Browsing by Author "Wanasolo, William"

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Assessment of healthcare waste Pyrotec model 8 incinerator efficiency as a performance indicator at Muhimbili National Referral Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
(African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2021-09-27) Wanasolo, William; Manyele, Samwel Victor
The performance of a healthcare waste Pyrotec Model 8 incinerator at Muhimbili national referral hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was investigated using two different types of healthcare wastes namely sharps waste and other waste (mass/weight) and as fractions. The other independent factor used in the investigation was diesel oil consumption. The incinerator performance was evaluated by determining how these factors affected the amount of ash residue, the percentage of weight reduction, incinerator capacity and efficiency. The numerical quantities used for independent variables were randomly selected which included low, mid and high levels. The Factorial method with Mixture Historical Data Design type of research methodology was selected for data analysis. The analysis tools included Design Expert Version 7.1 and SigmaPlot 10.0. Results showed that weight reduction increased with increase in sharps waste for all quantities of the fraction of sharps waste investigated. It was concluded that the level of other waste charged had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on the percentage of weight reduction at quantities of total waste below 940 kg/weight but in the presence of high levels of total waste above 960 kg/weight there was a possible interactive effect that influenced the observed high percentage of weight reduction. As a recommendation, it is better to operate the Pyrotec Model 8 incinerator in terms of weight of sharps waste than in terms of the fraction of sharps waste.
Environmental levels and human body burdens of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances in Africa: a critical review
(Elsevier : Science of The Total Environment., 2020-10-15) Ssebugere, Patrick; Sillanpää, Mika; Matovu, Henry; Wang, Zhanyun; Schramm, Karl-Werner; Omwoma, Solomon; Wanasolo, William; ChelangatNgeno, Emily; Odongo, Silver
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are known organic pollutants with adverse health effects on humans and the ecosystem. This paper synthesises literature about the status of the pollutants and their precursors, identifies knowledge gaps and discusses future perspectives on the study of PFASs in Africa. Limited data on PFASs prevalence in Africa is available because there is limited capacity to monitor PFASs in African laboratories. The levels of PFASs in Africa are higher in samples from urban and industrialized areas compared to rural areas. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are the dominant PFASs in human samples from Africa. Levels of PFOS and PFOA in these samples are lower than or comparable to those from industrialized countries. PFOA and PFOS levels in drinking water in Africa are, in some cases, higher than the EPA drinking water guidelines suggesting potential risk to humans. The levels of PFASs in birds' eggs from South Africa are higher, while those in other environmental media from Africa are lower or comparable to those from industrialized countries. Diet influences the pollutant levels in fish, while size and sex affect their accumulation in crocodiles. No bioaccumulation of PFASs in aquatic systems in Africa could be confirmed due to small sample sizes. Reported sources of PFASs in Africa include municipal landfills, inefficient wastewater treatment plants, consumer products containing PFASs, industrial wastewater and urban runoff. Relevant stakeholders need to take serious action to identify and deal with the salient sources of PFASs on the African continent.
Facile synthesis and characterization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with hydroxyapatite from cattle horns for adsorptive removal of fluoride
(Heliyon Open access, 2023-03-08) Ojok, Walter; Bolender, James; Wasswa, John; Ntambi, Emmanuel; Wanasolo, William; Moodley, Brenda
Developing a new adsorbent for fluoride removal from cattle horn waste materials by a facile chemical method has shown great potential for fluoride removal. This paper reports the synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with hydroxyapatite from cattle horns (MWCNT-CH) using a facile chemical method. Characterization studies using standard techniques showed that the composite is mesoporous with a rough morphology and contained MWCNTs uniformly encapsulated by the hydroxyapatite forming a crystalline MWCNT-CH composite. Optimization of fluoride adsorption by the as-synthesized composite using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) showed that a maximum fluoride removal efficiency of 80.21% can be attained at initial fluoride concentration = 10 mg/L, pH = 5.25, adsorbent dose = 0.5 g and a contact time of 78 min. ANOVA indicates contribution of the process variables in descending order as pH > contact time > adsorbent dose > initial fluoride concentration. Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 0.9991) best described the process, and the maximum adsorption capacity of fluoride onto the as-synthesized MWCNT-CH composite was 41.7 mg/g. Adsorption kinetics data were best fitted in the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.9969), indicating chemisorption. The thermodynamic parameter ( Δ H = 13.95 J/mol and Δ S = 65.76 J/mol/K) showed that fluoride adsorption onto the MWCNT-CH composite was a spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy-driving process. Moreover, the adsorption mechanism involves ion exchange, electrostatic interaction, and hydrogen bonding. Fluoride was successfully desorbed (using 0.1 M NaOH) from the composite in four cycles, retaining fluoride removal efficiency in the fourth cycle of 57.3%.
