Prevalence of Malnutrition and Anaemia in Children ≤ 5 Years of Age in Some Conflict Hit Areas of Meme Division of the South West Region of Cameroon

Malnutrition refers to the deficiency, imbalances, or excesses in a person’s intake of energy or nutrients [1]. Khan defines anaemia as below level of Haemoglobin in red blood shown by a lower number of functioning red blood cells [2]. The crisis in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon has led to several negative effects on children’s living conditions. There has been an increase in malnutrition and anaemia in the South West Region and Kumba in particular. The main objective of this study was “to examine the prevalence of malnutrition and anaemia in children ≤ 5 years of age in some conflict-hit areas of Meme Division”. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 from March to June. We recruited 200 children ≤ 5 years into the study from three hospitals. The regional hospital annex in Kumba, Presbyterian General Hospital Kumba and the Ntam Hospital in Kumba. Socio-demographic factors were assessed using questionnaire, nutritional status was assessed by the use anthropometric measurements and an auto haematology analyser was used to determine anaemia. The overall prevalence of malnutrition in the study area was 40.5%. The prevalence of malnutrition varied significantly (P < 0.001) with the study sites. The overall prevalence of anaemia in the study area was 70.5%. The prevalence of anaemia was not significantly associated with the study sites. The prevalence of Malnutrition and Anaemia in children ≤ 5 years of age is very high in the Kumba municipalities. This could be attributed to the ongoing crisis which has caused a lot of social migrations from rural areas to Urban areas which are safer.

Physico-Chemical Properties of Soils from Diguel and Koudalwa Tchad,and Phytoremediation Potentials of Acasia and Kinkeliba Plants in Removing Cr and Cu from These Soils

The aim of this study to investigate the physico-chemical properties of soils from Diguel and Koudalwa Tchad,and phytoremediation potentials of acasia and kinkeliba plants in removing Cr and Cu from these soils.Soil was sampled from the tannery plant in Diguel and agricultural land around crude oil activities in Koudalwa.Soils were characterized by the following properties:pH,(Electrical Conductivity),TDS(Total Dissolved Solids),salinity,bulk density,OM(Organic Matter),nitrate,phosphate,clay,silt,sand,and textural class.The acasia and kinkeliba plants were used to decontaminate Cu and Cr from sample soils for 30 days period.The bulk density of all the soil samples from Kouldawa was higher compared to Diguil,ranging from 1.421 to 1.64 g/cm^(3)compared to 1.21 to 1.51 g/cm^(3)for Diguel.Most of the soils in Kouldawa are mineral soils,while those of Diguel are mostly mineral soil with some organics.Diguel soils are richer in nitrate(577.9 to 2,687.32 mg/kg in Diguel and 33.64 to 197.64 mg/kg in Kouldawa)and phosphate than soils from Kouldawa.Soils from the studied areas are not saline except for a subsurface soil in Diguel(salinity,4.21;EC,4.280 dS/m;TDS,3,040 mg/L).The highest amount of Cr and Cu removed by acasia is 78%and 53.12%compared to 73.8%and 52.21%by kinkeliba.Diguel soil can be very suitable for agriculture and Kouldawa soils for construction.Acasia and kinkeliba can be effectively used to decontaminate the studied soils from heavy metal pollution.

Energetic Extended Edge Finding Filtering Algorithm for Cumulative Resource Constraints

Edge-finding and energetic reasoning are well known filtering rules used in constraint based disjunctive and cumulative scheduling during the propagation of the resource constraint. In practice, however, edge-finding is most used (because it has a low running time complexity) than the energetic reasoning which needs O(n3) time-intervals to be considered (where n is the number of tasks). In order to reduce the number of time-intervals in the energetic reasoning, the maximum density and the minimum slack notions are used as criteria to select the time-intervals. The paper proposes a new filtering algorithm for cumulative resource constraint, and titled energetic extended edge finder of complexity O(n3). The new algorithm is a hybridization of extended edge-finding and energetic reasoning: more powerful than the extended edge-finding and faster than the energetic reasoning. It is proven that the new algorithm subsumes the extended edge-finding algorithm. Results on Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problems (RCPSP) from BL set and PSPLib librairies are reported. These results show that in practice the new algorithm is a good trade-off between the filtering power and the running time on instances where the number of tasks is less than 30.

