ARID ZONE JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

544-554

Authors: F. D. Adams, M. V. Joseph, B. Shettima

Clay deposit collected from various locations in Marte (Northern Borno), were studied to determine their physical and chemical characteristics in order to evaluate their suitability for industrial uses. Major and trace element analyses were carried out on clay samples using Inductively Couple Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and X- Ray Fluorescence (XRF). The result of the chemical analysis of the ten (10) samples collected showed significant amounts of SiO2 and Al2O3. Silica content ranges from 51.48 to 62.44 % while alumina varies from 12.49 to 19.00 %. The calcium oxide ranges from 1.17 to 3.39 %, Na2O ranges from 1.1 to 8.61 %, K2O from 1.54 to 3.66 %, MgO varies from 0.04 to0.14 %, Fe2O3 varies from 0.3 to 2.7 % and MnO ranges from 0.01 to 1.03 %. The result showed that the clays are mainly smectite with quartz and felspar as the main non-clay minerals. Generally, the geochemical results of the samples do not meet the standard for industrial utilization when compared to the Industrial specifications. However, for industrial utilization, some of the clay samples may be used after necessary beneficiations.

567-576

Authors: A. P. Azodo

Natural light as source of illumination in different environmental settings has the highest degree of acceptability as it offers many qualitative strengths and quantitative advantages. The visual functions effects of light are expected since the illumination from a particular light conforms to relevant standard for glare-free and visual conveniences. The present research work measured classroom environment illuminance and light distributions in a one-side-window oriented classroom building for visual comfort and glare. The quantitative measurement of illumination of the inside and outside of the classrooms was done using lux digital meter of high precision wide measurement range of 1 - 1200,000 lux with an accuracy of ±4% ±10 digits (<10000 lux); ±5% ± 10 digits (> 10000 lux). The resolution was set to 1 lux and measuring ranges of 2000/20000/200000 Lux. The measurement was taken according to the school timetable, three times each day at six different points; five points in the classroom (at the front right (FR), back right (BR), front left (FL) and back left (BL) corners, and at the centre (C)), and one outside the classroom (taken along the passageway by the various classrooms’ entrances). The time of data collection were during the assembly/breakfast period (7:50 – 8:30 am), the recess period (11:50 am – 12:20 pm) and short break before afternoon prep (2:20 – 2:30 pm) from March through December, 2016. These periods were chosen to avoid the distraction of the teaching-learning process in the school. Assessment of operational safety for illuminance and daylight distribution of various assessed classrooms were carried out on the basis of Useful Daylight Illuminances (UDI). The result obtained showed significant illumination variation on either side of the classrooms with much effects of under-lit on the un-windowed side and glare potentials on the side close to the windows. It, therefore, demands that for uniformly distributed illumination with glare-free and visual comfort classroom environment, the daylight entrance should be from two or more directions.

593-603

Authors: J. J. Musa, H. I. Mustapha, J. D. Bala, Y. Y. Ibrahim, M. P. Akos, E. S. Daniel, F. M. Oguche, I. A. Kuti

This review paper presents the health risks of heavy metals such as: lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni) and arsenic (As) etc contamination in soils. The review reveals the major sources of these metals which are urban and industrial effluents, deterioration of sewage pipe, treatment water works, sewage sludge, fertilizers and pesticides. It also reveals the adopted standard for drinking water (maximum tolerable limit) by FAO, JECFA and WHO which are as follows: 0.05mg/L, 0.05mg/L, 1.5mg/L, 0.001mg/L, 0.02mg/L, 15mg/L, 0.3mg/L, 0.5mg/L, 0.01mg/L, 0.05mg/L and 0.05mg/L for Pb, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Zn, Fe, Mn, Se, As and Cd respectively. The accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils is of increasing concern because of food safety issues, potential health risks such as neurological disorder, cancer, kidney damage, fragile bone etc and their detrimental effects on soil ecosystem. However, the regular monitoring of levels of these metals from dump sites, effluents and sewages in soil and drinking water is essential to prevent excessive buildup of these metals thereby increasing toxicity and elevating the public health risk.

610-619

Authors: A. S. Grema, D. Baba, U. H. Taura, M. B. Grema, L. T. Popoola

In this study, dynamic optimization and identification of petroleum reservoir waterflooding using receding horizon (RH) principles was examined. Two forms of the strategy were compared on a realistic reservoir model. Sequential quadratic programming (SQP) was applied to optimize net present value (NPV) using water injection rates as the variables. MRST from SINTEF was used for the reservoir modeling. The identification of the reservoir was performed using nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous input (NARX) neural network from MATLAB. Data for the network training and validation was obtained by carrying out a numerical experiment on a high fidelity model of the reservoir. This model was developed with Eclipse Reservoir Simulator from Schlumberger. From the results obtained, moving-end RH gave a higher NPV than fixed-end RH with a margin of $0.5 billion. The identification algorithm was very much effective and near perfect for the studied reservoir.

630-642

Authors: M. N. Idris, W. M. Ali, E. Suleiman

Water remains the most useful universal solvent to human being and other animals, because of its derivative importance. However, effort to improve on raw water treatment would continue to be a subject of concern, because the process procedures are been violated or not properly upheld. This study was carried out in order to identify peculiar problems associate with water treatment at the Maiduguri Water Treatment Plant (MWTP). This research study was based on prompt time-schedules and plant site-visits, interviewed questions were made and accessing the technology adopted in the process stages. Analytical data were obtained through the use of sampling bottles, camera, record sheets and other necessary laboratory equipment. The analysis showed that treated water contained excess chlorine and aluminum with 1.10mg/l and 0.68mg/l respectively. From this study, the following are the root causes: poor facility lay out, poor organizational and functional structures, wear of pump impellers and surface deterioration in the transmission line, lack of calibration test, constant head system not operation properly, lack of jar test conduction, improper maintenance of filter system, and the use of chemical coagulant. Inferences were made at the end of the research to enhance process efficiency, healthier and more economical treatment MWTP.