DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY

Effluent treatment plants (ETPs) are common worldwide and a necessary step to improve the quality of wastewater before it is discharged to surface or groundwater and re-enters water supplies. Adequate water resource protection is critical as freshwater systems provide multiple environmental services such as supporting numerous species, supplying water for drinking and irrigation, and assimilating wastes through a biotic/biotic cycling. An effluent treatment plant is a system consisting of mechanical, chemical and biological devices and methods for the purpose of bringing the characteristics of waste water from a manufacturing process, to acceptable standard. Various stages of effluent treatment plants include the following which are influent pit, equalization tank, sequential batch reactor, buffer tank and clear water tank. Wastewater standards are specifications of the biological, chemical and physical quality of the wastewater that is produced by a treatment. These regularly comprise of allowable chemical oxygen demand (COD), Total suspended solids (TSS), Total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (P), Conductivity, and PH. which indicates the municipal and industrial discharged standards, as well as the by-laws. The effluent treatment plant has a high potential of removing key pollutants and could be used for better treatment of wastewater managed properly

Solvent- impregnated sorbent extraction of tantalum is reported. Tantalum was effectively extracted with 3500C carbonized and activated with 0.5 M hydrofluoric acid and impregnated with methyl isobutyl ketone from hydrofluoric acid leached tantalite ore. The transport study of tantalum ions through a supported solvent-impregnated based sorbent (coconut shell) has been carried out using a design expert (RSM). Factors affecting extraction of tantalum was studied via pH, temperature and contact time is discussed. The final extracts of tantalum complex were directly inserted after colour development in the spectrophotometer for absorbance measurement which enhances the sensitivity. It was observed that at a pH of 1, a temperature of 28oC and at a contact time of 5 minutes, the percentage (%) tantalum extraction was decreased to 53.37% and it was observed that at a pH of 1, an increased temperature of 68oC and at a contact time of 30 minutes, the percentage (%) tantalum extraction was increased to 91.55%. the sorbent under study can therefore be used as alternative in order to reduce the high cost of conventional adsorbent used in extraction management.

Many individuals have lactose intolerance which means that they are unable to digest significant amounts of lactose due to the low amount of the enzyme lactase in their system. Some other individuals are vegans, hence, avoid dairy products. In this study, melon seeds flour was used to produce powdered milk and stored for 0-2 months. Proximate and mineral analysis was carried out. Results shows it contains (10.85 – 13.45%) Carbohydrate, (12.89 – 13.36%) Protein, (60.82 – 62.65%) Crude fat, (0.91 – 1.11%) Crude fibre, (2.50 – 3.18%) Ash content, and (8.88 – 9.69%) Moisture content. Mineral analysis shows it is rich in Na, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu, Fe, and N. It can be consumed by individuals with or without health issues. Statistically P>0.05, which means there was no significant change in the quality of powdered milk over the time of storage.