Application of Activated Afzelia Africana and Acacia Albida Carbon for Removal of Pollutants in Textile Wastewater

Adsorption of contaminants in textile wastewater onto activated carbon derived from two wood species has been studied using batch-adsorption techniques. This study was carried out to examine the removal efficiency of the low-cost adsorbent (Afzelia africana) AFA and (Acacia albida) ACA for the removal of heavy metals and other organic contaminants from textile effluents. The influence of contact time and adsorbent dose kept constant on the adsorption process was also studied. Removal efficiency increased with increase in contact time. The two adsorbents had an average removal efficiency of 60% at 90mins contact time for Zn. The ACA had higher removal efficiency for chromium at all contact times than AFA except at 120mins contact time where there existed a slight difference in the removal efficiency between the two adsorbents. Removal efficiency of iron was high between 58.18- 70.52% and 72.75-75.86% for AFA and ACA carbon respectively. This showed that iron had high affinity to the adsorbents surface. It was observed that AFA exhibited highest removal efficiency for nitrate at all contact times as compared to ACA. Results indicated that the freely abundant, locally available, low-cost adsorbent derived from the two wood species could be treated as being economically viable for the removal of contaminants from textile effluents.

Growth performance of growing rabbits fed graded levels of Acacia Albida Pods

The effect of feeding up to 40% of Acacia albida pods (AAP) on the growth performance of growing rabbits was investigated. Sixty crossbred (Dutch x New Zealand white) rabbits; 7-8 weeks old were used for the 12-week study. The rabbits were individually weighed and assigned to the 5 diets in groups of 12 rabbits per treatment. The experimental diets contained 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% AAP in diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The crude protein and energy levels of the diets were maintained at 18% and at least 3100kcal/kg respectively. The diets and drinking water were offered ad libitum. The crude fibre (CF) of the diet ranged from 11.22% in diet 1 10 14.84% in diet 5. The CF levels appreciated with increasing levels of AAP. A similar trend was observed for ether extract (4.78 to 6.90%), tannins (0.099 to 1.09%) and phyrins (128.58 10 285.71 mg). Feed intake did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among the groups on diets 1 (57.80g), 2 (55.89g), 3 (58.53g) and 4 (55.92g) hut was significantly (p<0.05) lower for those on diet 5 (53.07g/d). Weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) of rabbits on all the diets do not differ significantly (p>0.05), though rabbits on diet 5 had slightly lower daily weight gain which cumulated into significantly lower final body weight of 1389.16g compared to 1605.83g for diet 1. Daily weight gain, FCR and PER were better in the first eight weeks compared to weeks 9 to 12. The corresponding values were 9.63 to 12.68 Vs 2.14 to 3.70g/d for daily weight gain, 4.73 to 5.78 Vs 14.22 to 22.11 for FCR and 0.90 to 1.20 Vs 0.23 to 0.41 for PER Thus, 20% AAP can be included in diets of rabbits without adverse effect on biological performance.

Space-time dynamics of the Minawao plant cover and surrounding area (Far North, Cameroon)

The study, which covered "study the dynamics of the Minawao vegetation cover and its surroundings (Far North, Cameroon), took place in five villages: Minawao, Gawar, Sabongari, Windé and Zamay. The main objective was to help manage the impacts of populations on the Minawao vegetation cover and its surroundings in order to improve the living conditions of refugees and local populations. In each village, floristic surveys were carried out in 5 plants formations (shrub savannah, forest gallery, tree savannah, field and dwellings). For satellite images, the 14-year interval (2006 to 2020) was retained. Analysis of the data identified 23 species, 21 gender and 14 families over the 120 hectares of study area. The annual rate of regression indicates that the village of Minawao and the river side villages are experiencing more degradation after the settlement of refugees than before, with their respective regression rates of -10.81 ha/year and -8.93 ha/year. The maximum carbon is stored by Acacia albida (11.77 tC/ha) and Tamarindus indica (8.11 t/ha). The total amount of carbon in this area is 32.32 tC/ha.

