http://irepo.futminna.edu.ng:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/81 SIPET 2026-05-03T02:30:02Z http://irepo.futminna.edu.ng:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/30691 Title: Functionalized and Pigmented Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes for Aesthetic and Structural Prosthetic Applications. Authors: Alade, N. A.; Abubakre, O. K.; Medupin, R. O.; Abulkareem, A. S.; Akintunde, I. B.; Mustapha, S; Tijani, J. O.; Muriana, R. A.; James, J. A. Abstract: This study synthesised and characterised pigmented multi-walled carbon nanotubes (pMWCNTs) using kaolin from Kogi State, Nigeria, as a sustainable resource for prosthetic reinforcement. The multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized via catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CVD) using Fe-Ni supported on kaolin as the catalyst, and functionalized with sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) and nitric acid (HNO₃) in a 3:1 ratio to enhance dispersion in polymer. Subsequently, the MWCNTs were coated with red and yellow oxide to improve aesthetic. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed a 3.14% residue at 500 °C. HRSEM imaging showed good dispersion of the nanotubes, and EDX confirmed the presence of 10.4 wt. % Fe (iron) and 5.6 wt. % O (oxygen), indicating successful pigment integration and stability. These results suggest that pMWCNTs can serve effectively as reinforcement materials with potential in visually appealing prosthetic limb applications. 2025-06-01T00:00:00Z http://irepo.futminna.edu.ng:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/30551 Title: Simulink Design and Analysis of Universal Solar Dryer with Tracking Device Authors: Muhammadu Masin, Muhammadu; Muhammad, Sule-Sarki Abstract: Preserving perishable food is one of the challenges required to overcome food security and season tomatoes and other vegetables wastage. Forced drying of agricultural products, in particular vegetable - such as tomatoes is one modern methods of perishable food drying. Solar drying uses abandoned solar energy during the day. Effective solar drying requires tracking of the sun by the drying tray. Therefore, this necessitates the development of solar dryer with tracker. Aim of this paper is to design a solar tracking for drying tomatoes. This paper however, presents Simulink design of these applications of Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS) in power system and also analyses the design parameters in order to improve the solar energy tracker. A solar dryer with solar tracking was designed. The drying chamber has overall dimensions of 457.2 mm x 406.4 mm x 558.8 mm with three drying trays having a drying area of 0.25 m2 each. The dryer consists of three major units namely, the drying chamber, the solar tracker and a solar powered control. The control unit has four temperature sensors, and four controlled DC fans for varying the air flow rate from the solar collector. The drying chamber is to be lagged with carbon fibre as an insulator. The solar collector made of Aluminum sheet and the glass on top. Fresh tomatoes were used for performance evaluation testing. Each drying tray was loaded with 5 kg of tomato slices of 8 mm thickness from initial moisture content of 93.3% (w.b.) and dried to a final moisture content of 12% (w.b.) in 13 hours, when operated under natural convection current. The maximum drying rate of tomato slices attained under natural convection and forced circulation were 3.1 and 2.8 kg of water per kg of dry matter-hr. For the open-air sun drying, the maximum drying rates for tomato were 1.5 kg of water per kg of dry matter-hr. The dryer was able to remove 52.8% of moisture while tracking the sun, dry basis, from 4.6 kg of product in one day of 10.00 hours drying time, which is about 0.46 kg/hr drying rate. The efficiency of the dryer was 56.25%. Description: Conference CFDRI 2025-11-15T00:00:00Z http://irepo.futminna.edu.ng:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/30037 Title: Electrochemical Characterization of Stainless-Steel Mesh and carbon-felt Electrodes for Enhanced Power Generation in Terrestrial Microbial Fuel Cells Authors: Simeon, Meshack Imologie; Alaka, C. Amarachi; Daniel, Peter; Adeniyi, COlalekan D. Abstract: Terrestrial Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) represent a promising avenue for sustainable energy production, leveraging microbial metabolism to convert organic matter in the soil into electricity. Crucial to MFC performance is selecting electrode materials, which directly interface with electroactive microbes for electron transfer. This study conducts a comparative analysis of surface-modified stainless-steel mesh (SMS) and carbon felt (CF) electrodes in terrestrial MFCs, evaluating their performance metrics and impedance spectroscopy. The SMS electrode, fabricated using the pasting and reinforcement process, demonstrated superior performance with a maximum power of 859 µW compared to the 234 µW power of the commercially available CF electrode. This better performance of the SMS electrode was attributed to its pseudocapacitive behavior, enhancing internal charge storage capacity and overall MFC efficiency. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed a substantially higher charge transfer resistance (Rct) in the CF electrode, impeding electron transfer processes. Conversely, the SMS electrode exhibited lower Rct and improved diffusion characteristics, facilitating efficient electron transfer and mass transport. Notably, the Rct of the CF electrode was over 40 times higher, while its diffusion coefficient was approximately six times greater compared to the SMS electrode. These findings underscore the importance of tailored electrode materials in optimizing MFC performance and highlight the utility of impedance spectroscopy in elucidating the complex electrochemical processes within MFC systems, thereby guiding future advancements in sustainable power production for terrestrial MFCs. 2024-04-24T00:00:00Z http://irepo.futminna.edu.ng:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/29846 Title: Quality Assurance of Hollow Sandcrete Blocks; A Case Study of Hollow Sandcrete Block Industries in Minna, Niger State Nigeria Authors: Tsado, T. Y.; Auta, S. M.; James, O.; Ahmed, S. B. 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z