Communication in Physical Sciences

Absorption Studies of Some Agricultural Solid Wastes as Biosorbent for the Clean-up of Oil Spill

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Authors: Henrietta Ijeoma Kelle*, Maureen Nkemdilim Chukwu, Emily Osa Iduseri, Emeka Chima Ogoko and Rawlings Abem Timothy

Received: 02 May 2024/Accepted: 19 July 2024

Oil spills are a major environmental threat, causing ecological, economic, and health issues. Traditional cleanup methods like chemical dispersants, in-situ burning, and synthetic sorbents have drawbacks such as secondary pollution and high costs. This study investigates the use of agricultural solid wastes—pineapple leaves, pineapple peels, and oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB)—as biosorbents for oil spill cleanup. The biosorbents were evaluated for their oil sorption capacities under different temperatures and contact times. The oil sorption capacity for the milled samples at 25 °C showed that the standard synthetic sorbent had the highest capacity, reaching 14.08 g/g, while pineapple leaves had a peak capacity of 7.92 g/g at 3 minutes before stabilizing around 5.5 - 6.0 g/g. Pineapple peel and OPEFB exhibited lower capacities of 1.30 g/g and 2.66 g/g, respectively. At 30 °C, the standard sorbent again had the highest capacity at 14.73 g/g, with pineapple leaves reaching 8.13 g/g, OPEFB at 3.02 g/g, and pineapple peels at 1.96 g/g. The reusability and recovery efficiency of these materials were also assessed, with pineapple leaves showing high reusability (90 ± 0.01%) and recovery efficiency (90 ± 1.35%) at 25°C. The study demonstrates the potential of pineapple leaves as a viable biosorbent for oil spill remediation, given their relatively high and consistent oil sorption capacity and reusability. Pineapple peel and OPEFB, while less effective, could be considered for low-cost or supplementary adsorption materials. Further research is recommended to optimize these biosorbents and explore their practical applications in varying environmental conditions.

Analyzing Market Price Equilibrium Dynamics with Differential Equations: Incorporating Government Intervention and Market Forces

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Communication in Physical Sciences, 2024, 11(3): 607-627

Authors: Augustine Osondu Friday Ador^,Isaac Mashingil Mankili, Franka Amaka Nwafor^,Silas Abahia Ihedioha, Bright Okore Osu

Received: 12 March 2024/Accepted : 15 July 2024

This study seeks to investigate price stability in a dynamic market, where prices are subject to sudden impacts akin to those observed during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, as well as other influences introduced naturally or by price regulatory agencies. By examining functions derived from price observations, changes in prices, and changes in the rate of price changes, the study analyzes their stability amidst various influences. These influences are incorporated by examining factors affecting supply and demand quantities, which are modelled using a second-order linear differential equation; . This study builds upon the research of Espinoza and Bob Foster, who analyzed a second-order differential equation with a constant inhomogeneity. It employs matrix methods to assess the stability of systems of differential equations. To analyze impulsive price changes modelled using the Dirac delta function and persistent price changes modelled with Heaviside's unit step function, the Laplace technique and its general inversion formula are applied. The study identifies conditions under which stability in the system can be maintained.

Statistical Characterization of Surface Duct Conditions and their Implications on Microwave Propagation Over Lagos, Nigeria

Olalekan Lawrence Ojo, Joseph Sunday Ojo, Omotoyosi Omotayo Omoyele — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Communication in Physical Sciences, 2024, 11(3): 628-640

Authors: Olalekan Lawrence Ojo, Joseph Sunday Ojoand Omotoyosi Omotayo Omoyele

Received: 04 April 2024/Accepted: 11 July 2024

Surface ducts, and atmospheric layers that trap and guide radio waves can significantly impact microwave signal propagation. Consequently, in this study, we analyzed their statistical occurrence in Lagos, Nigeria, using five years (2018-2022) of meteorological data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ERA-5 reanalysis. The investigation focused on how factors like temperature, humidity, and pressure influence radio refractivity and the formation of surface ducts at different heights (100 m and 300 m) and observation times (00:00 and 12:00 hours). The results reveal a higher prevalence of surface ducts at 100 meters, particularly during the dry season (November-March) and at noon (12:00 hour). This implies that microwave signals are more likely to be trapped and travel farther during these periods, potentially causing interference with distant communication systems. Our findings establish the importance of considering surface ducts when designing and deploying communication infrastructure in coastal regions like Lagos.