Volume-7 ~ Issue-5 ~ May-2014

Abstract: Studies were carried out on dry ash of red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle L) bark, an agricultural waste, to determine the potassium ion concentration in it, by titratory and spectrophotometric methods. 100gm of the dry ash were dissolved in 500cm3 distilled water and the aqueous extract from the bark subjected to titration against standard solutions of CH3COOH, HCl and H2SO4 in the concentration ranges of 0.5-2.0M,while AAS was carried out using 5gm of the dry ash in GBC Avanta flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer version 2.02 . The results obtained from the titration reaction revealed that there were high levels of potassium ion concentration (19.50 to 31.91gm/dm3 and 21.52 to 37.0656gm/dm3) in both HCl and H2SO4 solutions, but low in CH3COOH(14.82 to 18.13 gm/dm3).This result was in agreement with the results of AAS result (18.255ppm). The percentage purity calculated revealed that the potassium ion obtained from the red mangrove bark aqueous extract (RMBAE) had a purity of 69.94%,showing high purity of the potassium obtained by these methods. The proposed methods were successfully employed to determine potassium ion concentration in red mangrove bark aqueous extract (RMBAE). The methods were very simple, inexpensive, less time consuming. environmentally friendly and reliable.
Keywords: Potassium ion concentration, Red mangrove bark, Acid media and Titration

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Abstract: The antibacterial activity of n-hexane extract of Ocimum gratissimum leaves was investigated against gram negative bacteria ( Salmonella typhi) and gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ) . Agar well diffusion and broth dilution methods were employed. The results revealed that both first and second n-hexane extracts (4days and 8 days n-hexane extract respectively) inhibited the microorganisms with the second being more active as it inhibited at 30mg/ml, 40mg/ml, 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml with zone of inhibition ranging from 8.5mm to 15.5mm in diameter. The first extract showed no inhibition at 30mg/ml and 40mg/ml respectively but showed inhibition at 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml with zone of inhibition ranging from 9mm to 12mm in diameter. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the second n-hexane extract ranged from 25mg/ml to 100mg/ml whereas, that for the first was at 100mg/ml. The result was compared to conventional drug (Gentamicin 20ug/ml) with zone of inhibition at 20mm in diameter. The Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) identified antibacterial compounds which include Hexadecanoicacid, Phytol, Ricinoleicacid, Dehydrodihydrodiisoeugenol and 9-Octadecenamide. Based on the results it can be concluded that Ocimum gratissimum leaves extract possess antibacterial activity and can be applied in development of potent antibacterial drugs.
Keywords: Ocimum gratissimum, n-hexane extract, antibacterial activity, Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS).

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Abstract: The Graft copolymerization of Acrylamide monomer (AAm) onto Bombax Costatum Calyx (BCC) using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as initiator in aqueous medium to form grafted copolymer (BCC-g- PAAm) was investigated. The effect of different reaction conditions on the grafting has been studied by determining the grafting parameters, i.e. concentration of AAm, CAN, BCC, reaction time and temperature were carefully optimized to achieve the highest percent grafting yield (%G) and graft efficiency(%GE). Each of these parameters was varied one by one keeping other conditions constant in the reaction. The grafted and raw BCC were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to confirm the evidence of grafting. From the FTIR data it was ascertained that grafting has occurred considerably. Also from the results, it was observed that with increasing AAm, BCC, and CAN concentrations as well as reaction time and temperature the grafting parameters were increased, but further increase of reaction conditions disfavored these parameters. This was done to establish the optimum conditions of grafting. \
Key words: Bombax costatum calyx, ceric ammonium nitrate, grafted copolymer, polyacrylamide, percent grafting yield and graft efficiency.

[1]. Feng H, Li J, Wang L, (2010) Preparation of biodegradable flax shive cellulose-based superabsorbent polymer under microwave irradiation, BioResources, 5, 1484-1495.
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[5]. Jideonwo, A, and Adimula, H.A. (2006) The Graft Copolymerization of Acrylamide onto Cellulose using Enhanced Fe2+/H2O2 redox initiator system. J. Appl. Sci. Mgt. Vol.10 (3) 151 – 155.

Abstract: Environmental protection requires the use of natural products instead of chemicals to minimize pollution. This investigation studies the use of a non-useful plant material as naturally occurring biosorbents for the removal of cationic pollutants in wastewater. The effect of pH on the sorption of Al3+ and Cr6+ ion unto Terminalia catappa biomass was investigated. The experimental results have been analysed in terms of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The data showed that the maximum pH (pH max) for efficient sorption of Al3+ was 4.0 (85.5 mg/g) and for Cr6+ 2.0 (82.6 mg/g).

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