Diversité et usages des plantes ligneuses des agrosystèmes périphériques de la ville de Maroua (Extrême-Nord, Cameroun)

Une étude a été menée en périphérie de Maroua (Extrême-Nord, Cameroun) dans le but de contribuer à une gestion durable des ressources végétale sahélienne. Cette étude a identifié et a calculé la diversité des plantes ligneuses des champs de case suivant un dispositif de 20 quadrats (50 m x 50 m) dans cinq localités. Elle a aussi déterminé les catégories d’usage et les organes récoltés de chaque plante utilisée. La Méthode Accélérée de Recherche Participative (MARP) a été reprise pour collecter les données ethnobotaniques auprès de 100 ménages. Les analyses des résultats obtenus ont montré que les champs de case comportent au total, 38 espèces (26 plantes locales) réparties dans 27 genres et 26 familles. Les familles les plus abondantes ont été Méliacées (32,26%) et Mimosacées (29,26%). Acacia nilotica, Acacia albida, Balanites aegyptiaca, Moringa oleifara, Sclerocarya birrea, Tamarindus indica et Ziziphus mauritiana sont les espèces locales les plus utilisées (au moins quatre catégories d’usages). Les résultats ont montré que les champs de case peuvent être des bons systèmes de valorisation et de conservation des plantes locales.Mots clés : Champs de case, plantes ligneuses, enquête ethnobotanique et socio-économique, valorisation, usage durable. English Title: Diversity and uses of woody plants from peripheral agro-systems in the city of Maroua (Far North, Cameroon)A study was conducted around Maroua (Far North, Cameroon) with the aim of contributing to sustainable management of Sahelian plant resources. This study identified and calculated the diversity of woody plants in village fields using a system of 20 quadrats (50 mx 50 m) in five localities. It also determined the categories of use and the organs harvested from each plant used. The Accelerated Participatory Research Method (MARP) was used to collect ethnobotanical data from 100 households. Analyzes of the results obtained have shown that the village fields contain in total 38 species (26 native plants) in 27 genera and 26 families. The most abundant families were Meliaceae (32.26%) and Mimosaceae (29.26%). Acacia nilotica, Acacia albida, Balanites aegyptiaca, Moringa oleifara, Sclerocarya birrea, Tamarindus indica and Ziziphus mauritiana found to be the most commonly used local species (at least four categories of uses). The results showed that village field can be good systems for the recovery and conservation of native plants.Keywords: Village field, woody plants, ethnobotanical and socio-economic survey, valorization, sustainable use.

Total synthesis and anticancer activity of the natural oleanolic acid bidesmoside saponin, albidoside A, isolated from the roots of Acacia albida

The first synthesis of a natural triterpenoid saponin bearing N-acetylglucosamine, albidoside A, which is isolated from the roots of Acacia albida, is concisely achieved in a convergent strategy. Preliminary pharmacological research shows anticancer activity against HL-60, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, Hep-2, and Hela cell lines. In particular, it exhibited good selectivity, which is five times more cytotoxic toward Hep-2 cells (IC50 = 8.91 μM) than the Hela cell line.

Preparation and Characterization of Eco-Friendly Ash Salts for Goat Skins Preservation

Worldwide, mostly skin is preserved using NaCl which is polluting the environment by increasing soil salinity, affecting water body, releasing of more than 40 % TDS and 55 % Cl- . In the current study, plant derived ash salt from Acacia albida and Acacia bussei was used as salt-less and less salt formulations for curing goat skins, proving effective alternative to the conventional preservation with NaCl. Ash salt was prepared by burning the plants’ stems and leaves completely into ashes, soaked in water and then filtering; then boiling to evaporate water to get an ash salt. The ash salt demonstrated better antibacterial properties in preserving goat skins for 21st days without disintegration. Moisture contents were reduced to less than 30 %, nitrogen content and bacterial counts were sound and stood in a normal unaffected range and preserved skins were later processed and chrome tanned into crust upper leather. The physico-mechanical and chemical properties of all crust leathers were tested and the results met the standard requirements. The shrinkage temperatures (Ts) of all the prepared and preserved goat leathers were shown to be above 90 0C. Organoleptic properties were also analyzed and were shown much better. The pollution loads of soaking liquors were assessed and there was dramatic reduction in levels of total solid, total suspended solids, chloride, total dissolved solid, biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand released along with the wastewater with the significant variations (P > 0.05).