Identification of major sources controlling groundwater geochemistry in Mount Makabaï in the Far-North of Cameroon(the northernmost part of the Pan-African Belt)

The present work focuses on the volcanic basement rock geochemistry of Mount Makabaï(MarouaCameroon city)in relation to groundwater geochemistry.Investigations were centered on an approach involving an association of several methods such as geological cartography,hydrogeology,and geochemistry.Three rock samples,four disturbed soil samples,three undisturbed soil samples,and 20 samples of groundwater in 10 wells were collected during fieldwork and prepared for laboratory analyses.Bedrocks exhibit porphyritic,aphyric,and subaphiric textures.The phenocryst phases are mainly olivine,clinopyroxene,and plagioclase.Based on whole rock major element chemical compositions,the Makabaï samples,plotted on Na_(2)O+K_(2)O versus SiO_(2)diagram,are mugearite,hawaiite,and basalt.The ratio of(MgO+CaO)/(Na_(2)O+K_(2)O)exceeds unity and shows dominance of alkaline Earth metals(MgO:2.99-4.48%;CaO:6.19-9.80%)relatively to alkali metals(Na_(2)O:2.27-4.46%;K_(2)O:2.09-2.51%).Exchangeable base contents are high,mostly represented by Ca and Mg,whose contents vary from 14.6 to 35.28 cmol(+)kg^(-1)and from 3.28 to9.48 cmol(+)kg^(-1)respectively.The CECclayis likewise high,fluctuating between 116.80 and181.38 cmol(+)kg^(-1),values in line with the presence of 2:1 clay minerals represented in the study area by montmorillonite.In the water samples,the Ca2+and Na+contents are generally higher than K^(+)and Mg^(2+),reflecting the relative abundance of Na_(2)O and CaO oxides to K_(2)O and MgO oxides in rocks where different waters were sampled.The waters of Makabaï are acidic to neutral(6.3≤pH≤7.4)and weakly to highly mineralized(110.0≤EC≤1190.0μS/cm).Hydro-geochemical classification by using the Piper diagram revealed two water types:(1)CaMg-HCO_(3)(40%)and(2)CaMg-Cl or CaMg-SO4(60%).The average content of ions in all the analyzed samples was HCO_(3)^(-)>>NO_(3)^(-)>SO_(4)^(2-)>Cl-for anions and Ca^(2+)>>Mg^(2+)>Na^(+)>K^(+)for cations.Major mechanisms governing ionic constituents of groundwater in the study area are water-rock interactions,silicate weathering,and ion exchange.

Impact of Pretreatment on the Germinative Characters of Seeds of Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (Bignonaceae) for Its Domestication in Chad

The objective of this research is to lift the dormancy of seeds of S. kunthianum in with a view to domesticating them. In this experiment, we used the soaking of seeds in sulfuric acid for different durations (10 min, 30 min and 1 h). The treated seeds were sown in transparent germinators. The explants obtained were then transplanted into pots containing five types of substrate (black earth, fine sand, sawdust, mixtures 1/1 of sawdust/black earth and 1/1 of sawdust/fine sand). This second test made it possible to determine the rate of germination on the substrate. The results obtained compared to those of the control showed a clear reduction in the latency time or germination time (62 hours) instead of 6 days (control), in the germination time 3 days/7 days (control) and a very high germination rate (100%). At the 5% threshold, soaking for 10 min and 30 min (100%) is the best result on the germination of S. kunthianum seeds. Soaking for 1 hour gives (7%) very low. After transplantation of the explants, the percentages obtained independently of the treatments show that the 1/1 mixtures of sawdust/black earth (75.19%), black earth (73.33%) and sawdust/fine sand (66.30%) have a higher performance than the others. The type of germination is epigeal. This work makes it possible to domesticate S. kunthianum in Chad.

Waste Recovery and Sustainable Development. A Case Study of Material Development from Used Tires in Africa

This paper outlines a mechanical transformation process for rubber recycling, demonstrating the development of a new material from used tires. With the crumbs obtained using a crusher-compactor, a novel material for the manufacture of O-rings has been developed, with properties close to those found on the market. The process includes an experimental methodology of a sulfur vulcanization system choice and the quantification of ingredients, as well as the experimental determination of cure parameters. Mechanical tests on the samples completed the work by providing the mechanical characteristics of both unaged and aged (thermo-oxidative ageing) novel material. This process has a high potential for sustainable development and industrialization, making it a valuable contribution to the recycling of rubber in African developing countries.

