DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

Medicinal plants represent one of the oldest forms of treatment, having been utilized for thousands of years across different cultures in traditional healing practices. They serve as a vital source of bioactive compounds that can be developed into pharmaceutical drugs (Rasool, 2012; Ogbeide et al., 2018). Across the world, many plant species grow abundantly, yet remain underutilized despite their potential medicinal benefits. This has led to a renewed interest in plant-based medicine, increasing demand for drugs derived from natural sources.

The production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil presents a sustainable approach to waste management and alternative fuel generation. This study investigates the use of Manganese Magnesium Binary Oxide (MMBO) nanoparticles as a catalyst for biodiesel synthesis. The physicochemical properties of waste cooking oil were analyzed before and after esterification, revealing significant reductions in acid value (2.973 mg KOH/g to 1.85 mg KOH/g) and free fatty acid content (1.4865 mg KOH/g to 0.925 mg KOH/g), which improved feedstock suitability for biodiesel production. A comparative analysis of biodiesel produced using MgO and MMBO nanoparticles demonstrated the superior catalytic efficiency of MMBO-NP, yielding 84.6% biodiesel compared to 65% with MgO. The biodiesel produced with MMBO-NP exhibited favorable fuel properties, including a lower kinematic viscosity (3.89 mm²/s), reduced acid value (0.35 mg KOH/g), and improved density (875 kg/m³), aligning with ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards. Despite meeting most standard requirements, the flash point (77°C) and cold flow properties (cloud point: 32°C, pour point: 39°C) indicate potential areas for further optimization. These results highlight the potential of MMBO nanoparticles as an efficient catalyst in biodiesel production, promoting a more effective and environmentally friendly conversion of waste cooking oil into biodiesel.

This research introduces a pioneering method to improve latent fingerprint visualisation by synthesising silica nanoparticles from date palm seeds. Fingerprint identification is crucial in forensic science, but the quality of latent fingerprints greatly affects its reliability. Silica nanoparticles, with unique properties, are ideal for this purpose, and date palm seeds naturally contain them. This study focuses on extracting, purifying and confirming successful amorphous silica nanoparticle production. Preliminary findings indicate that these nanoparticles enhance latent fingerprint visibility on various surfaces, offering an eco-friendly approach to forensic science. This research promises to advance fingerprint identification by merging nanotechnology and forensic science through date palm seed-derived silica nanoparticle.

In today's world, the rise of modernization and industrialization has quietly reshaped ecosystems—the rapid expansion of industries and unchecked urbanization continue to disrupt fragile environments, leading to the persistent challenge of heavy metal contamination in soil. This study investigates the green synthesis and characterization of an MgO-MnO-biochar ternary nanocomposite as well as the MgO-MnO Nanopparticle using an eco-friendly co-precipitation method, and highlightening its potential heavy metal remediation applications. The synthesis involved the bottom- up fabrication of magnesium and manganese oxides in a green solvent system, followed by integration with biochar. The characterization of the MgO-MnO-biochar nanocomposite and MgO-MnO nanoparticle system revealed significant structural, compositional, and morphological differences. FTIR analysis showed the nanocomposite had prominent O–H stretching at 3951.1, 3641.1, and 3790.2 cm⁻¹, C–H stretching at 2907.3 cm⁻¹, CO₂ adsorption at 2110.3 cm⁻¹, C=C stretching at 1611.8 cm⁻¹, and Mg–O and Mn–O bonds at 946.3 and 864.7 cm⁻¹, while the nanoparticle system exhibited fewer functional groups, with CO₂ adsorption at 2102.2 cm⁻¹ and C=C stretching at 1598.5 cm⁻¹. EDX analysis revealed high carbon content (48.72 wt%) in the nanocomposite, absent in the nanoparticle system, alongside higher Mn (61.62 wt%) and Mg (32.24 wt%) concentrations in the nanoparticle system compared to 24.47 wt% Mn and 11.34 wt% Mg in the composite. XRD analysis identified Lindergerbite (59.00%) and Periclase (13.00%) in the nanoparticle system, while the nanocomposite featured Flagstaffite (52.40%), Graphite (1.84%), and Cryoptohalite (7.96%). BET analysis showed the nanoparticle system had a higher surface area (282.000 m²/g vs. 216.400 m²/g), pore volume (0.173 cm³/g vs. 0.128 cm³/g), and BJH surface area (354.200 m²/g vs. 265.400 m²/g), though pore diameters were similar (2.132 nm vs. 2.129 nm). SEM analysis revealed the nanocomposite's porous, fibrous structure with well-dispersed nanoparticles, while the nanoparticle system exhibited a denser, more aggregated morphology with reduced porosity. The characterization results revealed that the MgO-MnO-biochar ternary nanocomposite possesses significant structural and compositional properties, suggesting its potential as a sustainable, cost-effective material for future heavy metal remediation applications.

