Journal of Chemical Society of Nigeria

HEAVY METALS POLLUTION LEVELS OF HAND-DUG WELLS IN TARKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE-NIGERIA

2025-08-14T21:08:31+00:00

This presents study assessed some physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity and dissolved oxygen) in hand dug well water from ten (10) locations within Wannune in Tarka LGA of Benue State, Nigeria. Ten (10) heavy metals concentration zinc (Zn), mercury (Hg), Arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were also determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The results revealed the mean values for temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity and dissolved oxygen to be 2.79±0.876 oC, 6.35±0.313, 153.4±99.633 µs/cm, 3.85±1.556 NTU, and 5.70±0.666 mg/L respectively. The results also revealed very low concentrations of heavy metals (within WHO and NSDWQ standard for portable water) except for Fe (0.51 mg/L) from W4 which is slightly above the prescribed limit (0.3 mg/L) prescribed by WHO and NSDWQ and is attributed to mechanical repairs of vehicles, use of engine oils on daily basis and rusting from iron buckets used for abstracting water from the well. Hg, As, Cu and Mn were not detected in any of the well water samples. The authors therefore recommend that the water is safe for drinking and domestic use but members of the community should construct wells away from dumpsites or sites where mechanical activities occur also adopt a better practice of abstracting well water than the use of iron buckets.

NUTRITIONAL, MINERAL CONTENT, PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTIOXIDANT EVALUATION, AND ANTIMICROBIAL SCREENING OF Pterocarpus Osun LEAF EXTRACT.

2025-08-14T21:32:11+00:00

Pterocarpus osun is an evergreen plant, found in many tropical areas of the globe. The plant parts have been adopted for traditional therapy of many diseases, like sickle cell disorder. This study is to determine the phytochemical, antimicrobial, and nutritional constituents of the leaf extract. The leaf was investigated for its nutritional, mineral properties, antioxidant activity, and biological properties. The powdered leaf was extracted with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol successively. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts shows that they contain alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids in dichloromethane extract. Tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids were present in ethyl acetate and methanol extract. The extracts were tested against staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella sp, and microorganisms. The mineral composition showed that it contained Ca: Mg: Fe: Mn: K: Na: and Cu: The radical scavenging activities revealed at 0.125mg/ml, the % inhibitory concentration of ethyl acetate extract showed the highest 74.97% as compared with 75.93% vitamin C standard. The investigation revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins in all. It revealed the highest quantity of calcium in the leaf extract, the presence of minerals in the leaf can ensure adequate removal of antinutritional.

PHYTOCHEMICAL, CYTOTOXIC AND ALPHA-AMYLASE INHIBITORY ACTIVITIES OF TWO MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF Diabetes Mellitus: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

2025-08-14T21:36:54+00:00

Hunteria umbellata (K. Schum.) Hallier f. and Acacia nilotica (L.) are two common medicinal plants traditionally used to manage Diabetes mellitus and other degenerative diseases. This study aims to investigate the cytotoxic and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities of the crude ethanol seed extracts of H. umbellata (HUSE) and Acacia nilotica (ANSE). The dried and ground plant materials were extracted separately by macerating in ethanol for 72 h. The flavonoid extracts were obtained from the plant materials using the Harborne method. The cytotoxic activity was determined using the brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA). The alpha-amylase inhibitory assays were carried out preliminarily using the starch-iodide assay. The component flavonoids of the crude flavonoid extract were determined using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Both crude extracts, HUSE and ANSE, exhibited remarkable cytotoxic activity, with LC50 values of 52.05 ± 5.00 µg/mL and 75.56 ± 0.10 µg/mL, respectively. HPLC detected quercetin, ferulic, rutin, catechin, and apigenin in the two extracts. The most abundant flavonoid in both extracts is quercetin, 30.64% in HUSE and 26.87% in ANSE. Both extracts showed alpha-amylase inhibitory activities. The two plants may be explored for new cytotoxic and antidiabetic agents.

DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS CONCENTRATION IN SOILS FROM FARMLANDS WITHIN ASHANGWA RICE MILL, LAFIA LGA, NASARAWA STATE-NIGERIA

2025-08-14T21:41:58+00:00

Heavy metals (HMs) are natural environmental composition, but their geochemical processes and biochemical equilibrium have been transformed by haphazard use for human purposes. The aim of this research was to determine the concentrations of HMs (Cr, Zn, Fe, Pb and Cd) from soil samples of selected farmlands within Ashangwa Rice Mill, Lafia LGA, Nasarawa State. The concentrations of HMs irrespective of a particular farmland ranged as follows: (Cr: 0.022 –0.555, Pb: 0.200 – 0.857, Fe: 0.311 – 0.890, Zn: 0.100 – 0.809 and Cd: 0.014 – 0.565 mg/kg).The concentration of heavy metals in the soils were compared with FAO/WHO and US EPA maximum allowable limit and the results showed that only Cd from soil sample of farmland 1 (30 m away from rice mill) was above the US EPA maximum allowable limit of 0.480 mg/kg but the rest of the studied metals were below FAO/WHO and US EPA standards. The concentrations of HMs at sites 30 m away were higher than those of 45 and 60 m away from the rice mill but site 45 m away was just relatively higher than that of 60 m.

POTENTIAL OF MAGNETIC SAND AS CATALYST FOR THE HETEROGENEOUS TRANSESTERIFICATION OF Ziziphus abyssinica SEED OIL TO BIODIESEL

2025-08-14T21:45:52+00:00

Biodiesel is produced through esterification and transesterification reactions of vegetable oil and animal fats with an alcohol. Methanol or ethanol is usually the alcohol for biodiesel preparation. The reaction is facilitated with either homogeneous or heterogeneous catalyst. The quantity of free fatty acid is important in order to select the appropriate catalyst Today biodiesel compared with petroleum is considered an environmentally friendly fuel due to low carbon dioxide emissions, biodegradable fuel, high cetane number, high combustion efficiency, lower sulphur and aromatic content in comparison to petroleum diesel, making the biodiesel a competitive fuel in the market. Biodiesel production aims to get good qualities and quantities by choosing suitable and cheap feedstock such as virgin vegetable oils, used cook oils and animals’ fats. In this study, Ziziphus abyssinica oil is utilized in the manufacturing of biodiesel. Magnetic sand from Lagos Street River in Maiduguri was used as a potential heterogeneous catalyst. The study revealed that the viscosity, flash point, cloud point, pour point, pH and density are in good agreement with those parameters earlier carried out using K2CO3, Na2CO3, MgO, CaO, mixed oxides of zinc and aluminium etc as catalysts. FTIR analysis of the biodiesel shows intense peaks at 2862.46 cm-1 and 2916.47cm-1, indicating the presence of C – H, 1743.971cm-1, signifying the presence of C = O, 1427.37cm-1, implying the presence of a methyl ester group – COOCH3. A closely and neatly packed spherical granule was observed in the magnetic sand from the SEM analysis.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PRODUCTS FROM BONNY LIGHT CRACKING USING NOVEL CATALYST

2025-08-14T21:54:42+00:00

Petroleum remains the predominant source of industrial chemicals and the foremost supplier of global transportation fuels. However, the escalating global drive for cleaner automotive fuels has prompted scientists to pioneer advanced technologies for refining more environmentally friendly gasoline. In pursuit of this objective, a comprehensive investigation was conducted on the thermal and catalytic cracking of bonny light crude oil. The study focused on optimizing processing conditions, including variations in time and temperature. Specifically, the study employed synthetic Co-Mo supported on zeolite and commercial zeolite Y catalysts. The investigation encompassed an analysis of product yield distribution and alterations in the physical attributes of liquid products. Notably, the research revealed a propensity for higher liquid product yields and reduced residual product formation, particularly under more rigorous conditions. The study examined how temperature variations affected the key properties of the cracked oils. Parameters such as pour point, cloud point, viscosity, density, and API values exhibited an incremental trend with elevated temperatures. Furthermore, the study delved into the intricate interplay of temperature, residence duration, and hydrogen presence on the composition of the cracked oils. These findings contribute significantly to advancing our understanding of how different factors influence the outcome of oil cracking processes.

PROFILE AND DISTRIBUTION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHs) IN WATER, SEDIMENTS, FISH AND PLANTS OF WARRI RIVER.

