The African sweet orange fruit Citrus Sinensis seeds were obtained from discards of fruits and prepared for use by decoating, sun drying and grinding. By solvent extraction using petroleum ether, a golden yellow coloured oil was obtained and characterized by determining the pH, refractive index, density, solvent miscibility, congealing temperature, flame nature, specific gravity, retention factor on chromatographic plate, heat of combustion, smoke point, flash point, fire point, and the percentage yield. In addition, the spectroscopic analysis was carried out using Genesis FTIR spectrophotometer. The free fatty acid, unsaponifiable matter, saponification, iodine, acid and peroxide values were determined according to the standard method of analysis. Oil yield of 36 % was obtained. The results show a high degree of unsaturation, presence of reasonable amount of free fatty acids, marked level of oiliness, refractive index (1.47 at 25 o C), high level of acid value 82 % (0.82)-with the presence of palmitic, stearic, oleic acid, traces of linoleic acid-and interestingly, absence of linolenic, myristic and arachidic acids. The solvent miscibility of the oil was determined by physical observation of the uniform blending of oil sample in acid (HCl), alkali (NaOH), sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, carbonate solution, ether and water at room temperature, 40 o C, 60 o C, 80 o C and 100 o C. The low value of the congealing temperature of the oil gave an indication that the oil can be handled in very many geographical regions irrespective of the difference in temperature values of such regions. The trace level content of linoleic acid of the oil confers on it a high degree of stability. The IR shows peaks at 1377.33, 1237.05, 1163.43 and 1100.14 cm-1 , which are indicative of the presence of carboxylic acids, and these are vital elemental composition of fatty acid compounds. The presence of the multiple peaks at 1100.14cm-1 in the IR chart depicts an isopropyl group presence which is also indicative of a cis-alkene groups presence, suggestive of the stable bond structure of the oleic acid family.

Carbon sequestration potential of tree species within forest reserves and other sites in Makurdi Benue state of Nigeria was investigated using non-destructive Walkley-Black technique. The result indicates that P. americana has the highest CO2 sequestration potential (125,916.7 kg), while T. grandis (10.4 kg) and D. regia (26.1 kg) were the least. The study also shows that trees (T. grandis, S. actinophylla and P. americana) with thick vegetation, broad and clustered leaves were found to be better CO2 sequesters. The relationship between the tree height and amount of CO2 sequestered gave a regression equation of y = 67898x + 9509 with R 2 = 0.266, indicating insignificant variations existing between tree height and CO2 sequestration at P > 0.05. Variations however existed between tree dominance and CO2 sequestration among trees investigated. This finding strategically positions Benue tropical forest in line for carbon credit financing while substantiating the importance of preserving our indigenous forest and tree species.

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This study reports the feasible use of chitosan as a thin film biosensor on the very sensitive quartz crystal micro balance system for detection of blends of multiple templates within a single matrix. The development of chitosan-based thin film materials with selectivity for nicotine derivatives is described. The molecular imprinting of a combination of nicotine derivatives in N-diacryloyl pipiradine-chitosan-methacrylic acid copolymer films on quartz crystal resonators was used to generate thin films with selectivity for nicotine and a range of nicotine analogues, particularly 3-phenylpyridine. The polymers were characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic evaluations; surface area, pore size, pore volume using Breuner-Emmet-Teller method. Temperature characteristics were also studied. The swelling and structure consistency of the Chitosan was achieved by grafting with methylmethacrylic acid and cross-linking with N-diacrylol pipiradine. A blend of 0.002 g (0.04 mmol) of Chitosan, 8.5 μL Methylmethacrylic Acid and 1.0 mg N-diacrylol pipradine (BAP) presented the best blend formulation. Detections were made within a time interval of 99 sec, and blend templates were detected at a concentration of 0.5 mM from the Quartz crystal microbalance resonator analysis. The successful crosslinking of the biopolymers ensured successful control of the swelling and agglomeration of the chitosan, giving it the utility potential for use as thin film sensor. This successful crosslinking also created successful dual multiple templating on the chitosan matrix, even for aerosolized templates. The products can be used in environments with temperature ranges between 60 °C and 250 °C.

Here we present molecularly imprinted polymer materials having Geranic acid as cross linker, Phenylalanine amide templated cavities within a Chitosan matrix synthesized in a Phosphate buffer saline solution (pH 7.4) porogen; as recognition material for selective entrapment of cigarette smoke carcinogens. Functional group studies of the prepolymer and polymerized products confirmed cross linking and polymerization. Transmission Electron Micrograms show hollow cavities with diameters ranging from 100 to 200nm. Thermal profile of the samples, presented them with average decomposition temperatures above 110 o C with initial weight loss of less than 1%. Surface morphology of products shows them as being spherical and Nano sized. Rebinding studies gave a maximum template material adsorption of 78.25% and minimum of 59.6% for real-life experiments with imprinting factors of between 1 and 12.5. Consequently products from this activity will serve as better environmentally friendly, recyclable and sustainable option to existing synthetic based filter materials.