In tropical regions, postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables induced by high temperatures is a major challenge to agriculture, especially in places with poor or no electric power supply. The present study is on the comparative performance evaluation of a 92kg capacity storage bin for the preservation of fruits and vegetables, operating on the principle of evaporative cooling. A 24V DC, 0.37kW fan attached to the back of the cooler serves to blow in cooling air. The average temperature drop and saturation efficiency in the evaporative cooler during the no-load test were 5°C and 42%, respectively. The facility was able to sustain tomatoes, garden eggs and carrots stored in it for ten days. The weight losses at ambient temperature were found to be 70%, 30%and 45% for tomatoes, garden eggs and carrots, respectively; while those stored at cooler temperature were10%, 25%, and 40% for tomatoes, garden eggs and carrots respectively. The evaporative cooler performed best for storage of tomatoes. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v36i1.37
The benefits and impacts of enhanced cellulosic ethanol (CE) production, the major features of existing production processes, and some current research challenges of major pretreatment processes are presented. The prospects of enhanced CE production, especially in developing economies like Nigeria are highlighted. We conclude that in order to reap the promising prospects and conquer the challenges and negative impacts of enhanced CE production, current researches for production of cellulosic ethanol must be focused on the development of processes that are capable of liberating and fermenting lignocellulose into bioethanol at faster rates, higher yields, and overall technical and economic efficiency. These researches should concentrate on the development of cheaper enzymes, genetically engineered microorganisms, and cost-effective thermochemical processes in order to accomplish the much-needed breakthrough in cellulosic biofuel production. Properly targeted innovative researches on cellulosic ethanol production processes are the sure route to effective reduction of global dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels. The needed research breakthroughs will obviously be based on innovative integration of processes rather than on the improvement of the well-known individual processes of bioethanol production. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v36i1.32
The effect of including palm oil sludge in cattle diet (silage) was conducted in vitro in order to ascertain the suppressing effect on ruminal methanogenesis. The silage used for the study was Panicum maximum, Centrocema pubscens, Bracharia decumbens and Andropogon gayanus. The silage were cut into an average size of 3 to 5 cm and ensiled for 21 days. Four treatment diets were formulated with the silage by including palm oil sludge at 0, 10, 20 and 30%, respectively. Treatments were subjected to anaerobic digestion in 10 L bio-digesters. Total gas production, percentage methane production, volatile fatty acids and microbial population of the substrate were measured. Total gas production was significantly suppressed in the treatment having 30% palm oil sludge for about 25 days while a lag phase of 16 days was observed before a significant amount of methane was detected. Acetic acid production increased only in T1 on the first week while T2, T3 and T4 decreased after which their production remained irregular until the end of the experiment. Propionic acid production also increased in T1 and T4 on the first week while T2 and T3 decreased after which their production maintained an undefined pattern as the experiment progressed. Butyric acid production increased in T1, T2, and T4 on the first week while T2 decreased after which an undefined trend of production was established. Microbial population especially methanogens also reached its peak around the same period when there was maximum gas production. It was concluded that ruminal methanogenesis can be suppressed invitro by the inclusion of 30% palm oil sludge in the silage.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.