A review on oil spill clean-up using bio-sorbent materials with special emphasis on utilization of kenaf core fibers

Thousands of oil spill incidents regrettably have occurred on a daily basis around the globe. Oil spills are a form of pollution that poses major catastrophic threats to marine ecosystems. Oil spill incidents commonly occur in the middle of the ocean, and the process to remove the oil becomes a great challenge. Absorbents, due to their good oil-absorbing characteristics, are becoming more popular nowadays as one of the effective oil spill clean-up methods. Among the many types of oil absorbents, plant fibers were also being studied to remove the oil spills from the sea surface. This paper reviews factors leading to oil spills, the detrimental effect of the oil spill on the environment, the oil spill removal methods, and the application of plant fibers as oil absorbent material. The paper also will highlight the latest development on the utilization of kenaf core fibers as oil-absorbent material and the use of oil absorbed kenaf core fibers as fuel briquette by taking advantage the high calorific value of the oil spill.

A review on oil spill clean-up using bio-sorbent materials with special emphasis on utilization of kenaf core fibers

Thousands of oil spill incidents regrettably have occurred on a daily basis around the globe. Oil spills are a form of pollution that poses major catastrophic threats to marine ecosystems. Oil spill incidents commonly occur in the middle of the ocean, and the process to remove the oil becomes a great challenge. Absorbents, due to their good oil-absorbing characteristics, are becoming more popular nowadays as one of the effective oil spill clean-up methods. Among the many types of oil absorbents, plant fibers were also being studied to remove the oil spills from the sea surface. This paper reviews factors leading to oil spills, the detrimental effect of the oil spill on the environment, the oil spill removal methods, and the application of plant fibers as oil absorbent material. The paper also will highlight the latest development on the utilization of kenaf core fibers as oil-absorbent material and the use of oil absorbed kenaf core fibers as fuel briquette by taking advantage the high calorific value of the oil spill.

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES TOWARDS MENSTRUAL HYGIENE AMONG GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SCHOOL GIRLS

Menstruation is a normal physiological process unique to females. Pre-menarche is characterized by physiological, cognitive, and psychological transitions which may be initiated from the midst of their second decade. The onset of puberty/ menstruation in girls tends to change their role in society. Overall inadequate awareness levels accompanied by socio-cultural taboos and prevailing myths and misconceptions about menarche and menstruation have played havoc on human society. Objective: The main objective of the study is to diagnose and compare the prevailing level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of adolescent girls studying in government and private schools towards menstrual hygiene and management. Material & Methods: This Analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted at Government Jouhar Girls High School and Shiblee Grammar School System, Gulberg Branch (private) Faisalabad. A self-administered survey-based questionnaire was developed. Prior formal written approval from school authorities was followed by the pre-planned scheduled visits, explaining the purpose of the study, assuring confidentiality of acquired information, and self-administration of survey-based questionnaires. Results: The results indicated that the mean age at menarches of the girls was 13.69±0.95 years. A relatively more percentage of government (59.6%) school respondents followed by private school respondents (57.1%) had satisfactory knowledge about their age of first menarche (p = 0.806). Motivated by the socio-cultural taboos and /or fear or shame a majority of government (59.6%) and private school respondents (57.1%) had satisfactory knowledge about their age of first menarche (p = 0.806). A strong prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) was found in private school girls 87(49.2%) and 21(11.9%), followed by respective percentages of 78(43.8%), 16(9.0%) amongst the government school respondents who recorded their responses as agreed and strongly agreed about the development of reproductive tract infection in the post-menstruation period. As far as the adoption of hygienic practices is concerned a relatively high percentage of government school 28(15.7%) followed by private school 14(7.9%) girls strongly disagreed about changing their absorbent material on daily basis. The development of skin abrasions like rashes, itching, and urinary tract infection was found in a relatively high proportion amongst the government school girls 30(16.9%) followed by private school respondents 18(10.2%) in the post-menstruation period. A most common and alarming unhygienic practice prevalent amongst the government and private school girls was the reuse of absorbent cloth, who responded as agreed and strongly agreed in respective terms as 43(24.2%), 22(12.4%), and 69(39%) and 28(15.8%). Conclusion: The study concluded that the persistent myths, misconceptions, socio-cultural taboos, and unhygienic practices i.e. use of old clothes as absorbent, reuse of absorbent material, and delaying tendency of changing absorbent, amongst the adolescent school girls of government and private institutes which may pose direct adverse health and life quality concerns for the female Pakistani community. The current situation calls for active participatory contributions from education communities to initiate various communication and awareness campaigns regarding pre-menarche knowledge and menstruation management which may aid to strengthen and transform their role as a significant representative of society.

Synthesis and Characterization Barium M-Hexaferrites (BaFe12-2xCoxMnxNixO19) as a Microwave Absorbent Material

This study aims to synthesize microwave absorbent material from barium M-Hexaferrite doped Co-Mn-Ni ions (BaFe12-2xCoxMnxNixO19) using co-precipitation method with varying concentrations (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0) and calcinations temperatures in the range of 200 to 800°C. The samples characterization was conducted to investigate the effect of doping concentration variations on the electrical, magnetic and microwave absorption properties using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM-EDX), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), and Network Vector Analyzer (VNA). The results from XRD characterization showed that the sample formed the barium iron oxide (BaFe12O19) phase with a = b = 5.03Å and c = 13.43Å. The results of SEM-EDX and TEM samples of BaFe9.6Co0.8Mn0.8Ni0.8O19 showed that the sample size ranged from 79-165 nm in the hexagonal crystal structure form. The magnetic properties with VSM indicate that the sample coercivity value decreases significantly from 0.41 T at x = 0.0 to 0.09 T at x = 0.8, indicating that the sample is soft magnetic. The value of electrical conductivity is in the range of 2.42 x 10-4 to 9.30 x 10-4 S/cm shows that the sample is a semiconductor. Analysis of the absorption properties of microwaves with VNA produced maximum permittivity and permeability values ​​of 28.40 and 54.40 at 10.30 GHz, and a maximum Reflection Loss (RL) value of -20.20 dB at a frequency of 15 GHz with an absorption coefficient of 99.05 % at concentration x = 0.6. The high permittivity, permeability, RL, and absorption coefficients indicate that the BaFe12-2xCoxMnxNixO19 sample has the potential to be a microwave absorbent material on X-band to Ku-band frequency.