Groundnut husk (GH) was used as an adsorbent to remove Mn2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ ions from fertilizer industrial wastewater. FTIR-spectrum shows the participation of aromatic compounds (C=C), Aldehydes (C=O) and Alkenes (C=C) in adsorption due to their absence in the adsorbent after the process. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to examine the effect of adsorbent mass, pH and contact time on adsorption of Mn2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ from fertilizer industrial waste water. The results showed that Mn2+, Pb2+ and Zn2+ attained maximum percentage removal of 61.62%, 99.93% and 100% at adsorbent dose of 50g, 60g and 20g respectively. However the maximum percentage removal of Mn2+ and Pb2+ was achieved at pH 6 for 80min. while that of Zn2+ was achieved at pH 3 for 60min. Langmuir biosorption isotherm provided the best fit for sorption of Mn2+ and Pb2+ using groundnut husk as indicated by their correlation coefficient ( ) of 0.558 and 0.441 hence the process was based on a physisorption mechanism. The kinetic studies showed that the biosorption process followed the pseudo-second order reaction order. This study has demonstrated that groundnut husk can be efficiently used as low cost alternative adsorbent for remediation of Mn2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ from heavy metals contaminated wastewater.

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The attention of most countries lately has been on improvement of existing goods and services. However, looking for alternative to whatever exists brings about novelty. Fossil fuel as a means of energy has been utilized for quite a long time that those who are progressive minded have begun to look for alternative sources. This is due to the fact that renewability of crude oil (current world source of energy) is uncertain. As a result the quest for bio-fuel in forms of bio-diesel, bio-gas and bio-ethanol seem to be the only hope to this impasse. Europe, Asia and America have since been at the forefront of research for alternative sources of energy. The place of Africa in this quest is unpredictable and uncertain. The surprising aspect of the whole issue is that Africa can boost of its potential to generate the resources utilizable for generation of alternative energy in form of oil seeds, agro-wastes and lignocelluloses more than other continents currently in the forefront of research into alternative energy. This review therefore, seeks to expose the resources available in African countries and how they are underutilized as well as what attempts have been made in Africa in the quest for alternative energy. It also brings to the forefront, details of basic techniques necessary in production of bio-fuel with the view that Africa as a player in bio-energy generation can do better than it is currently doing, if the leaders of the various African countries make it a priority.