2025-08-14T21:59:03+00:00

This study was to identify the type, concentration and possible risk of exposure to PAHs in the water, sediments, fish and plants in Warri River as PAHs are ubiquitous in the environment and may threaten aquatic life. PAHs were identified and quantified in water, sediments, fish and plant samples from three sites (NPA, Pessu and Mclver) along the Warri River. The samples were analyzed by GC-FID to determine the type and concentrations of PAHs present in the river. The total PAH concentrations ranges from 0.060mg/L to 4.387mg/L for water samples, 0.666mg/kg to 71.498mg/kg for sediment samples, 0.222mg/kg to 0.376mg/kg for fish samples and 0.207mg/kg to 0.827mg/kg for plant samples respectively. The total PAH concentration in the sediment samples was highest when compared to that of water, fish and plant samples: Benzo(a)pyrene which is regarded as a potent animal and probable human carcinogen had a very high concentration of 14.286mg/kg in the sediment samples at NPA (shore). In addition Benzo(a)pyrene concentration in the analyzed fish samples exceeded the recommended EU (European Unit) limit of 0.002mg/kg for Fish considered safe for human consumption. However, these analyses indicates that PAH concentration observed in the analyzed samples could be dangerous to Humans and some aquatic organisms, Particularly during the early stages of development.

GC-MS PROFILING OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN ETHANOL EXTRACT OF Annona squamosa L. LEAVES

2025-08-14T22:13:51+00:00

Annona squamosa L., commonly known as custard apple, is a medicinal plant used traditionally for the treatment of various ailments because of its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Its leaves contain a wide array of phytochemicals with potential therapeutic benefits. In this study, ethanol was employed as the extraction solvent to isolate bioactive phytochemicals from the leaves of A. squamosa. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was conducted to characterize the volatile and semi-volatile components present in the ethanol extract. Leaves of A. squamosa were collected, air-dried, pulverized, and extracted with ethanol. The resulting extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis to identify the phytochemical constituents based on retention time and spectral comparison with standard databases. A total of 21 compounds were identified. Major constituents included 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (13.09%), caryophyllene (9.36%), neophytadiene (8.56%), cyclohexanone (7.43%), and ethanol, 2-butoxy (6.20%). Many of the identified compounds are known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and insecticidal properties. The results suggest that the ethanol extract of A. squamosa leaves is a rich source of biologically active compounds, supporting its traditional use in herbal medicine. Further pharmacological and toxicological investigations are recommended.

MACERATION-BASED EXTRACTION AND SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERISATION OF Sorghum bicolor LEAVES EXTRACT AS A NATURAL DYE ON COTTON FABRIC

2025-08-14T22:20:09+00:00

This study investigates the extraction, characterisation, and application of natural dyes derived from Sorghum bicolor leaves as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic dyes in textile colouration. The dye was extracted using ethanol-based maceration and purified via gravity column chromatography, with thin-layer chromatography (TLC) employed for component monitoring. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids bioactive compounds known for their colourant and antioxidant properties. UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy further validated the presence of chromophoric and phenolic functional groups, suggesting the suitability of the extract for dyeing applications. The dye was applied to cotton fabrics, and colour fastness was evaluated with and without ferrous sulfate mordanting. At a 4% dye concentration, both mordanted and unmordanted fabrics recorded a Blue Wool Scale (BWS) rating of 5. However, at 8%, mordanted fabrics achieved a higher rating of 6, indicating improved light fastness. This enhancement is attributed to the formation of stable dye-metal complexes, which increase UV resistance and dye-fibre binding. Mordanted fabrics also exhibited better wash fastness due to the formation of insoluble dye–metal–fibre complexes that reduce dye leaching. Rubbing fastness was moderate for both treatments, with more colour transfer observed under wet conditions.
Overall, Sorghum bicolor leaves extract shows strong potential as a sustainable natural dye source, offering acceptable fastness properties and aligning with environmentally responsible textile practices.

REDUCTION OF THE GOLD(III) COMPLEX ION, [AUCl3OH]-, BY N-METHYLTHIOUREA, N, N’–DIMETHYLTHIOUREA AND N, N’- DIETHYLTHIOUREA IN AQUEOUS ACID: KINETIC, THERMODYNAMIC AND MECHANISTIC STUDIES

2025-08-14T22:33:02+00:00

The kinetic, thermodynamic and mechanistic studies of the reduction of the gold(III) complex ion, [AuCl3OH]- by N-methylthiourea (MTU), N, N’- dimethylthiourea (DMTU) and N, N’– diethylthiourea (DETU) were studied spectrophotometrically in aqueous acid. Stoichiometry revealed that two moles of N-methylthiourea, N,N’–dimethylthiourea and N,N’- diethylthiourea each were oxidised by one mole of gold(III) ion. The rate showed a first order dependence on [AuCl3OH]- and half-order on [reductants] with one and half order overall. The reactions were biphasic revealing an initial substitution step and a final electron transfer phase. Addition of acid within the range 5.0 x10-4 - 1.0 x 10-2 mol dm-3 led to decrease in.......

