The determination of the dielectric response of Ionic liquid (EV2OFeCl14) electrolytes involved analyzing impedance spectra as a function of salt content. A measurement workflow was established and validated to prepare and characterize ionic liquids. Conductivity measurements were carried out using temperature-dependent dielectric and impedance spectroscopy on a model ionic liquid, EV2OFeCl14. The method provides insights into the electric properties.
The construction industry remains one of the most hazardous sectors globally due to the high level of occupational risks associated with construction activities. In Nigeria, weak regulatory enforcement, inadequate safety training, poor safety culture, and limited adoption of modern safety management systems have contributed to frequent construction site accidents and unsafe working conditions. This study developed a Health and Safety Performance Management Framework for construction sites in Bida and environs, Nigeria. A mixed-methods research design was adopted using quantitative and qualitative approaches. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires, interviews, and site observations involving contractors, project managers, site engineers, safety officers, and construction workers. Out of 100 questionnaires administered, 86 were returned and analysed using descriptive statistics, Relative Importance Index (RII), and thematic content analysis. The findings identified inadequate use of personal protective equipment, poor safety training, weak regulatory enforcement, inadequate supervision, and poor safety culture as the major health and safety challenges on construction sites in the study area. The study further revealed that many construction firms lacked formal health and safety management systems, structured risk assessment procedures, and effective monitoring mechanisms. In addition, the adoption of modern safety technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), drones, and wearable safety devices was relatively low due to financial and technical limitations. Based on the findings, a Health and Safety Performance Management Framework was developed incorporating leadership commitment, regulatory compliance, worker participation, safety training, risk assessment, technology adoption, monitoring systems, and continuous improvement processes. The framework also integrated principles of ISO 45001 and Prevention through Design (PtD) to promote proactive safety management. The study concluded that improving health and safety performance in Bida and similar semi-urban environments requires a comprehensive and integrated management approach involving contractors, workers, and regulatory agencies. The framework is expected to enhance safety compliance, reduce accidents, improve worker well-being, and support sustainable project delivery in the Nigerian construction industry.
This study examines the emission characteristics of a diesel engine fueled with biodiesel blends derived from cottonseed and Jatropha seed oils. The biodiesel was synthesized via the transesterification process, using a 50:50 blend of cottonseed and Jatropha oils, methanol, and potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a catalyst. The resulting biodiesel was blended with conventional diesel in varying proportions (B10, B20, B30, B40, and B50) and characterized based on ASTM D6751 and D7467 standards, assessing key fuel properties such as viscosity, density, calorific value, flash point, pour point, iodine value, and oxidative stability. The study evaluated engine emissions at speeds of 1300 rpm and 1600 rpm, focusing on hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) using an automotive emission analyzer. The results revealed that the B50 blend exhibited the most stable performance, with a fuel consumption rate of 0.00070 kg/s and high thermal efficiency ranging from 27.87% to 42.64%. The engine maintained effective torque output (1294 Nm to 1633 Nm) and stable combustion characteristics. Emission analysis indicated that B50 produced the lowest HC (37 ppm at 1300 rpm, 31 ppm at 1600 rpm) and CO emissions (0.03% at 1300 rpm, 0.02% at 1600 rpm), while NOₓ emissions remained within regulatory limits. The findings suggest that the B50 blend offers an optimal balance between engine performance and environmental sustainability, significantly reducing harmful emissions while maintaining operational efficiency. The study concludes that biodiesel blends from cottonseed and Jatropha oils, particularly B50, present a viable alternative to conventional diesel, contributing to cleaner combustion and lower carbon footprints. It is recommended that industries and policymakers encourage the adoption of biodiesel blends, and further research should focus on long-term engine durability and optimization for biodiesel applications.
The iterative nature of steel beam design was investigated in this study with the aim of developing empirical relationships capable of simplifying preliminary section selection. A total of twenty-three (23) two-span continuous steel beams were analysed and designed using elastic theory in accordance with BS 5950:Part 1,1985 provisions. The selected beam arrangements were intended to reveal the effects of span, load intensity, and end restraints on member size selection. During the iterative design process, the elastic section modulus was hypothetically increased until adequate sections satisfying strength and stability requirements were obtained. The governing parameters were subsequently correlated with unit weight of sections and percentage increase in elastic section modulus using regression analysis.Results indicate that a very strong relationship exists between span and unit weight for fixed-end beams subjected to constant uniformly distributed loading, with a correlation coefficient of +0.99 and coefficient of determination of 97.5%. The corresponding regression equation was obtained as y = 17.8x – 25.2. Strong relationships were also observed between loading conditions and unit weight for other beam configurations. The study further showed that unit weight demonstrates stronger predictive relationships than percentage increase in elastic section modulus. The findings suggest that incorporating unit weight relationships during preliminary steel beam selection can significantly reduce the number of design iterations required in practical structural engineering design. Although the proposed relationships are limited to the loading and boundary conditions investigated, they provide a useful framework for rapid preliminary sizing of continuous steel beams and may serve as a basis for future computational optimization studies.
Formation of emulsions in crude oil causes enormous challenges in the oil and gas industry. Two types of emulsions are common in the oilfield: water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions. Water-in-oil emulsion is the most common and is thus considered in this work. Emulsions are formed when two immiscible fluids (oil and water) from the reservoir are agitated in the presence of emulsifying agents during production. Treatment of water-in-oil emulsions is a costly process; therefore, in this work, environmentally friendly demulsifiers were formulated from jatropha leaf and bitter leaf. The jatropha leaf and bitter leaf were dried under sunlight and ground into fine particles. Thereafter, a reflux condenser technique was used to extract the demulsifiers, jatropha leaf oil (JLO) and bitter leaf oil (BLO), respectively. The JLO and BLO were tested on crude oil samples obtained from the Niger Delta, and the results were compared with a commercial demulsifier (CD). The JLO, BLO, and CD were tested on the crude oil, and the percentages of demulsifier efficiency were obtained at varying settling times, at both room temperature (27 °C) and 60 °C, and at varying concentrations of 0.125 ml and 0.2 ml. Jatropha leaf oil was tested at concentrations of 0.125 ml and 0.2 ml, while bitter leaf oil was tested at a concentration of 0.125 ml, at 5,000 rpm and 10,000 rpm, respectively. It was observed that JLO had its best separation of 60% efficiency at 60 °C, 5,000 rpm and 10,000 rpm, at a concentration of 0.125 ml. BLO had its best separation of 58% efficiency at 60 °C, 5,000 rpm and 10,000 rpm, at a concentration of 0.125 ml. The CD had its best separation of 58% efficiency at 60 °C and 5,000 rpm, at a concentration of 0.125 ml. The results showed that JLO and BLO performed above and equal to the CD. However, with further research and improvement, BLO could be used in the future as a commercial demulsifier.
