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Product Quality and an Assessment of a Chemical Formulation for an Insulator
Hebah Abdel-Wahab,
Tamara Gund
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, June 2023
Pages:
1-7
Received:
19 March 2023
Accepted:
12 April 2023
Published:
20 April 2023
Abstract: Materials can be insulators, semiconductors or conductors based on their ability to conduct electrical and thermal current. An insulator is a substance that retard and block the flow of thermal and electrical current, it’s a poor conductor and a non-conducting material. Insulator material include rock wool, mineral wool, fiberglass, and cork. Conductors are materials that conduct electrical and thermal current such as metals, copper, zinc, gold, silver…etc. Semiconductors are a different class of materials that have conductivity between insulators and conductors, silicon, germanium…etc. The objective is to find the reason behind the off gassing of the finished product at high temperatures and if sprayed with water for cooling purposes and suggest methods to minimize its off- gassing to improve its quality. It has been found that some chemical compounds in the current formulation are either hygroscopic, extremely soluble or are reactive towards other chemical compounds in the formulation. Soluble starch, ammonium sulfate and boric acid are water soluble chemical compounds having hygroscopic properties. It isn’t recommended the usage of starch, and ammonium sulfate in the current formulation. Treating ammonium sulfate with water would result in the formation of ammonia gas, and there is high possibility of the reaction of starch with boric acid when exposed to water increasing its acidity. It’s recommended the use of other insoluble chemical compounds, antimony III oxide or zinc borate and the more branched Dextrins instead.
Abstract: Materials can be insulators, semiconductors or conductors based on their ability to conduct electrical and thermal current. An insulator is a substance that retard and block the flow of thermal and electrical current, it’s a poor conductor and a non-conducting material. Insulator material include rock wool, mineral wool, fiberglass, and cork. Condu...
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Optimization of Rock Salt Washing Process to Remove Selected Chemical Impurities in Lake Katwe Rock Salt
Mirembe Sophia Katooko,
Wanasolo William,
Serwadda Joseph,
Kasule Hannah Talinda,
Katuhamye Silas,
Kivumbi Achileo
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, June 2023
Pages:
8-16
Received:
6 May 2023
Accepted:
22 May 2023
Published:
31 May 2023
Abstract: Rich deposits of mineral salts, present in substantial economic quantities, characterize the geological bounty of Uganda. The primary location of this wealth is lake Katwe, a saline crater lake southwest of the country. However, all grades of rock salt extracted from Lake Katwe remain contaminated with chemical impurities such as calcium, magnesium, heavy metals and sulphate ions, even after solar evaporation process from the salt pans. There is a need to conduct research into possible contaminant removal methods which could increase the market value of the extracted salt, and add to the body of knowledge for future salt processing and chlor-alkali industries in Uganda. This study examined the effect of varying water volumes and temperature on the levels of Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphate ions in rock salt samples from Lake Katwe. The samples were methodically crushed and washed. The salt was then dissolved, crystallized, dried and meticulous analysis to determine the concentration of these impurities was carried out. The data was analysed and represented in Microsoft Excel and MATLAB. Results obtained revealed that a temperature of 40°C and salt-water ratio of 1:2 are the optimal parameters for maximum reduction of calcium, magnesium and sulphate impurities in rock salt. This analysis enhances the purity of salt harvested from Lake Katwe’s solar evaporation process and offers optimal washing parameters to reduce impurities in brine, thereby improving plant yield and reducing production costs across various salt grades. It also provides new information to the mining communities at Lake Katwe on how to affordably improve the percentage purity of their rock salt. The study will also contribute novel industry-tailored data for future prospective salt processing and chlor-alkali industrial plants near the Lake while also filling a knowledge gap for further research on rock salt purification.
Abstract: Rich deposits of mineral salts, present in substantial economic quantities, characterize the geological bounty of Uganda. The primary location of this wealth is lake Katwe, a saline crater lake southwest of the country. However, all grades of rock salt extracted from Lake Katwe remain contaminated with chemical impurities such as calcium, magnesium...
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Evaluation of Heavy Metals and Total Hydrocarbon Contents in Crassostrea Spp (Oysters) from Qua Iboe River, Ibeno LGA
Uwem Udosen Ubong,
Ifiok Okon Ekwere,
Edidiong Emmanuel Ikpe,
Clement Obadimu
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, June 2023
Pages:
17-24
Received:
1 February 2023
Accepted:
24 February 2023
Published:
27 June 2023
Abstract: This study evaluates the level of heavy metals and total hydrocarbon content in Crassostrea spp. (oysters) at Qua Iboe River, Ibeno LGA. Heavy metals analysis was carried out using the Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) while the total hydrocarbon content (THC) was determined with Gas chromatography fitted with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The oysters were selected randomly at three sample study areas analyzed for heavy metal and THC. The results for lead, copper, cadmium and nickel analysis showed that the mean metal concentration at site A were as follows: Pb (1.014 ± 0.011 mg/kg), Cu (0.067 ± 0.089 mg/kg), Ni (0.029 ± 0.006 mg/kg), Cd (0.001±0.001 mg/kg); site B - Pb (1.033 ± 0.003 mg/kg), Ni (1.027 ± 0.010 mg/kg), Cu (0.045 ± 0.010 mg/kg), Cd (0.003 ± 0.002 mg/kg) and site C (control) – Ni (1.025 ± 0.002 mg/kg), Pb (0.01 ± 0.001 mg/kg), Cu (0.001 ± 0.001 mg/kg), Cd was below detection limit (BDL). The total hydrocarbon content at site A was (141244.0±6801.3 mg/kg), site B (172130.4±25703.1 mg/kg) and site C (1894.7±94.3 mg/kg). Health risk was estimated to assess the total hazard quotient (THQ) of heavy metals at the study sites. The estimated daily intake of heavy metals at the study sites were: site A Pb (2.589mg/kg), Cd (0.003 mg/kg), Cu (0.171 mg/kg) and Ni (0.072 mg/kg). THQ at site A of Pb was 2.7795, Cd (0.0096), Cu (0.0174) and Ni (0.0005), site B Pb (2.8316) was the highest followed by Ni (0.4927), Cu (0.01167) and Cd (0.0288) and site C (control) Ni (0.4917) was the highest followed by Pb (0.0027) and Cu (0.0003). The THQ results from site C were below 1 and as such the oysters were safe for consumption. The total hazard quotient for sites A and B, for Cu Cd and Ni were less than 1 and Pb greater than 1, implying that the oysters from sites A and B were not safe and will pose an appreciable hazard to humans for the metal pollutants. Statistically, there was no significant difference because the P0.05-value was greater than alpha (p>0.05).
Abstract: This study evaluates the level of heavy metals and total hydrocarbon content in Crassostrea spp. (oysters) at Qua Iboe River, Ibeno LGA. Heavy metals analysis was carried out using the Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) while the total hydrocarbon content (THC) was determined with Gas chromatography fitted with flame ionization detector (GC-...
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