Subsurface Structural Mapping Using Combined Terrestrial and Grace Gravity Data of the Adamawa Plateau (North-Cameroon)

In order to analyze and determine the geological structures of the Adamawa plateau, the terrestrial gravity data were combined to data computed from GGM02C gravity model. The dense gravity net obtained were further introduced into qualitative and quantitative interpretations. The resulting Bouguer anomaly map obtained from combined data shows NE-SW direction which nearly coincides with the main direction of the fractures affecting the basement in the region and indicates strong gradients marking the presence of discontinuities between heavy and negative gravity anomaly. In order to conduct the quantitative interpretation of the combined gravity data, three profiles were drawn on the residual Bouguer anomaly map and therefore were interpreted using spectral analysis method and 3D density inversion. The knowledge of the depth and density of the geological structures show an uplift of dense rocks under the granite-gneiss substratum. This dense material found in the ENE-WSW direction of the Adamawa Plateau is interpreted as basaltic intrusion probably resulting from tectonic processes. According to this study, the depths of 3.83 km and 9.62 km are the new values of depths obtained for futures investigations in the Adamawa plateau.

The Global Stability Analysis of a Mathematical Cellular Model of Hepatitis C Virus Infection with Non-Cytolytic Process

The aim of this work is to analyse the global dynamics of an extended mathematical model of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in vivo with cellular proliferation, spontaneous cure and hepatocyte homeostasis. We firstly prove the existence of local and global solutions of the model and establish some properties of this solution as positivity and asymptotic behaviour. Secondly we show, by the construction of appropriate Lyapunov functions, that the uninfected equilibrium and the unique infected equilibrium of the mathematical model of HCV are globally asymptotically stable respectively when the threshold number and when .

Influence of CRT Glass Quantity on the Properties of Red Mud-CRT Glass Ceramics Fired at Different Temperatures

This paper reports the production of ceramics using CRT(cathode ray tube)glass and red mud by varying the amount of waste glass and firing from 700-950℃.The raw materials were characterized using chemical composition,IR(infra-red spectroscopy),XRD(X-ray diffraction),DSC-TGA(differential scanning calorimetry-thermo gravimetric analyses)and SEM(scanning electron microscopy)analysis.The ceramic specimen was produced by mixing a constant quantity of red mud and 0%-40%of waste glass,then firing from 700-950℃.The linear shrinkage,water absorption,apparent porosity,bulk density,weight loss on ignition,flexural strength and chemical resistance test were used to evaluate the produced ceramics.Raw materials had good fluxing properties which were improved with firing.All the specimens produced had water absorption values below the maximum value of 20% specified by the norm for roofing tiles while specimens with 30%-40% CRT glass and fired at 850°C,and specimens with 20%-40% CRT glass and fired at 950℃ had water absorption values below 10%,which is the norm for ceramic tiles.For specimens 0%-40% CRT glass fired at 950℃,specimens 5%-40% CRT glass fired at 850℃,specimens 10%-40% CRT glass fired at 750℃ and specimen with 20%CRT glass fired at 700℃,water absorption values were all lower than 17% which is ASTM C62 specifications for bricks.The norm of flexural strength for floor tiles>25 MPa but all values were less than 25 MPa.The ceramic shows a maximum loss of 0.10%in HNO3 against 0.06%for NaOH.The two waste materials can effectively be used to produce ceramic materials with good properties.

Tree Species Composition and Diversity in the Riparian Forest of Lake Barombi Kotto, Cameroon

Tree species composition and diversity were investigated in the riparian forest around Lake Barombi Kotto, Cameroon. This study aimed at determining the tree species composition, population structure, and providing evidence of anthropogenic disturbances in the riparian forest of Lake Barombi Kotto. The objectives were to determine the tree species composition and diversity in the riparian forest around Lake Barombi Kotto, to elucidate the forest structure and to document the anthropogenic disturbances in this forest. Five plots were laid within which the tree enumeration and measurement of dbh were carried out. Trees were identified using scientific identification keys in the Flora of West Africa. Disturbance scores were given to each site by qualitatively assessing various disturbances. A total of 340 trees belonging to 70 plant species, 63 genera and 28 plant families were enumerated. Shannon-Wiener diversity varied across sites, with the highest value (H = 3.45) recorded in Tung and the lowest (H = 2.21) in Malenda. Population structure differed across sites, the largest stand basal area of 43.78 m2/ha was recorded in Bondokombo while the smallest (2.15 m2/ha) was recorded in the Sacred Island. Cecropia peltata L., Pseudospondias macrocarpa Oliv. Pierre and Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn had the largest basal areas across the different sites. Species rich families were Malvaceae (9 species), Fabaceae (9 species), Annonaceae (4 species), and Anacardiaceae (4). This study shows that, there is a high tree species diversity in the protected forest (Tung) but the other unprotected sites are highly disturbed by anthropogenic activities. There is need to develop and enhance existing management policies for this riparian forest, especially by replanting the cut trees and creating a protected riparian buffer to conserve its floristic diversity and ecological functions.

