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ABSTRACT:The surface characteristics of Citrus paradisi (grapefruit mesocarp biomass) on the biosorption of Ni (II) and Pb (II) ions from aqueous solution were studied adopting a batch reactor technique. The dried grapefruit mesocarp biomass was characterized using phytochemical screening and Fourier Transform Infra -Red (FTIR) Spectroscopy. The results of the characterization revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, cyanogenic glycosides. Furthermore, the FTIR spectrum pattern of the biomass showed broad and sharp absorption peaks indicating the existence of functional groups like -OH, C=O, C-H, C-O, N-H, etc. The biosorption process was found to be pH, time and concentration dependent. The rate of biosorption was higher in Ni (II) ion than Pb (II) ion. The result of the equilibrium modeling showed that the biosorption process fitted well with the Freundlich isotherm equation indicating a muiltilayer biosorption. The mechanism of the biosorption process followed pseudo -second -order kinetic model equation with correlation coefficient (R 2 ) of 0.999 for Ni (II) ion and 0.991 for Pb (II) ion respectively. Thermodynamic parameters determined showed that the biosorption of Ni (II) and Pb (II) ions on the surface of the biomass was an exothermic and spontaneous process. The rate of biosorption was found to decrease with increasing temperature. The results showed that the dried grapefruit mesocarp biomass was efficient and effective in the biosorption of Ni (II) and Pb (II) ions and is recommended to be applied in wastewaters. © JASEM http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem/v19i3.13 INTRODUCTIONThe degradation of natural waters with several heavy metal contaminants, have been found to be emanating mostly from mining waste and industrial discharges (Baig et al., 1999). These toxic materials cause problems to the entire ecosystem. Although some heavy metals are necessary for the growth of plants, aquatic lives and humans, after certain concentration, it becomes lethal to plants, microorganisms and humans.

Religion can serve as a strong force in boosting societal development and can as well retard it. This, for me, is as a result of man's inability to discover his place and role in existence as a being with responsibility and sequel to this, he always fails to contribute his own quota in solving a myriad of problems surrounded him and the society at large rather, usually waits for divine intervention believing that manna will fall from heaven with little or no effort of his own. This is more prevalent among the Africans. This work will employ the philosophical methods of hermeneutics and analysis in proffering answer to questions like: how can religion help in fostering societal development? What are the limitations of this help? How does man come in the issue of societal development? What are his roles in this regard? This work is an effort to stress that extreme religiousness of Africans is among the factors retarding development in Africa but that does not mean that the work condemns the practice of religion among Africans for it is also part of its aims to establish some of the roles religion can play to facilitate progress in Africa.

Kinetic evaluation of naphthalene onto acid -modified and unmodified bentonite clay mineral was investigated by means of the effects of concentration, contact time and pH. The amount of naphthalene adsorbed was determined spectrophotometrically. The optimum pH value and equilibrium contact time for the adsorption of naphthalene onto acidmodified and unmodified samples were found to be 6.0 and 30 minutes, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity (q m ) for acid -modified and unmodified adsorbents was found to be 10.52 mg/g and 5.56 mg/g. These values were close with the experimental data (q e ) obtained from the adsorption of naphthalene onto acid -modified (9.0 mg/g) and unmodified (4.0 mg/g) adsorbents. The adsorption isotherm fitted well with Langmuir equation model for the acid -modified than the unmodified adsorbent. Kinetic evaluations of the adsorption showed that the process followed the pseudo -second -order equation model. The results obtained showed that modified bentonite clay mineral was reasonably effective adsorbent for the removal of naphthalene (organic contaminant), which is an important source for environmental pollutant. ©JASEM http://dx

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