This research investigated the removal of heavy metals (As, Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, Cu, Fe, and Zn) via batch adsorption process from industrial electroplating wastewater using two different nano-adsorbents; purified carbon nanotubes (P-CNTs) and polyhydroxylbutyrate functionalized carbon nanotubes (PHB-CNTs), both produced through catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) method. HRSEM, HRTEM, XRD, DLS, BET, FTIR, XPS, TGA, pH drift and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the developed nano-adsorbents. In the batch adsorption process, the effects of contact time, dosage, temperature and pH were studied. Both nano-adsorbents gave optimum contact time, equilibrium time, optimum dosage, and pH of 10 minutes, 70 minutes, 20 mg, and 5.63–5.65 respectively. The heavy metals removal efficiencies by the nano-adsorbents followed the order of PHB-CNTs > P-CNTs based on ion exchange and electrostatic forces mechanism. For P-CNTs and PHB-CNTs, the equilibrium sorption isotherm suits temkin model, kinetic data fitted to pseudo-second order based on the linear regression correlation coefficient, and the thermodynamic study established spontaneity and endothermic nature of the adsorption process. The findings in this research conclude that both nano-adsorbents have exceptional capacity to remove heavy metals from the adsorbate, with PHB-CNTs possessing better quality. The treated adsorbate meets the standard for industrial or irrigation re-use.

Specimens of 6061 Aluminum alloy were prepared and quenched in water, sheanut oil and palm oil at temperature of 400 o C, 450 o C and 530 o C to determine the effect of variation in temperature and quenching media on some mechanical properties and the microstructure of the alloy. Standard specimens from the rapidly quenched alloys were subject to various tests to determine their ultimate tensile strength, hardness and impact strength. The results showed that the specimen heat-treated to 530 o C and quenched in water has the highest tensile strength of 109 N/mm 2 and yield strength of 70.89 N/mm 2. The specimen heated at 530 o C and quenched in water gave the highest value of 35.50 in hardness (HRC). The toughness property of the alloy, as indicated by Charpy impact values, is better at 530 o C for specimen quenched in sheanut oil and least impact strength is observed in specimen quenched in water at 400 o C.

Due to increasing resistance of microorganisms towards current antibiotics, there is a need for new or enhanced antibiotics. Nanotechnology is a technology that enhances the use of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) in area of medical applications, especially as a drug carrier for targeted drug delivery. In this research, AuNPs was synthesized using biological method via bioreduction of Piper guineense aqueous leaf extract on tetra gold chloride, characterized using UV–Vis spectrophometer, DLS, TEM/EDS and FTIR. The synthesized AuNPs was covalently functionalized with polyethylene glycol and encapsulated with Lincomycin and in vitro dissolution methods was used to evaluate the potential performance of the formulated nanodrug. The nanodrug has highest release efficiency at the 9th minutes (23.4 mg ml−1 for 40 °C) and (29.5 mg ml−1 for 60 °C) compared with the non-nanodrug. The antibacterial potential of the nanodrug was seen on the gram-positive bacteria of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes with highest inhibitions of 18 mm (at 40 °C) and 16 mm (at 60 °C) for S. aureus, and 16 mm for S. pyogenes (both at 40 °C and 60 °C). The bacteria growth inhibition continued and lasted for 15 min, while that of non-nanodrug lasted for 9 min with lesser growth inhibition compared to the formulated nanodrug. This work shows that the presence of the AuNPs increased the release efficiency of lincomycin even at a lower concentration and also bacteria growth inhibition thereby suggesting the effectiveness of the nanodrug formulation.

Formulation of brake pad from palm kernel shell (PKS) and cow bone reinforced polymer composite was investigated. Palm kernel shell and cow bone were added in different sieve grading into an epoxy resin and hardener at 100, 100 and 120 sieve grading respectively. The formulated brake pads were characterized based on the requirements for brake pad uses. All properties investigated were observed to be within the acceptable requirement for brake pad function. The impact test for PKS and cow bone show 1.0 J and 1.5 J respectively. The hardness test show 55.7 HRB and 46.0 HRB values for PKS and cow bone respectively.While the water absorption test for PKS was 5.05% and cow bone was 5.53%. Oil absorption test for PKS was 2.23% and 4.16% for cow bone. The values of thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) were measured in terms of highest percentage weight loss and for PKS it was 57.14% and 63.24% for cow bone. While the values of coefficient of friction for PKS and cow bone were 0.735 and 0.677 respectively. Wear rate for PKS was 9.57E-7 and 1.44E-6 for cow bone. Crushing strength for PKS was 23N/mm² and 21N/mm² for cow bone.

This research is motivated by the desire to restore the quality of life to amputees. The study uses multi-walled carbon nanotube (WMCNT) reinforced natural rubber (NR) polymer nanocomposite (PNC) for prosthetic foot application. The compound formulation was carried out in accordance to a modified procedure described by Hemkaew et al. Mixing of the ingredients during vulcanisation was performed according to ASTM D-3182 standard on an open two-roll mill. The various compositions of the nanocomposites (NCs) were cured at a temperature of 150 ± 2 °C and a pressure of 0.2 MPa for 10 minutes in an electrically heated hydraulic press. Mechanical investigation revealed that NR/MWCNT-3 exhibited the highest capacity to withstand tensile and dynamic loading (449.79 MPa). It also showed superior filler distribution and hence improved crystallinity and cross-link. Water absorption test indicated that NR/MWCNT-3 offers optimum dimensional stability at ambient conditions. Moreover, thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermogravimetry (TGA/DTG) showed degradation peaks at 305 °C and 290 °C respectively with temperature range within which the NCs degraded lying between 250 °C and 600 °C. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed that filler incorporation results in higher storage and loss moduli (2000–7500 MPa and 500–1413 MPa respectively). Tan δ curves proved that NR/MWCNT-3 has the highest capacity to dissipate energy through segmental motion. Furthermore, microstructure examination confirmed good filler/matrix adhesion as NR/MWCNT-3 indicated improved interaction; hence higher strength (6.02 MPa) of the NC. Better wear resistance ability can also be reported of the newly developed than existing prosthetic material. It can be deduced that the formulated nanocomposite from MWCNTs for reinforced natural rubber is suitable for the development of the anthropomorphic prosthetic foot.