Exergy Analysis of a Double-Effect Solar Absorption Refrigeration System in Ngaoundere

Solar energy is replacing more and more traditional sources of energy because of the fact that it’s also fighting about global warming. This study is based on exergy analysis of a double-effect series flow absorption refrigeration system powered by solar energy in Ngaoundere. The simulation is done on the basis of a half hourly analysis for the first time, from 6.30 AM to 6.30 PM, using water-lithium bromide as working pair. The main parameters for the performance of an absorption cycle, which are the COP and the ECOP, have been analyzed and the results show that this two parameters increase while increasing the temperature of the main generator. The exergy loss of each component of the system and the total exergy loss of the system have been analyzed and their effectiveness calculated, using the first and second law of thermodynamics. The highest exergy loss occurs in the main generator GI and in the absorber, making these components more important in an absorption cycle. This analysis is based on a mathematical model using FORTRAN?language. The results obtained may be useful for the optimization of solar absorption refrigeration systems.

Synthesis, Molecular Structure, Anti-Plasmodial, Antimicrobial and Anti-Oxidant Screening of (E)-1-(Phthalazin-1-yl)-1-[(Pyridin-2-yl)Ethylidene]Hydralazine and 1-[2-(1-(pyridine-3- yl)ethylidene)hydrazinyl]phthalazine

Two new hydralazine hydrochloride-derived Schiff bases: (E)-1-(Phthalazin- 1-yl)-1-[(Pyridin-2-yl)Ethylidene]Hydralazine (PPEH), and 1-[2-(1-(pyridine- 3-yl)ethylidene)hydrazinyl]phthalazine (PEHP), were synthesized and partially characterized by spectroscopic and crystallographic methods including IR and X-ray. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) analysis of PEHP indicates that the hydralazine moiety of both ligands possesses the exocyclic C=N bond. Both, PPEH and PEHP were tested as antimicrobials and antiparasites. Just PEHP could be considered as slightly antiplasmodial and antibacterial agent. In effect, PPEH showed low antimicrobial activity against one bacterial strain with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value of 250 μg/ml while PEHP showed very interesting activity against 18 out of 19 bacterial strains with MIC of 31.25 - 250 μg/ml compared to the standard drug, amoxicillin. PPEH and PEHP showed higher reducing activity on ferric ions compared to Vitamin C. On the other hand, both hidrazaline synthetized derivatives showed as better reducing agents than Vitamin C on ferric ions, while again, only the PEHP showed slightly high inhibition of lipid peroxidation using Vitamin C as standard. Regarding their catalase activity, both compounds showed concentration dependent effect, but Vitamin C continued showing a higher stimulatory effect on the enzyme activity. Additionally, while PPEH showed less than 80% inhibition in the preliminary antiplasmodial assay and so was not considered for the dose-response studies, PEHP displayed an inhibition percentage of 83.60% and 50% Inhibitory Concentration (IC50) value of 44.13 μg/mL compared to the standard drug, artemisinin and was classified as slightly active.

Simulations of the Performance of Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithms Based on Experimental Data According to the Topologies of DC-DC Converters

Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithms are now widely used in PV systems independently of the weather conditions. In function of the application, a DC-DC converter topology is chosen without any previous performance test under normal weather conditions. This paper proposes an experimental evaluation of MPPT algorithms according to DC-DC converters topologies, under normal operation conditions. Four widely used MPPT algorithms i.e. Perturb and Observe (P & O), Hill Climbing (HC), Fixed step Increment of Conductance (INCF) and Variable step Increment of Conductance (INCV) are implemented using two topologies of DC-DC converters i.e. buck and boost converters. As input variables to the PV systems, recorded irradiance and temperature, and extracted photovoltaic parameters (ideality factor, series resistance and reverse saturation current) were used. The obtained results show that buck converter has a lot of power losses when controlled by each of the four MPPT algorithms. Meanwhile, boost converter presents a stable output power during the whole day. Once more, the results show that INCV algorithm has the best performance.

