E.E.I. IRABOR

The increasing environmental impact of petroleum-based plastics has intensified the global search for renewable, biodegradable alternatives. Agricultural wastes, particularly cassava and potato peels, offer promising sources of starch for sustainable bioplastic production. This study focused on the comparative development and evaluation of bioplastic films produced from cassava peel starch (CPS) and potato peel starch (PPS), using identical formulation and processing conditions. The aim was to assess how starch source influences the physicochemical, mechanical, structural, and biodegradation characteristics of the resulting films.Starch was extracted from the peels through sedimentation and drying processes, and the yield was determined gravimetrically. Bioplastic films were prepared using a standard casting method. The films were characterized for tensile strength, elongation at break, thickness, water absorption, solubility, and biodegradability. Structural and morphological properties were examined through visual observation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that cassava peel produced a higher starch yield (18.6%) compared to potato peel (14.9%), confirming its superior extraction efficiency. CPS films exhibited greater tensile strength (4.85 MPa) and Young’s modulus (62 MPa), indicating stronger and more rigid films, while PPS films displayed higher elongation at break (32%), signifying greater flexibility. SEM analysis showed smoother and more homogeneous surfaces in CPS films, whereas PPS films exhibited minor surface irregularities. Both films demonstrated good biodegradability under soil burial, with PPS degrading slightly faster due to its higher hydrophilicity. Overall, the findings establish cassava and potato peel starches as viable raw materials for biodegradable film production, promoting waste valorization and environmental sustainability. The higher yield and superior mechanical integrity of cassava peel starch films suggest greater industrial potential, particularly for ecofriendly packaging applications.

This study determined and compared the values of exchangeable cations Mg2+,Ca2+,Na+,K+,and cation exchange capacity(CEC) of clay soil samples in Nigeria, using different pH media (4,5,7,8).Two different clay soil were analysed. Ammonium acetate displacement method was used for the analysis. The chemical analysis were performed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry(AAS),to determine the Mg2+,Ca2+content;Flame photometer to determine Na+,K+,content andColorimeter; used to determine ammonium nitrogen content.The result showed that Sample 1,Exchangeable cations (E.C) for Mg 2+had its highest at pH 7(0.198±0.03) and its lowest value at pH 4(0.142±0.04), Ca2+ had its highest at pH 7(2.692±0.08) and its lowest value at pH 5(1.188±0.16), Na+had its highest value at pH 8 (1.884±0.05) and its lowest value at pH 5(0.409±0.03), andK+ had its highest value at pH7(0.926±0.09) and its lowest value at pH 8 (0.415±0.03)The result showed that Sample 2, Exchangeablecations (E.C) for Mg2+, had its highest at pH 5(0.047±0.002) and its lowest value at pH 8(0.032±0.003), Ca2+had its highest at pH 8(1.339±0.08)and its lowest value at pH4(0.349±0.06),Na+had its highest value at pH8(2.185±0.04) and its lowest value at pH 4(1.598±0.08), and K+ had its highest value at pH 8(0.693±0.06) and its lowest value at pH 5(0.415±0.07). Generally there was a decrease in CEC as the pH increased in the acidic media from pH 4 to 5 and an increase in the CEC as the pH approached neutral, and also a decrease when the pH was increased to 8(basic medium).From the results obtained,it is evident that pH is animportant soil property,because when the clay sample was treated at different pH,the values of the cations as well as their exchangecapacity was greatly was affected i.e they had different pH values when subjected to different medium

The adsorption properties of the Dangara middle layer clay were examined to determine the adsorption of the heavy metal, zinc. The effect of variation in parameters such as, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, contact time, pH and temperature were observed. The result obtained showed that the optimum equilibrium adsorption was 99.578% at pH 8, 99.576% at 1.0g adsorbent dosage, 99.578% at contact time of 60minutes, 99.61% at 10ppm initial concentration, and 99.61% at temperature of 40ºC. The experimental data were analyzed by both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model. The result obtained shows that the Dangara middle layer clay is an effective adsorbent for the adsorption of the heavy metal Zinc from an aqueous solution.