This paper focuses on the application of forensic science in latent fingerprint detection by the usage of distinct nanomaterials and their benefit with respect to the quality of fingerprint images. Nanotechnology is involved with the study of nanoscale materials, it is having a substantial impact in every industry. It is a widely used technique because of its ability to change and characterize matter down to individual and tiny atoms. Nanoparticles have recently showed considerable potential in the production of nano-fingerprints i.e. the nextgeneration of fingerprint development procedures. Silica nanoparticles were produced to detect invisible finger impressions on non-absorbent surfaces. Silicon usually has been obtained from mineral in rock and sand, however, silicon also can be obtained in organic material such as risk husk, bamboo leaf, wheat husk and another agricultural waste. Bamboo is a source of organic silica (bio-silica). The bamboo absorbs silicic acid from the water and then convert it into SiO2 hydrate in the root branches and leaves

Heterocyclic compounds are very widely distributed in nature and very abundant in plant and animal products. They are included in many biochemical materials essential for life like nucleic acids (nucleotides), sugars and their derivatives, vitamin C and also, most members of vitamin B group (vitamin B6- pyridoxine). They are also found in application of diverse field such as agriculture, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries. Researches have shown that heterocyclic nuclei give high chemotherapeutic values such as anti-malaria, anti-diabetics, anticancer and also act as a remedy for the development of novel drugs. Imidazole containing moiety occupied a unique position in organic compounds. It is a five-membered nitrogenous heterocyclic moiety that has three carbons, two nitrogens, four hydrogen atoms, and two double bonds having general molecular formula of C3H4N2. It is also known as 1,3-diazole because of the nitrogen atoms present at the first and third positions (non–adjacent position) of the ring, one nitrogen bear a hydrogen atom as the pyridine structure, and the other is called pyrrole type nitrogen
and position four and five are equivalent. It formed the basis of many therapeutic natural products such as histamine, purine, histidine among others

The phytochemical, proximate, and mineral composition of the mixed solvents extract of the leaves of Ficus capensis collected from university of Benin, Edo state was investigated. The parameters investigated were determined using standard biochemical methods. Phytochemical studies carried out on mixed ethanol and methanol extract of Ficus capensis leaves showed high levels of flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins and alkaloids while glycosides, saponins, steroids were in trace amount, with no anthraquinone present. The proximate analysis of the leaves revealed that Ficus capensis leaves has a high carbohydrate content of (36.45%), moisture content of (20.22%), crude fiber (20.41) significant amount of crude protein (15.70%), lipids (4.24%) and very low amount ash content of (2.98%). This composition shows that the sample could be a good source of carbohydrate, moisture, and fiber. The mineral content showed the presence of zinc, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and iron content. This indicates the tendency of Ficus capensis to be able to control osmotic balance, essential for bone formation, lower blood pressure and also act a source of antioxidant vitamins and minerals. Additionally, the pH, electrical conductivity of the soil, and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) analysis of the leaf extracts were conducted. In which the TLC was used to identify the component present in the
extracts. The presence of these phytochemicals and minerals in this leafy vegetable supports the use of the leaves of Ficus capensis for food and ethno medicinal purposes in many parts of Nigeria and across the globe.