A study of the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions by Moringa oleifera seeds and amine-based ligand 1,4-bis[N,N-bis(2-picoyl)amino]butane

Uptake for lead, copper, cadmium, nickel and manganese from aqueous solution using the Moringa oleifera seeds biomass (MOSB) and amine-based ligand (ABL) was investigated. Experiments on two synthetic multi-solute systems revealed that MOSB performed well in the biosorption and followed the decreasing orders Pb(II) > Cu(II) > Cd(II) > Ni(II) > Mn(II) and Zn(II) > Cu(II) > Ni(II). The general trend of the heavy metal ions uptake by the amine-based ligand followed decreased in the order Mn > Cd > Cu > Ni > Pb, which is the reverse trend for what was observed for MOSB. Comparing the single- and multi-metal solutions, there was no clear effect in the biosorption capacity of MOSB suggesting the presence of sufficient active binding sites for all metal ions studied. The MOSB performance is also not affected by pH in the range 3.5–8.     

Applications of Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS): An Examination of Selected African Cases

As a result of the new economic order in Africa, scientists face enormous challenges due to an increase in socio and economic activities. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) will be expected to play a big role in providing some of the solutions to the challenges. Up to now, applications of GC–MS in Africa have focused on profiling natural products for their chemical composition as seen from the number of papers published between 2005 and 2011, i.e. at approximately 62 % of the total. In order to meet the new challenges, a paradigm shift is suggested in the design of research projects. Some economic activities envisaged to boom are food and beverage production for local consumption and for export to markets in the developed world. To meet the requirements of these markets, monitoring pesticides and metabolites of veterinary drugs and other toxins in food will become paramount. Africa also needs to put stringent environmental monitoring policies in place. This will aid remediation following accidental or intentional spillages of chemicals not benign to the environment.