DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY

The green synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles has garnered substantial interest in recent years due to their promising applications in environmental remediation. This study presents the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles and calcium oxide-copper oxide binary nanoparticles utilizing onion (Allium cepa) peel extract for photocatalytic degradation of petroleum wastewater. CuO, and CaO – CuO nanoparticles were synthesized in this study following already established methods as reported in journals. Characterization of the synthesized nanoparticles was performed employing various analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized nanoparticles was systematically assessed for the degradation of petroleum wastewater under sunlight irradiation. Results indicated that the calcium oxide-copper oxide binary nanoparticles demonstrated significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to the copper oxide nanoparticles, achieving a degradation efficiency of 95.76 %. This superior photocatalytic performance of the binary nanoparticles can be attributed to the synergistic effect of the p-n heterojunction between calcium oxide and copper oxide, which enhances spatial separation of photogenerated electron – hole pairs, thus improving the photodegradation of the wastewater. The green synthesis methodology employed in this study represents a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable approach for the production of metal oxide nanoparticles intended for environmental applications

Typhoid fever is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serotype typhi and is prevalent in numerous low- and middle-income countries around the world, including Nigeria. This study was carried out to determine typhoid prevalence among individuals in Orobosa Medical Centre and Graceville Medical Centre in Benin City, Nigeria. A total of 232 individuals took part in the study, with 116 for each medical centre. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire designed by the researcher and blood tests were used to determine whether participants were positive or negative for typhoid. Analysis of data was done using SPSS version 20 and Microsoft Excel 2016. From the results, participants were predominantly female and aged between 21 and 30 years. Most participants obtained drinking water from table water sources (90.52 % and 75.86 %, respectively). Headaches and fatigue were identified by participants as the most common symptoms of typhoid fever. The most common risk factors according to participants were proximity to insects feeding on faecal matter and consumption of raw fruits and vegetables. Typhoid prevalence in the study was 19.83% and 17.24% for Orobosa Medical Centre and Graceville Medical Centre, respectively. To drastically reduce the prevalence of typhoid fever, the following can be applied; public health education, community-based interventions and strengthening of surveillance systems.