Biomass systems are based on a wide range of feedstock, like food and agricultural waste. The quest for bio-adsorbents that are environmentally benign is the rationale for this study. Thus, the research is aimed at the isolation, physicochemical, and BET analysis of cellulose obtained from Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth Pod (PMBP) biomass waste. The powdered PMBP was dewaxed with toluene and ethanol (2:1) and, thereafter, treated with aqueous sodium hypochlorite (7.5% at 70oC) and sodium hydroxide (17.5%w/v at 80oC) to obtain isolated cellulose. Proximate, ultimate, and chemical composition analysis reveals the presence of cellulose (42.7%), hemicelluloses (7.8%), lignin (38.5%), silicon (40.72%), aluminium (17.10%) and elements. The FTIR and Raman spectroscopic analysis revealed some of the functional groups associated with isolated cellulose and raw PMBP. The presence of hemicelluloses and lignin in the isolated cellulose implies that the isolation process did not remove all the impurities. The BET analysis reveals a better specific surface area, pore volume, and average pore diameter or size of the isolated cellulose, and could serve as a better adsorbent than the raw. As a result of the increased surface area and high percentage of isolated cellulose in PMBP, it can be used as a sustainable energy source as well as for the environmental remediation of heavy metals.

Oil bean pods (OBPs) are a biomass that are indiscriminately dumped in eastern Nigeria, thus causes a lot of pollution. In this study, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was isolated from oil bean pods using acid hydrolysis, and several characterizations were performed using a variety of sophisticated techniques. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis has indicated the removal of lignin and hemicellulose from MCC extracted from oil bean pods. Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) revealed a rough surface and minor agglomeration of the MCC. Furthermore, the isolated MCC has slightly higher inorganic minerals than the raw oil bean pod on the basis of SEM-EDX and the ash content. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis reveals that the specific surface area of MCC is 331.94 m2/g, which is greater than that of OBP, with 164.728 m2/g. Other characteristics like pore volume, and average pore diameter or size demonstrate that MCC has a superior property than the raw OBP. This implies that MCC could serve as a better adsorbent than the raw OBP. As a result of the increased surface area and high percentage of MCC, which is associated to chemical treatment of raw OBP, MCC can be used in environmental remediation of heavy metals. The bulk density of MCC was recorded at 0.447, which is slightly above the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) specification of 0.32, and the tapped density was recorded at 0.532. The flow ability of MCC powder determines its suitability as a direct compression binder. Thus, the isolated MCC might be used as a reinforcing element for the production of green composites, binder, adsorbents, and plastic polymers.

The research reports on the phytochemical constituents and anti-corrosion properties of  the root extract of Phyllanthus mellerianus on mild steel in 1.5M HCl. The powdered root   was extracted with ethanol and concentrated with a rotary evaporator. The phytochemical constituents’ were achieved through GC-MS, FTIR and wet analysis. The anticorrosion properties were investigated via weight loss, hydrogen evolution techniques, and SEM analysis. The phytochemical investigation reveals the presence of tannins, flavonoids, phenols, and terpenoids at reasonable percentages. At different temperatures of 303K, 313K, and 323K, the inhibition efficiency, enthalpy, entropy, activation energy, Gibbs free energy, and adsorption isotherms were extrapolated with some models. The inhibition efficiency increased with an increase in the concentration of the extract, an indication of the inhibitive property of the root extract. This was supported through the extrapolation of Gibbs free energy, activation energy, enthalpy, and entropy change. The thermodynamic variable shows that the mechanism of inhibition was physisorption, whereas the kinetics study confirmed a first-order kinetic on the corrosion of mild steel in hydrochloric acid. The values of the linear regression R2 confirm the inhibitive impact of  the root extract on mild steel in an acid medium. The presence of the heteroatoms N, O,  and S in the root extracts of Phyllanthus mellerianus has been attributed to their inhibitory effectiveness.

The corrosion of mild steel is a problem in industrial processes based on its deterioration on exposure to acids, alkalis, and salt solutions. This issue has prompted an increase in research interest in order to mitigate the harmful effects of corrosion on metals and their alloys. The thermodynamic and adsorption analysis of mild steel in 0.5M hydrochloric acid solutions via ethanol leaf extract of Phyllanthus mellerianus was investigated using weight loss and hydrogen evolution techniques. The powdered sample was extracted with ethanol and concentrated with a rotary evaporator. The phytochemical analysis reveals the presence of tannins, flavonoids, phenols, and terpenoids at reasonable percentages. The inhibition efficiency, enthalpy, enthropy, activation energy, Gibbs free energy, and adsorption isotherms were extrapolated with some models. The inhibition efficiency increased with an increase in the concentration of the extract. The values of change in Gibbs free energy obtained at 303K, 313K, and 323K were negative, indicating that the leaf extract of Phyllanthus mellerianus was strongly adsorbed on mild steel surfaces and stable at high temperatures. The enthalpy of activation ranges from 43.08kJ/mol to 80.64kJ/mol. An increase in activation energy with inhibitor concentration confirmed the physical (physisorption) adsorption mechanism for the corrosion of mild steel surfaces. The R 2 values obtained from the linear regression are strongly fitted to the Langmuir and freundlich isotherms. The inhibitory effectiveness of extracts has been attributed to the presence of the hetero atoms N, O, and S present in their phytochemical composition.

The deterioration of mild steel when exposed to acids, alkalis, and salt solutions is a problem in industrial processes. The corrosion of metals and their alloys has sparked a surge in research efforts to minimize the damage caused by the corrosion process. The research reports the corrosion inhibition properties of Phyllanthus mellerianus stem on mild steel in 1.0 M HCl solution using weight loss and hydrogen evolution techniques. The powdered sample was extracted with ethanol and concentrated with a rotary evaporator. The functional group of the extract, elemental analysis, and morphology of the mild steel were studied with FTIR and SEM. The FTIR analysis confirms the presence of functional groups with nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur, and aromatic rings, whereas the SEM reveals the elements and the morphological structure of the mild steel in the presence and absence of inhibitors in an acid corrodant. Some models were used to extrapolate the inhibition efficiency, enthalpy, enthropy, activation energy, Gibbs free energy, adsorption isotherms, and kinetics investigation. The inhibition efficiency increased with an increase in the concentration of the extract. The values of change in Gibbs free energy obtained at 303K, 313K, and 323K were negative, indicating that the stem extract of Phyllanthus mellerianus was strongly adsorbed on mild steel surfaces and stable at high temperatures. The change in Gibb’s free energy, enthalpy, and activation energy were less than and within the value of 21 kJ/mol. The extrapolation from the thermodynamic and kinetic models shows the effectiveness of the stem extract of PM and confirms the physical (physisorption) adsorption mechanism for the corrosion of mild steel surfaces. The R2 values obtained from the linear regression are strongly fitted to the Langmuir, Temkin, Freundlich, and El-Wadys thermodynic/kinetic isotherms. The inhibitory effectiveness of extracts has been attributed to the presence of the hetero atoms N, O, and S present in the stem extract of Phyllanthus mellerianus. KEYWORDS: Adsorption, Corrosion Inhibition, Kinetics, Mild Steel, Phyllanthus mellerianus stem, Thermodynamic Parameters