The conversion of waste obtained from agricultural processes into biocompatible materials (biomaterials) used in medical surgery is a strategy that will add more value in waste utilization. This strategy has successfully turned the rather untransformed wastes into high value products. Eggshell is an agricultural waste largely considered as useless and is discarded mostly because it contributes to pollution. This waste has potential for producing hydroxyapatite, a major component found in bone and teeth. Hydroxyapatite is an excellent material used in bone repair and tissue regeneration. The use of eggshell to generate hydroxyapatite will reduce the pollution effect of the waste and the subsequent conversion of the waste into a highly valuable product. In this paper, we reviewed the utilization of this agricultural waste (eggshell) in producing hydroxyapatite. The process of transforming eggshell into hydroxyapatite and nanohydroxyapatite is an environmentally friendly process. Eggshell based hydroxyapatite and nanohydroxyapatite stand as good chance of reducing the cost of treatment in bone repair or replacement with little impact on the environment.
In marine environments where biofouling occurs and has an impact on the maritime economy and environment, compounds that inhibit the attachment, growth and survival of microorganisms in a biofilm complex as well as settlement of larvae are considered potential antifouling compounds. In this study, the extracellular metabolites from two surface- associated bacteria isolated from soft coral and macroalga were evaluated for antibiofilm and antisettlement activity. The bacteria were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the culture supernatant extract of each strain was evaluated for antibiofilm activity. The compounds present in the extracts were analysed using GC-MS. The two bacterial strains were identified as Bacillus licheniformis MBR1 and Vibrio alginolyticus MBR4 for the isolates from soft coral and macroalgae, respectively. The extracts inhibited the growth of biofilm-forming bacteria, biofilm formation and barnacle larval settlement. The GC-MS analysis of the extract detected the presence of compounds such as tetrapentacontane, octadecanoic acid, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester, hexadecanoic acid, 2-hydroxy1-(hydroxymethyl) ethyl ester and 17-pentatriacontene. The results of the study show that extracellular metabolites of the bacteria associated with marine organisms could be used as natural antifouling compounds to control biofouling.
Fouling is an industrial problem that affects the maritime sector, and it has caused damages to equipment and vessels used in this industry. This research focuses on the synthesis of a novel arylidene‐based benzoxazine compound (HBC) and its use as a modifier for cellulose acetate (CA) matrix to form film samples and the investigation of their antifouling efficacy. The HBC compound was synthesized from a bis(arylidene)cyclopentanone diol compound and characterized appropriately using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic methods, respectively. Different weight ratios: 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 %w/w of HBC to CA were mixed to give the films; CA‐0, CA‐10, CA‐20, CA‐30, and CA‐40, respectively. The fabricated films were characterized by FTIR analysis, and their morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal stability of the films was also studied using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), while the antifouling performance of the films was tested against strains of natural, biofilm‐forming bacteria isolated from artificial nets submerged in the Red Sea. Biofilm inhibitory test and bactericidal assay were conducted on the fabricated film materials using well established standard methods. The results of this investigation indicate that the HBC modified CA films contain relevant bioactive molecules that can inhibit primary colonizers in biofouling formation and will make a good antifouling coating film candidate. The CA‐40 revealed an inhibitory activity of 37 % and a bacterial killing efficacy of 87 %.
Biofilm bacteria are primary surface colonizers in marine biofouling assemblage on submerged surfaces and dominate the early microfouling phase. They are an important target in the design of antifouling treatment
Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced by fungi of the genus Aspergillus that contaminate food products such as cereals leading to serious health and economic consequences. In order to assess the level of fungal contaminants and the presence of aflatoxins in such products, five (5) different cereal samples comprising of rice, maize, millet, wheat and sorghum were purchased each from two major markets within Kaduna metropolis. The samples were assessed for fungal contaminants using ten-fold serial dilution and cultured appropriate dilutions using pour-plate technique. Aflatoxins were detected using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The results obtained revealed viable fungal counts ranging from 3 x 102 to 3.2 x 103 cfu/g. The fungal contaminants identified from the samples include Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus fumigatus. The aflatoxins detected from the samples were within the range of 0.3 to 0.6 part per billion (ppb) which is less than the maximum value (10ppb) recommended by regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC. This indicates that the level of aflatoxin in the samples has insignificant risks to consumers. However, the fungal contamination is an indication of high-level contamination of the cereals, the key producers of aflatoxins. The contamination of such products by fungi should be a source of worry and necessitates the need for proper personal and environmental hygiene in the processing of cereals.
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