ECO-FRIENDLY PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF Cu NANOPARTICLES USING Citrus limon FRUITS EXTRACTS FOR POTENTIAL WATER AND WASTEWATER REMEDIATION.

2025-08-14T22:44:56+00:00

In light of the sustainable benefits of green synthesis, the synthesis and stabilization of Cu nanoparticles [Cu NPs] using extracts from Citrus limon fruits were reported in this research work. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized using Transmission Electron Microscopy [TEM], Scanning Electron Microscopy/Electron Dispersive X-ray [SEM/EDX] analysis, X-Ray Diffraction analysis [XRD], Bruanner-Emmett-Teller [BET], and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy [FTIR] analysis. The TEM together with SEM micrograph shows the spherical shapes of the nanoparticles with the average size of 11.30 nm. The SEM micrograph illustrates rough surface and presence of heterogeneous cavities that can enhance adsorption. The XRD results reveals Face-Centered Cubic [FCC] crystal structure of the nanoparticles and the peak positions matches the JCPDS [Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards] card No. 04-0836. BET reported specific surface area of 47.3382 m2/g, pore size of 3.174nm, and pore volume of 0.0215 cm3/g. The FTIR reveals Cu-O stretch, suggesting the formation of the Cu NPs. The presence of the hydroxyl [OH] groups was evident in the FTIR spectrum of the nanoparticles, which is good for surface functionality. The obtained results shows the green synthesis is an efficient method for preparation of Cu NPs for potential water and wastewater remediation.

OPTIMIZATION PRODUCTION OF CITRIC ACID BY Aspergillus niger THROUGH SUBMERGED FERMENTATION OF DRIED ORANGE PEELS FROM GONIN-GORA, CHIKUN L.G.A., KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

2025-08-14T22:55:03+00:00

Citric acid is commercially produced through submerged fermentation using microorganisms like Aspergillus niger on various substrates. This study produced citric acid from orange peels through submerged fermentation using Aspergillus niger at varying incubation times with the addition of a nitrogen supplement and the percentage yields for the samples used were compared. The results showed that incubation time and nitrogen supplements (ammonium nitrate) can increase the citric acid production with Aspergillus niger. The maximum citric acid concentration obtained for the sample with a nitrogen supplement (Sample B) was 6.14816 gL-1 (1g ammonium nitrate) for an incubation time of 168 hours while the maximum citric acid concentration obtained for the sample without a nitrogen supplement (Sample A) was 4.99538 gL-1 for an incubation time of 96 hours.

VIRTUAL SCREENING AND MACHINE LEARNING-BASED IDENTIFICATION OF TROPICAL PLANT METABOLITES WITH MULTIPLE Mycobacterium ulcerans PROTEIN TARGETING POTENTIAL IN BURULI ULCER MANAGEMENT

2025-08-14T23:04:08+00:00

Buruli ulcer, a debilitating skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, remains a neglected tropical disease with limited and often toxic treatment options. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of tropical medicinal plants using integrative computational strategies to identify bioactive compounds targeting key M. ulcerans proteins. Nine African plant species were analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), yielding 217 phytochemicals. These were screened against four essential M. ulcerans enzymes - Cytochrome P450, Phosphopantetheinyl transferase, Dihydrofolate reductase, and Lysyl-tRNA synthetase using validated molecular docking protocols. ADME profiling evaluated pharmacokinetics and druglikeness, while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) explored the influence of physicochemical properties on target affinity. Machine learning-based AutoQSAR modeling was used to predict minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Hit compounds such as 12-(acetyloxy)-17-(1-methyl- 4-oxo-5-phenylpentyl)gonan-3-yl acetate (AMPA) from Phyllanthus amarus and ergosta-5,24-dienol from Ageratum conyzoides showed strong binding affinities, outperforming native ligands. AMPA demonstrated the most potent predicted MIC (1.20?µg/mL), comparable to standard antibiotics and superior to previously reported phytochemicals. ADME and PCA analyses highlighted lipophilicity and hydrogen bonding as key factors in target engagement. This study validates the ethnopharmacological relevance of tropical plants and illustrates how AI-driven screening can accelerate the discovery of plant-derived therapies. The findings offer a foundation for in vitro validation and rational development of accessible, low-toxicity treatments for Buruli ulcer.

