Local clay deposits from Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State were characterized for its potential applications in the production of ceramics whitewares. XRF analysis of the clay revealed that it has high silica and alumina contents with some flux oxides. XRD analysis also revealed that of all the minerals present in the clay, quartz has the highest constituent followed by kaolinite and rutile. FT-IR analysis revealed that the bands corresponds to 3500 cm-1 to 4000 cm-1 indicating the presence hydroxyl groups (OH) and Si-O symmetry vibration stretch at 1206.207 cm-1 which confirmed the kaolinite structure of the clay. The SEM study showed a finely distributed uniform surface with isolated patches of granulated texture which explained the physical behaviour of the clay. The EDS spectrum of the formulated fired Ukpor clay indicated the presence of O, Al, K, Ca, K, Fe, and Si. The study revealed that an increase in the firing temperature and feldspar contents of the clay increases its bulk density, while the apparent density decreases with increase in temperature. Apparent porosity showed that there was a decrease from 25% to 3%, and the water absorption increases with increase in the silica content and decreases with temperature and feldspar increase. The shrinkage increases with the increase in temperature. The results concluded that the clay sample could be utilized as an industrial raw materials for the production of ceramic whitewares.
The energy demand is on the global increase as the world economy is increasing steadily. Hence, the need to develop energy-saving technology with local raw materials and abundant waste materials becomes paramount. The mixtures of Enugu Iva-pottery clay, Nsu clay and PKS were evaluated to improve the quality of locally produced refractory for pyro-processing industries. The chemical and mineralogical composition of the PKS and the clay were determined. Eight recipes were made by varying PKS with quartz from 5 to 35% and produced by the wet pressing technique, then fired to 1200 °C and 1300°C respectively. The mechanical properties were determined by the Modulus of Rupture test, also, the bulk density, linear shrinkage, total shrinkage, apparent porosity, water absorption and thermal efficiency tests of the produced refractories were ascertained. The recipe with 15% PKS sintered well at 1300°C and gave the best optimum results of 1.76g/cm3 bulk density, 6.49% linear shrinkage, 21.384% apparent porosity, 20 cycles of spalling tests at 1300 °C. The results comply well with the standards of refractory properties. The PKS additives have shown significant improvement in the properties of the locally produced refractories and waste control; hence, can promote sustainable development of the local pyro-processing industry.
The physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal concentrations of the soil and water in Ogbor Hill, Aba were examined in relation to the effects of abattoir effluent and dumpsite. Samples were taken from the water in a borehole, an abattoir, and a dumpsite. These samples’ physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal concentrations were identified. The results showed that the borehole water had nickel and iron at concentrations of 0.15±0.07 mg/kg and 0.18±0.09 mg/kg, respectively, but no copper or lead. Iron levels in soil samples ranged from 4990.87±41.88 mg/kg to 5087.24±72.18 mg/kg, whereas those in wastewater samples ranged from 69.91±12.36 mg/kg to 569.57±38.64 mg/kg. The wastewater samples’ pH levels ranged from 6.35±0.21 to 6.5±0.00. The conductivity varied between 344±0.41 and 13538±0.83 uS/cm. Turbidity varied from 1.05±0.07 to 35.8±0.28 NTU, while the chloride ranged from 189.57±2.13 to 528.95±5.02 mg/L. The ranges for the biochemical and chemical oxygen demands were 20±1.13 mg/L to 120±1.13 mg/L and 65.6 ±2.26 mg/L to 319.6 ±0.57 mg/L, respectively. The soil’s pH ranged from 5.75±0.07 to 8.45±0.07, and its nitrogen level varied from 0.35±0.01 to 0.44±0.01 %. Sulfur levels ranged from 0.03±0.01 to 0.05±0.01 %. These results demonstrate that the abattoir and the dumpsite have not adversely affected borehole water, but the opposite is true of soil, according to WHO (2004) guidelines.
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