This work investigated the effect of maleic anhydride (MA)-modified poly(lactic acid) (PLA), which is melt-blended with different untreated and aqueous borax (BR)-treated hybrid oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers (EFBF)/Kenaf core fibers (KCF), and compression-molded into corresponding hybrid biocomposites. These hybrid systems includes BR-treated EFBF/BR-treated KCF reinforced MA-modified PLA i.e., BR(EFBF-KCF)-MAPLA, BR-treated EFBF/BR-treated KCF reinforced unmodified PLA i.e., BR(EFBF-KCF)-PLA, untreated EFBF/untreated KCF reinforced MA-modified PLA i.e., EFBF-KCF-MAPLA, and untreated EFBF/untreated KCF reinforced unmodified PLA i.e., EFBF-KCF-PLA respectively. Characterizations of the hybrid systems revealed that optimal mechanical, physical, morphological, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties were provided by the BR(EFBF-KCF)-MAPLA, resulting from improved interface adhesion, consequent of the synergistic influence of BR treatment of natural fibers, and the compatibilization effect provided by the MA-modified PLA. The grafting degree and efficiency of MA onto the PLA backbone was appreciable, as indicated by direct titration, and through monitoring using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR); thus the MA-modified PLA facilitated the formation of strong interface adhesion with the BR-treated hybrid fibers. The BR(EFBF-KCF)-MAPLA showed promising properties for usage as a bio-inspired, and sustainable alternative fiberboard article.

This study demonstrated the reinforcing potential of kenaf core fiber (KCF) to complement and sustain oil palm fiber supply chain in the production of natural fiber-thermoplastic biocomposites. The lignin-rich KCF was incorporated into cellulose-rich oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber (EFBF)-and oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF)-poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites, aimed at achieving synergism. The hybrid biocomposites developed by melt blending and subsequent compression molding were characterized for possible application as an alternative to medium-density fiberboards. The mechanical properties and dimensional stability of both single fiberand hybrid fiber-PLA biocomposites were evaluated and compared. The test results showed a synergistic improvement as a consequence of fiber hybridization. Also, the findings suggested the best material performance with the incorporation of 5% KCF into 55% EFBF or OPMF and 40% PLA matrix. The OPMF-KCF-PLA hybrid biocomposites gave better results than the EFBF-KCF-PLA hybrid biocomposites.

In this work the nutritional and anti-nutritional composition of Ximenia americana fruit is investigate using standard analytical methods. The results of proximate analysis of the fruit on dry weight basis shows that it contains, Crude protein (7.26%), Crude lipid (13.0%), ash (10.5%), and moisture (64%Wet Weight), The pulp contains appreciable concentration of ascorbic acid (21.12 mg/100g). The mineral analysis, revealed that the pulp is rich in potassium (690mg/100g), magnesium (10.67mg/100g) phosphorus (4.48mg/100g), Calcium (0.65mg/100g) and sodium (45mg/100g). The analysis further revealed high content of Tannins (74.8mg/100g) and phytate (29.43mg/100g). This shows that the sample can serve as good source of mineral to both human and livestock.

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The initiative of using biomass as a preference source of energy is vindicated by its availability, abundance, easy accessibility and its eco-friendly nature. This therefore calls for the conversion of agricultural wastes to usable form. This study is aimed to investigate the physicochemical and combustion properties of briquettes obtained from pyrolyzed biochar of groundnut shell. The groundnut shell biochar briquette bonded with cassava starch as binder were molded and analyzed. Proximate analysis, ultimate analyses, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Calorific values, density and compressive strength, among other properties, were determined for the fabricated briquettes. A high heating value of 45.20 MJ/Kg was recorded for groundnut shell biochar briquette compared to 25.20 MJ/Kg of raw groundnut shell briquette. While the ash contents of 5.12 % and 6.40 % were recorded for raw groundnut shell briquette and groundnut shell biochar briquette respectively. It took groundnut shell biochar briquette approximately 10 minutes to boil 1000 cm3 of water, while raw groundnut shell briquette boiled same quantity of water in 20 minutes. The finding of this study shows that the biochar obtained from the pyrolysis of groundnut shell is suitable for fuel briquette production.

This research was carried out to study the effect of organic fertilizer produced at different proportions by mass using same substrate made up of Neem seeds, rice husk, blood meal, bone meal, calcium carbonate in five different formulations on the growth and development of maize crop (zea mays). The constituents were prepared by mixing and blending using mixer and hammer mill respectively. Physicochemical analysis was carried out to determine the nutritive value of the formulated organic fertilizer for the presence of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (N. P. K). The fertilizer was subjected to a pot experiment, using a complete randomized design method, in which each soil was treated with the prepared organic fertilizer formulation at high and low amount of application and planted for a period of 12 weeks. The result of physicochemical analysis of the various proportion of organic fertilizer indicated that formulation type 5 presented the highest percentage of nitrogen content (i.e. 14840 mg/kg). This was due to the increase in proportion of Poultry litters in the formulation type 5. Moreover, the formulation type 3 recorded the lowest percentage of nitrogen (i.e. 4060mg/kg). There was no significant difference (P< 0.05) in the vegetative growth of maize for various treatments. However, formulation type 5 at high amount of application gave higher values of plant height, stem girth, leaf area and number of leaves than other formulations. This implies that organic fertilizer could be potentially promising option to chemical fertilizer as a soil conditioner and a good source for plant nutrients.

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Polyethylene (PE)-based plastic wastes are non-biodegradable and tend to persistently disturb and destroy the environment. The novel approach in this research is incorporation of alkali-modified kenaf fiber into the used PE material aiming at improving its biodegradability and hydrolytic degradation. The alkaline modification of the kenaf fiber was achieved using 5wt. % sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution as revealed by chemical composition analysis and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy of the alkali-treated fiber. Melt-blending approach was employed to fabricate composites using both treated and untreated kenaf fibers together with the used low density PE, in the form of table water sachets, at various fiber-to-PE loading formulations. Characterizations of these composites were conducted for their biodegradability using Sandy soil. Additional characterizations conducted included hydrolytic degradation and thermogravimetric analysis respectively. In the results obtained for biodegradation and hydrolytic degradation, the alkali treated kenaf fiber-PE composites revealed a more promising performance than its corresponding untreated kenaf fiber-PE composites. The higher the kenaf fiber the higher the biodegradation and hydrolytic degradation respectively. These composites also showed higher hydrolytic degradation as well as higher thermal stability in comparison to their corresponding untreated kenaf fiber-PE composites. The findings on Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that alkali-modified kenaf fiber incorporated PE composites showed a more statistically significant results for biodegradation and hydrolytic degradation particularly between 60 to 90 days retention periods.