Mineral Chemistry of Wehrlite Xenoliths Hosted in Basalts from the SW of Hossere Dammougalre(Adamawa Plateau,Cameroon):Thermobarometric Implications

Wehrlite samples (size: ~4 cm) hosted in basaltic lavas from the SW of Hosséré Dammougalré are located in the western Adamawa Plateau. Porphyritic and allotriomorphic texture characterize respectively host Basalt and wehrlite xenoliths. The phenocrysts of olivine (Fo68&minus;74), and Ti-magnetite are scattered in host basalt. Wehrlite xenoliths (~4 cm size) contain Cr-rich clinopyroxene (diopise-augite), olivine (Fo76&minus;88) and chromiferous spinel. Equilibrium temperatures calculated from Fe/Mg exchange reaction for olivine/spinel vary between 944&#176;C and 1102&#176;C. The wehrlite olivine crystals with low Fo (<90) indicate a re-equilibration of Fe-Mg in the host basalt at low temperatures. All the analyzed wehrlite clinopyroxenes have crystallized at high pressures as evidenced by the Alvi and Aliv contents. The studied spinel-bearing wehrlite xenoliths represent probably the residual portions of the upper mantle, which are an important source of information about lithospheric composition and thermal evolution beneath the Adamawa Plateau.

Assessment of Sustainability Indicators of Thermoelectric Power Generation in Cameroon Using Exergetic Analysis Tools

In this paper, we evaluate the performance and sustainability indicators of various thermal power generation technologies in Cameroon using the exergy analysis tools. For this purpose, on the basis of data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) for Cameroon corresponding to the period from 2006 to 2014, we calculated the average energy and exergy efficiencies of each electricity generation technology from thermal sources. The average values of the exergy efficiencies obtained are respectively 28.97% for the LFO plants, 30.94% for the HFO plants, 34.66% for the biofuel plants and 36.67% for the gas-fired plants. The average sustainability indexes for each of the technologies are determined and values range from 1.56 for LFO plants to 2.12 for biofuel plants. The improvement potentials of each technology are calculated in order to identify the tracks of increase of their efficiency. Average values range from 165.57 GWh for biofuel plants to 1301.77 GWh for LFO plants. The results of this study should enable the development of productive and applicable planning for future energy policies, in particular for the electricity sector in Cameroon.

Interpretation of locally high gravity anomalies using terrestrial gravity data in Bagodo, North Cameroon

In this work,we interpreted gravity data to determine the structural characteristics responsible for high-gravity anomalies in Bagodo,North Cameroon.These anomalies had not previously been characterized through a local study.Thus,we undertook a regional-residual separation of the gravity anomalies by using the polynomial method.Geophysical signatures of near-surface small-extent geological structures were revealed.To conduct a quantitative interpretation of the gravity anomalies,one profile was drawn on a residual Bouguer anomaly map and then interpreted by spectral analysis,the ideal body solution,and 2.5-dimensional modeling.Our results showed that the intrusive body in the Bagodo area consists of two trapezoidal blocks.The first and second blocks have roofs approximately 7.5 and 14 km deep,respectively,whereas their bases are approximately 17 km deep.These values are in agreement with those obtained by the ideal body solution,which showed two cells with a density contrast of 0.3 g·cm^(−3) in comparison with the surrounding rocks.The density of this body was estimated to be approximately 3 g·cm^(−3).The topography of these rocks showed that they are basaltic rocks that would have cooled in fracture zones as an intrusion.

Kolmogorov-Smirnov APF Test for Inhomogeneous Poisson Processes with Shift Parameter

In this article, we study the Kolmogorov-Smirnov type goodness-of-fit test for the inhomogeneous Poisson process with the unknown translation parameter as multidimensional parameter. The basic hypothesis and the alternative are composite and carry to the intensity measure of inhomogeneous Poisson process and the intensity function is regular. For this model of shift parameter, we propose test which is asymptotically partially distribution free and consistent. We show that under null hypothesis the limit distribution of this statistic does not depend on unknown parameter.

