African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 6 (12), pp. 001-008, December, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Potential of using recycled low-density polyethylene in wood composites board

Atuanya C. U.*, Ibhadode A. O. A. and Igboanugo A. C.

Department of Production Engineering, University of Benin, Edo-State, Nigeria.

Accepted 22 April, 2019

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the suitability of using recycled low density polyethylene (RLDPE) in wood board manufacturing. The composite board was produced by compressive moulding by increasing the percentage of LDPE from 30 to 50 wt% with interval of 10 wt% at a temperatures of 140 and 180°C, pressure of 30 to 40 Kg/cm² and pressing time 7 to 13 min. The microstructure and mechanical properties: Modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), tensile strength, impact strength properties of boards were determined. The results showed that high modulus of rupture of 20.31 N/mm² and MOE of 1363 N/mm² were obtained from board produced at 140°C, 60/40 wt% wood particles per LDPE content. The uniform distribution of particles and the recycled LDPE in the microstructure of composites board are the major factor responsible for the improvement in the mechanical properties. The results showed that the MOE and MOR meet the minimum requirements of the European standards, for general purpose. The boards produced had tensile strength that is within the requirement. Hence this LDPE can be used in board production for general purpose applications.

Keywords: Microstructure, polyethylene, physical and mechanical properties.

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 6 (11), pp. 001-009, November, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The effect of waste polypropylene fibre inclusion on the mechanical behaviour of sand generated from the aggregate industry

Choura .M ^1,2*, Khelif .N ², Mnif .T ² and Menaa .L³

¹National School of Engineers (ENIS), University of Sfax, Tunisia.

²Research Unit, Environmental Geotechniques and Civil Materials, ENIS, Sfax, Tunisia.

³University of Medea, Algeria.

Accepted 18 July, 2019

Abstract

During the last decades, the rising demand for land reclamation and the utilization of soft or unstable soils led to a great advance in the ground amelioration techniques as a major part of civil engineering around the world. Within this framework, this paper presents the results of an experimental program based mainly on direct shear tests on sand generated from aggregate industry, with and without waste polypropylene (PP) fibre reinforcement, in order to assess the effect of randomly distributed PP fibre on the stress displacement behaviour and shearing strength of this type of sand. The effects of the variation of PP fibre content (limited to 1.5% of the weight of sand) and length (0.5, 1 and 1.5 cm) are investigated. The obtained test results indicate that PP fibre reinforcement increases the maximum shear constraint and changes the sands brittle mechanical behaviour into a more ductile one. These results pave the way to an effective valorisation of such a traditionally useless kind of sand.

Key words: Polypropylene fibres, fibre-reinforced sand, shearing strength, mechanical behaviour.

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 6 (9), pp. 001-010, September, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Characteristics and waste management practices of medical wastes in healthcare institutions in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

David N. Ogbonna

Department of Applied and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, P. M. B. 5080; Port Harcourt, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 23 March, 2019

Abstract

The study was undertaken to investigate the medical waste categories and its management practices in five different hospitals as representative health care institutions in Port Harcourt city, Nigeria. Sampling was conducted by grouping the representative hospitals into large, medium and small categories based on bed space, average bed occupancy rate, ward units, staff strength and patients. Data were obtained by administering questionnaire to hospital staff. Results obtained showed that the average waste types generated in the three categories of hospitals for both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes were in the order of 17.66, 7.89 and 2.36 kg/day for large, medium and small hospitals respectively. The percentage waste generation for the large hospitals show that 41% of the waste type are hazardous, 33% are non hazardous while in the medium size hospitals, 35% of the waste generated are hazardous and non hazardous had 35% and the small scale hospitals had combined waste types as the dominant waste type with 51% followed by non hazardous with 31% and hazardous had the least with 18% of waste types. Solid waste disposal method adopted by the health institutions showed that open dumpsites are most preferred to other disposal methods while liquid wastes are mostly disposed of by flushing through drains/sinks. However, disposal of solid waste by incineration is recommended except for the environmental problems which have a tendency to pollute the sub-soil and groundwater due to their leaching as well as the health risks it pose to the general public.

Key words: Hospital, medical wastes, hazardous waste, waste type, disposal method, environment.

African Journal of Environmental and Waste Management ISSN 2375-1266 Vol. 6 (9), pp. 001-006, September, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of agricultural wastes and food supplements usage on growth characteristics of Pleurotus ostreatus

Mehrdad Jafarpour*, Alireza Jalali Zand, Banafsheh Dehdashtizadeh and Shahin Eghbalsaied

College of Agriculture, Khorasgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

Accepted 09 April, 2019

Abstract

As agricultural wastes are easily accessible and quite free sources, re-use of them could be considered as a break through in production management, especially if it sustains the production efficiency as standard materials do. In this study, we evaluated combination usage of substrates including wood chips, boll, Sugar Beet Pellet Pulp (SBPP) and palm fiber along with wheat bran, rice bran, soya cake powder, Soya Cake Powder + Rice Bran (SCPRB) and carrot pulp as supplements. Substrates with no supplement were regarded as control groups. Results revealed that boll, SBPP and palm fiber, which could be abundantly in Iran, had better growth period, fruiting body weight, yield and biological efficiency than wood chips. Moreover, SCRBP had the highest yield, biological efficiency and fruiting body weight among all substrates. We also assessed combination effects of substrates and complements. The least growth period (30.3 d) belonged to sugar beet pulp enriched with soya cake powder. The lowest fruiting body weight (12.4 g) was produced in boll substrate with no supplement, though maximum fruiting body number (34.3) belonged to this group. The highest fruiting body weight (41.5 g) was achieved when the enriched palm fiber by rice bran supplement was used. In addition, the highest yield and biological efficiency was found on boll substrate enriched with a mixture of soya cake powder and rice bran supplements (794.3 and 158.9 g, respectively).

Key words: Oyster mushroom, yield, biological efficiency, substrate, protein.