A blend of Moringa Oleifera oil with diesel was developed which was considered as an alternative fuel for diesel engines. The study considered the cost of transesterifying vegetable oil, as this adds to the cost of blending biodiesel with diesel for a diesel engine. The results indicated M15, a blend of diesel with 15% Moringa Oleifera oil, as the most cost effective blend. The blending was done using a vortex mixer. The Moringa Oleifera seed oil was mechanically extracted by crushing the seed, followed by solvent extraction. The oil was filtered, degummed and then the physicochemical properties were determined. The fuel properties of the blend, M15, such as the kinematic viscosity, acid number, flash point, water and sediments were determined and compared with the standard specifications of biodiesel. The purpose of the study was to develop a cost effective blend of fuel for diesel engines.

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) using Ghana's low flux Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR) was utilized to analyze twelve trace elements namely Al, Au, As, Br, Cl, Ga, K, Mn, Mo, Na, V and Zn in seven different crude petroleum samples from different oil fields in the Niger/Delta region of Nigeria. The results obtained indicate that the concentration ranges of the elements show some variability in compositions and concentrations from field to field. The measured low As and S contents of the samples suggest that the crude oils have low hazardous impact on the environment.

The various conformations of γ-lactone rings, derived from crystal structures, are described and parametrized.