidia sepium (legume), Euphorbia polychrome (legume), Pueraria phaseloides (legume), and Centrosema pubescens (legume). The proton beam delivered by the 2.5-MV AN 2000 Van de Graaff accelerator at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro (LNL), Padova, Italy was used for the PIXE measurements. Twenty-one different elements were detected at various concentrations and their nutritional effects on different animals are discussed.

PIGE-PIXE analysis of human milk

Abstract PIGE-PIXE nuclear techniques were employed for the determination of the elemental composition of human breast milk which is the main source of nutrients to babies in Nigeria. Samples were collected from 32 healthy lactating mothers from Obafemi Awolowo Teaching University Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The samples were homogenized and immediately frozen, and then freeze-dried. Pellets were made using a Perkin Elmer instrument and its accessory the 13 mm die. PIGE measurements of light elements were performed using 3.5 MeV collimated protons from the 7 MV CN Van de Graaff accelerator of INFN, LNL, Legnaro (Padova) Italy while PIXE analysis was carried out using 1.8 MeV collimated proton beam from the 2.5 MV AN 2000 Van de Graaff accelerator of the same Institute. The results show the presence of important elements that are essential for growth and development of babies. We searched for certain toxic elements which include As, Cd, Hg, Pb, etc. because of their negative roles in enhancing infant mortality rates, but none of them was detected except Pb.

PIXE analysis of museum soapstone sculptures from Esie, South-West Nigeria

Abstract The PIXE technique was employed for the study of Esie Museum stone sculptures using 2.55 MeV protons from the 3 MeV tandem accelerator (NEC 3 UDH) in Lund, coupled with geological and archaeological findings. The aim is to elucidate and decipher the prodigious but rather enigmatic and bewildering stone sculptures. PIXE results show that the composition of the stone sculptures is approximately 41% talc-tremolite schist, 31% talc-chlorite schist, 15% talc-tremolite-anthophyllite schist and 13% talc-amphibolite schist. Thus the composition of Esie sculptures is found to be the same as the locally available talc schists present around Esie. The geological evidence (mineralogical results) corroborated this, as there was no textural or mineralogical difference between the talc-bearing country rock (outcrop) in Esie and the museum soapstone samples studied. Consequently, there is a very high probability that the sculptures were carved using the locally available talc schists.