Nile cabbage (Pistia stratiotes) represents a promising source of biodiesel which has been garnered due to good biomass yield. This study aims to determine the possibility for biodiesel production from Nile cabbage plants collected from a seasonal Pager River. The bio-oil extraction from Nile cabbage leaves was done using soxhlet apparatus. The biodiesel was produced by transesterification of lipids and characterized by GC-FID and the physio-chemical parameters of the produced biodiesel were also performed. The obtained results indicate that, Nile cabbage sample showed a yield of biodiesel (30.30±0.01) %. The biodiesel obtained possess the following fuel properties: density (880.00±0.00)Kg/m3, pH (5.70±0.00), saponification value (137.10±0.09) mg KOH/g, acid value (1.00±0.00) mg KOH/g, iodine value (63.41±0.01) mg I2/100g, flash point (120±0.00)℃, pour point (-6.20±0.03) ℃, colour (brown), moisture content (50.00±0.00)%, and ash content (0.003±0.00)%, and cetane number (49.53±0.05). The GC-FID analysis of the obtained biodiesel showed the presence of C16:0, C18:0, C18:1 and C18:2 as the major constituents of fatty acids (FAs) detected. Therefore, all physiochemical parameters were within the allowable limits, accept only acid value which was slightly higher than the standard limits issued by the American and European (ASTM D 6571:12 and EN 14214:2012) standards. Aquatic weeds are considered a global threat in the aquatic ecosystem, which invoked a lot of attention from the general public and the scientific community. Our findings showed that Nile cabbage biomass could give a significant yield of biodiesel, with desired fuel properties which will initiates a cleaner energy.

Background:The consumption of has gained attention due to its ability to promote acute benefits such as improved attention, cognitive performance, reduction of fatigue, increased wakefulness, and analgesia. However, the result of caffeine consumption is a concern, it is important to inform consumers about the caffeine content and acidity levels of all non-alcoholic water-based beverages.Methods:The samples were sonicated and subjected to analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet method and pH meter method for acidity content. Results: The highest concentration of caffeine was found in energy drink, ED; with 64.01±0.07 mg/L as compared to soft drinks, SD1; 20.20±0.02 mg/L, SD2; 23.14±0.08 mg/L, and SD3; 29.88±0.02 mg/L. All obtained concentrations were below the permissible levels for caffeine (200 mg/L) intake by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The study also showed that all the non-alcoholic beverages were acidic except bottled water in the sequence BW < ED < SD. The categorical range was bottled water; BW2; 8.01±0.03, BW1; 7.5±0.10, BW3; 7.5±0.11, BW4 6.85±1.38, and Energy drink; ED; 3.17±0.01, and finally, soft drinks; SD2; 2.82±0.02, SD1; 2.61±0.02, and SD3; 2.59±0.05. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study provide satisfactory information on the caffeine and acidity contents of the commonly consumed non-alcoholic water-based beverages in Banda, Kampala-Uganda. This in the future could pose serious health risks, since some individuals consume multiple servings of the drinks in a short time, which could result in intoxication/overdose.Keywords: caffeine, soft drinks, energy drinks, public health, Banda

Background In this study, it was aimed to analyze the caffeine content and acidity levels of different varieties of non-alcoholic water-based beverages consumed by the people in the vicinity of Banda, Uganda. The samples were sonicated and subjected for analysis by HPLC-UV method.Results The study showed that the highest concentration of caffeine was found in energy drink, ED; with 64.01 ± 0.07 mg/l as compared to soft drinks, SD1; 20.20 ± 0.02 mg/l, SD2; 23.14 ± 0.08 mg/l, and SD3; 29.88 ± 0.02 mg/l. All obtained values were below the permissible levels for caffeine (200 mg) intake by the US Food and Drug administration (FDA). The study also showed that all non-alcoholic beverages analyzed were acidic accept bottled water in the sequence; BW < ED < SD, in the categorical range with bottled water; BW2; 8.01 ± 0.03, BW1; 7.5 ± 0.10, BW3; 7.5 ± 0.11, BW4 6.85 ± 1.38, and Energy drink; ED; 3.17, and finally, Soft drinks; SD2; 2.82 ± 0.02, SD1; 2.61 ± 0.02, and SD3; 2.59 ± 0.05.Conclusions The results obtained in this study provide satisfactory information on the quantification of caffeine and acidity contents of the consumed non-alcoholic water-based beverages by the people in the vicinity of Banda, Kampala-Uganda. This in future could pose serious health risks, since some individuals consume multiple servings of the drinks in a short time, which could results in intoxication/overdose.