EFFECT OF FRESH PALM OIL AND SHORT TIME REPEATEDLY HEATED PALM OIL ON HEPATO-RENAL FUNCTIONS IN WISTAR RATS

2025-08-14T23:10:08+00:00

Palm oil is a commonly consumed vegetable oil in most Nigerian and African homes, consumed either fresh or in thermo-oxidzed form. This study investigated the effects of fresh and thermo-oxidized palm oil (TPO) on some biochemical enzymes of liver and kidney function biomarkers in Wistar rats. Forty-nine Wistar rats weighing between 80-140 grammes were randomly assigned into seven groups of 6 animals each. The control group received standard animal feed and clean water only. The fresh palm oil groups received animal feed mixed with fresh palm oil in the ratio 98:2g; 96:4g and 94:6g respectively for each animal group. The TPO-fed groups received animal feed mixed with thermo-oxidized palm oil at the same ratios. The animals were fed ad libitum for 90 days. At the end of the feeding period, the animals were euthanized using ketamine vapour and blood was collected for assessment of some biochemical indices of liver and kidney function using standard methods. Results showed no significant differences (p>0.05) were observed in the serum AST levels across experimental groups compared to the controls. In conclusion, thermoxidation of palm oil and subsequent formulation in diets at 2-6% showed probable hepatoprotective action in Wistar rats.

POLY(PROPENONITRILE) AS ANTI-CORROSIVE AGENT FOR MILD STEEL IN 0.1M HYDROCHLORIC ACID SOLUTION: EXPERIMENTAL, DFT AND MOLECULAR DYNAMIC SIMULATION STUDIES

2025-08-14T23:17:18+00:00

The anticorrosion studies of poly(propenonitrile) (PPN) on mild steel in acidic media was carried out in 0.1 M HCl using gasometric, gravimetric, and electrochemical techniques at room temperature and at elevated temperatures (303, 313, 323 and 333 K). In all test settings, the inhibitory effectiveness changed in direct proportion to the PPN concentration and in inverse proportion to the exposure duration and temperature. The anticorrosion potential of PPN is attributed to the adsorption of its molecules on the metal surface, blocking the active corrosion sites on mild steel. The adsorption mechanism conformed to the Langmuir and Temkin adsorption isotherm models with the best fits recorded for the Langmuir model (R2 of 0.998). The thermodynamic parameters obtained; Gibbs free energy (?Go ads) as well as activation energy (Ea), all favored a spontaneous and exothermic physical adsorption reaction mechanism of PPN. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) obtained revealed increasing charge transfer resistance as PPN concentration increases. The DFT study, shows a significant value for electronegativity in both neutral (3.751 eV) and protonated (2.873 eV) states which indicates that PPN favors strong adsorption. MDs studies corroborated the strong adsorption and further revealed the inhibitor was more stable in its neutral form than in its protonated state, with energy differences of 6.507 eV and 4.961 eV, at 298 oC and 318 oC respectively. The results of the several test carried out were all fully connected to one another.

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF SOLVENT POLARITY ON THE PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF Momordica charantia LEAVES

2025-08-15T06:37:00+00:00

A comparative study of the phytochemical compounds present in Momordica charantia leaves was examined using petroleum ether and ethanol organic solvents. Extraction of the compounds were achieved by Soxhlet extraction, while separation was carried out by Gas chromatographic technique. Each compound’s structure was characterized by Mass spectrometry. The results identified 20 phytochemical compounds in the ethanol extract which comprises of 4 aromatic compounds, 6 fatty acids, 4 esters, , and 1 sesquiterpene. 11 Phytochemicals were found in the petroleum ether extract, comprising 4 ester compounds, 3 fatty acids, 1 aromatic compound, 1 alkaloid, 1 di-terpene, and 1 triterpene. The plant leaves ethanol extract revealed a higher percentage of fatty acids, aromatic compounds, and terpenes, showing it was an excellent solvent for the classes of compounds identified. In the ethanol extract the most abundant fraction was n-Hexadecanoic acid (with 44.88%), while Methyl palmitate was the highest phytochemical found in the petroleum ether extract. The solvent and procedure of extraction largely impacted result of the study. More phytochemicals were found in the ethanol indicating it is an excellent polar solvent for extraction of Momordica charantia phytochemicals. Five phytochemicals were common to each extracts, showing varying amounts. The variation phytochemical composition of Momordica charantia highlights the effect of solvent polarity in extracting different classes of natural products from Momordica charntia leaves.