Performance of Egg-Shell and Fish-Scale as Adsorbent Materials for Chromium (VI) Removal from Effluents of Tannery Industries in Eastern Uganda
(Open Access Library Journal, 2017-08-16) Bamukyaye, Sam; Wanasolo, William
The performance of egg-shells and fish-scales biomaterials in separating chromium (VI) ions from tannery effluents obtained from tannery industries in Jinja town of Eastern Uganda was investigated. Using crushed egg-shell and fish-scales as adsorbents, sorption tests were carried out to determine the effects of bio-sorbent concentration and particle size on chromium (VI) removal. The adsorbate concentration in the tannery effluents before and after adsorption was analyzed using the UV-vis Spectrophotometer at wavelength of 540 nm. The adsorbent concentration was calculated from concentration change in aqueous solution before and after equilibrium sorption. Results showed that chromium (VI) ions adsorb on the surfaces of both biomaterials. The optimum conditions for chromium (VI) removal were found at pH of 6.8, particle size of 300 μm and bio-sorbent concentration of 0.5 g. The correlation coefficient (R2) showed that chromium (VI) adsorption fitted Langmuir adsorption isotherms. It was concluded that the adsorption process of chromium (VI) on the fish-scales and egg-shells was highly feasible.
Role of starch in one pot fabrication of mesoporous gamma-alumina with excellent fluoride sorption capacity
(Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment, 2023-09-23) Ojok, Walter; Moodley, Brenda; Wasswa, John; Ntambi, Emmanuel; Wanasolo, William; Bolender, James
Green synthesis of mesoporous γ-AƖ2O3, a cutting-edge material for sustainable application in medicine, engineering, energy, and water treatment, is still challenging. Our study used a one-pot strategy for facile synthesis of γ-AƖ2O3 by sol-gel method using starch from cassava waste. AƖ(OH)3 were bound to the O-H groups of the starch molecule to form the AƖ(OH)3-starch complex in a nano-network confined in starch polymer cages. Its calcination at 500 ℃ produced a mesoporous, highly crystalline water stable γ-AƖ2O3 with a pore size of 2.07 nm and an extensive BET surface area (215 cm2/g). Using the response surface methodology (RSM), the as-synthesized γ-AƖ2O3 was optimized for efficient fluoride removal from water. A central composite design (CCD) was used to study the effect of initial fluoride concentration, pH, contact time, and sorbent dose on fluoride removal efficiency and optimization of the process. The relative importance of the sorption process variables to the fluoride removal process was assessed using ANOVA. The quadratic model showed that the predicted response was significantly correlated with the experimental response (R2 = 0.9667), with sorbent dose and pH being the process's most influential factors. Optimum conditions for 93.6% fluoride removal efficiency were sorbent dose of 0.5 g, initial fluoride concentration of 10 mg/L, pH 7, and contact time of 137.5 min. A weakly acidic medium favored fluoride removal from water, while the presence of PO43- and HCO3- retarded the process. The sorption data fitted well in the Langmuir isotherm (0.9783) and pseudo-second-order kinetic model (0.9999), indicative of a chemisorption process. The maximum sorption capacity towards fluoride was 207.5 mg/g. A thermodynamic study indicated that the sorption process was spontaneous and endothermic, with increased randomness at the solid-solution interface. Sorption, desorption, sustainability, and leaching tests showed that the sorbent could be used for sustainable fluoride removal at 8.3 USD/1000 liters of safe drinking water.