Purpose-The aim of this paper is to investigate the impacts of the noise from the diesel engine power generators used for production activities in an urban environment. Design/methodology/approach-This study has used the Enterprise Edition of NoiseMap 2000 Version 2.7.1 to investigate the impacts of the noise from the diesel engines electric power generators used in a factory in Ikorodu, an urban environment in Lagos, Nigeria. Five sections of the factory with diesel engines electric power generators were considered. The immediate and distant environments covering about 10 km of the factory host environment were considered as receptors to the noise for this study. Findings-It was found out that when all the generators operate simultaneously in the factory, the ambient noise was 30.0-152.5 dB(A) with the minimum contribution within the factory being 70.0-84.4 dB(A) and the maximum contribution of 57.2-70.8 dB(A) outside the factory fence line. Though the maximum noise is 152.5 dB(A), the maximum noise of 70.8 dB(A) beyond the fence line shows a compliance with 70 dB(A) industrial and commercial area limit but breaches the 45 dB(A) and 55 dB(A) residential area limit of the World Bank. Research limitations/implications-As much as it would be desirable ambient noise level could not be measured in all the receptors' locations covered by the modeling. However, the capability of the modeling software adopted makes this to have no negative impact on the quality of the findings of this study. Practical implications-The study will assist the public to determine the noise level safe region around diesel engine electric power generators. Originality/value-The paper highlights the challenges in which ambient noise from the use of off-grid generators used for industrial purposes could pose to the neighboring receptor environments.

This study focused on the dispersion of PM and VOC pollutants from the open burning of solid waste on the Sokoto-Aiyekale dump site in Ilorin, Nigeria, owing to the scarcity of information on pollutants' impact on onsite workers and the population surrounding the dump site.

The source of catalyst and feedstock used for transesterification of oil play a significant role in cost, and starvation of consumers of oil especially for edible oil sources. This investigation aimed at the transesterification of castor oil with the aid of calcined anthill as the catalyst support. Box Behnken Design (BBD) of the Response Surface methodology was employed to study the relationship among the variable of production such as time (1 – 3 h), temperature (40 – 60oC), catalyst loading (1 – 9 g), methanol volume (10 – 60 ml) and agitation rate (100 – 400 rpm) on yield of biodiesel produced. The synthesized catalyst was characterized using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) while biodiesel produced was characterized through determination of physicochemical characterized and function group applicable to biodiesel. The calcined anthill was found to contain some mixed basic oxides. The physicochemical properties of produced biodiesel are within the American Standard Test Methods (ASTM) range (except density that is higher), and the functional groups found in biodiesel are typical of vibrations presence in biodiesel. The optimum condition for a volume of 11.73 ml, agitation of 166.458 rpm, reaction time of 2.34375 hrs, temperature of 59.4552oC, catalyst loading of 1.14 g, and an optimal yield of 90.59 %.

This study evaluates the air quality impact of open burning of solid waste activities in Ilorin, Nigeria. An emission inventory was carried out to quantify the emitted CO, NOx and SOx from 2016- 2020 into the study area. Their ground level concentrations were computed with the Industrial Source Complex – American Meteorological Society (AMS) and United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regulatory Model (AERMOD) dispersion model and compared with standards to determine their impacts on ambient air quality. The average hourly, daily and annual concentrations were 25,267 µg/m3, 4,609 µg/m3, 447 µg/m3 for carbon monoxide (CO); 4,700 µg/m3, 730 µg/m3, 130 µg/m3 for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and 954 µg/m3, 144 µg/m3, 24 µg/m3 for oxides of sulphur (SOx) respectively. The hourly air quality for CO were within the World Bank standard for all the receptor communities except at Abe-Emi with 2.17 folds, while the daily air quality was within the Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnV) limit. However, the 1-h, 24-h and annual air quality for NOx exceeded the FMEnV and World Bank standard for all the receptor communities. Similarly, the hourly and daily air quality for SOx exceeded the FMEnV and World Bank standard for all the receptor communities.