Metabolic Abnormalities and Metabolic Syndrome among Cameroonian Women: Comparative Study between Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women

The high prevalence of non-communicable diseases is a challenging problem in the Cameroonian population and women are the most affected. The aim of the present study was to determine and compare the prevalence of metabolic abnormalities and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among pre- and post-men- opausal women living in urban areas in Cameroon. A total of 499 women were recruited during a mass health campaign in 2018. Metabolic abnormalities were diagnosed using International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. MetS was defined using IDF criteria with slight modification (total cholesterol used instead of HDL cholesterol). Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between menopausal status and metabolic abnormalities and MetS in age control and non-control models. The prevalence of high waist- to-hip ratio (56.8% vs 36.3%, p < 0.001), elevated fasting blood glucose (glycemia ≥ 100 mg/dL) (38.7% vs 26.9%, p = 0.006);diabetes (14.6% vs 5.7%, p = 0.001);high triglycerides level (29.7% vs 17.1%, p = 0.002);hyperlipidemia (high total cholesterol and or triglycerides levels) (45.0% vs 30.8%, p = 0.002);and elevated blood pressure (67.9% vs 56.1%, p = 0.007) were higher among post-menopausal than pre-menopausal women. The overall prevalence of MetS was 30.1% and post-menopausal women were more affected (33.8% vs 25.0%;p = 0.034). The odds ratio of MetS was 1.888 (95% CI: 1.016 - 3.507) when age was covariate, but was slightly reduced without age control (OR = 1.532;95% CI: 1.031 - 2.275). Metabolic abnormalities seem to be a major health problem among Cameroonian women and menopausal status increased the risk of developing a cardiovascular event.

Integrated Soil Fertility Management: Impact of <i>Mucuna</i>and <i>Tithonia</i>Biomass on Tomato (<i>Lycopersicon esculentum</i>L.) Performance in Smallholder Farming Systems

Many views, paradigms and concepts have been advocated in recent decades on soil fertility and soil conservation across the globe in order to provide sustainable solutions to the rising food and nutrition insecurity while preserving the natural resource base. Meanwhile, food and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is mainly achieved through smallholder farming systems that are characterized by poor and declining soil fertility, which often leads to low crop yields and low income. Hence, a field trial was established to evaluate the impact of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) practices on tomato yield and the farm-scale income in smallholder farming systems. The ISFM trial comprised a control with no input, mineral fertilizer, and organic treatments comprising sole Mucuna and Tithonia biomasses as well as their combination (Mucuna + Tithonia). Generally, tomato performance was better with organic plant biomass amendments, with significantly higher (P Mucuna + Tithonia and sole Tithonia, followed by sole Mucuna and mineral fertilizer compared to the control. Meanwhile in comparison to the control, Mucuna + Tithonia and sole Tithonia recorded 3.5 and 3.4 t ha-1 more yield, respectively, which was about twice the additional yield for sole Mucuna and mineral fertilizer with 1.8 and 1.5 t ha-1, respectively (Tukey’s HSD, P Mucuna + Tithonia and sole Tithonia, followed by sole Mucuna and mineral fertilizer, as compared to the control (Tukey’s HSD, P P P Mucuna + Tithonia biomass materials or their sole applications as basal mulch to improve tomato production. Thus, these organic amendments could be an alternative and sustainable integrated soil fertility management strategy to boost tomato production and farm-scale income without jeopardizing the sustainability of the environment. However, this requires more efforts to adapt the different ISFM techniques to the specific needs of smallholder farmers, coupled with effective dissemination strategies that facilitate knowledge transfer and technology adoption.

Adsorption of Indigo Carmine Dye by Composite Activated Carbons Prepared from Plastic Waste (PET) and Banana Pseudo Stem

This study is on the adsorption of indigo carmine dye by composite activated carbons prepared from banana pseudo stems and plastic waste. The activated carbons named TB1P1, TB1P1h and TB2P1 were obtained by pyrolysis at 700°C under steam of raw materials at different ratios (1:1 and 2:1). They were characterized by different techniques such as SEM/EDX, Raman Spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, TGA/DTA and BET/BJH. Analyses indicate amorphous structures with specific surface areas of 424.37;385.45 and 338.84 m2/g for TB1P1, TB1P1h and TB2P1 respectively. The study of the adsorption of indigo carmine dye by these adsorbents was carried out by varying parameters such as contact time, mass of adsorbent and initial concentration of the dye. The maximum retention is 94.71%, 86.18% and 84.17% for TB1P1, TB1P1h and TB2P1 respectively after 60 min of stirring, for a pH = 4.6 using 0.6 g of adsorbents. The adsorption of indigo carmine follows well, the Langmuir model, with the most suitable kinetics as pseudo second order.