Francis Agada | Comsats University Islamabad (original) (raw)

Papers by Francis Agada

Research paper thumbnail of Biodiesel Production from <i>Ceiba pentandra</i> Seed Oil Using CaO Derived from Snail Shell as Catalyst

Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of A step forward toward quantum dots based perovskite solar cells in an ambient environment

Research paper thumbnail of Biodiesel Production from Terminalia catappa (Tropical Almond) Seed Oil using CaO Derived from Snail Shell as Catalys

Biodiesel which is a biodegradable, nontoxic and ecofriendly fuel was produced from Tropical Almo... more Biodiesel which is a biodegradable, nontoxic and ecofriendly fuel was produced from Tropical Almond seed oil. The almond oil was extracted using n-hexane and then transesterified using CaO catalyst derived from snail shell into biodiesel. The catalyst was calcined and characterized using Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform-InfraRed (FT-IR) methods. The Physicochemical and fuel properties of the biodiesel were determined and compared to ASTM approved ranges. The Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) present in Tropical Almond biodiesel after characterization analysis per area percent include; Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (55.95 %), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester (5.88 %), 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (9.23 %), Cyclopropane, (2-methylenebutyl) (0.07 %) and Methyl stearate (4.58 %). The optimum yield of biodiesel (73.60 %) was obtained at a temperature of 60 °C and time of 120 minutes. The experimental results showed the percentage yield of Almond S...

Research paper thumbnail of A simplistic approach to evaluate the power conversion efficiencies for hybrid charge transport layers in open-air fabricated perovskite solar cells

Journal of Materials Research

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative Antiproliferative Activity of Leaf and Stem Bark Extracts of Detarium senegalense and Leaf of Cymbopogon citratus

Research paper thumbnail of Biodiesel Production from Terminalia catappa (Tropical Almond) Seed Oil using CaO Derived from Snail Shell as Catalyst

Journal of Energy and Environmental Sustainability , 2018

Biodiesel which is a biodegradable, nontoxic and ecofriendly fuel was produced from Tropical Almo... more Biodiesel which is a biodegradable, nontoxic and ecofriendly fuel was produced from Tropical Almondseed oil. The almond oil was extracted using n-hexane and then transesterified using CaO catalystderived from snail shell into biodiesel. The catalyst was calcined and characterized using ThermalGravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform-InfraRed (FT-IR) methods. The Physicochemicaland fuel properties of the biodiesel were determined and compared to ASTM approved ranges. TheFatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) present in Tropical Almond biodiesel after characterization analysisper area percent include; Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (55.95 %), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid,methyl ester (5.88 %), 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (9.23 %), Cyclopropane, (2-methylenebutyl)(0.07 %) and Methyl stearate (4.58 %). The optimum yield of biodiesel (73.60 %) was obtained at atemperature of 60 °C and time of 120 minutes. The experimental results showed the percentage yield ofAlmond Seed Oil to be 56.8 % and that of the biodiesel produced to be 65.71 %. Critical Fuel Propertiesof Almond Seed Oil investigated such as density (0.89 g/cm3), pour point (0.6 °C), cloud point (6.1°C), flash point (148 °C) and specific gravity (0.90) are in conformity with ASTM D6751 standards.This makes Tropical Almond Seed Oil a good feedstock for biodiesel production with little modificationsin its properties.

Research paper thumbnail of Biodiesel Production from Ceiba pentandra Seed Oil Using CaO Derived from Snail Shell as Catalyst

Due to the environmental problems caused by the use of fossil fuels, considerable attention has b... more Due to the environmental problems caused by the use of fossil fuels, considerable attention has been given to biodiesel production as an alternative to petrol diesel. Biodiesel is ecofriendly, alternative diesel fuel prepared from domestic renewable sources that is, from vegetable oils and animal fats. It is a renewable source of energy which seems to be an ideal solution for global energy demand. In this study, the biodiesel production from kapok (Ceiba pentandra) seed oil with methanol has been considered in the presence of catalyst that is, CaO derived from snail shell. Optimum yield conditions were determined experimentally by changing certain parameters such as reaction time and temperature, at the end of the experiment, the maximum yield of 56.7 % was obtained at 60°C and reaction time of 60 minutes. The physicochemical properties of the produced biodiesel were determined by ASTM procedures and were found to be comparable to ASTM standards for diesel fuel except for acid value which was above the recommended standard. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) demonstrated the presence of hydrocarbons.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative Antiproliferative Activity of Leaf and Stem Bark Extracts of Detarium senegalense and Leaf of Cymbopogon citratus

Malignant cancer cells exhibit uncontrollable high proliferation similarly to meristematic cells ... more Malignant cancer cells exhibit uncontrollable high proliferation similarly to meristematic cells of seeds, this led to the establishment that agents capable of producing antiproliferative effects are potential anticancer agents. The experimental plant used for this research was Sorghum bicolor seeds. The sole aim of this research work is to unveil the antiproliferative potential of Detarium senegalense and to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus on radicle length of Sorghum bicolor seeds. The three extracts were prepared at concentrations of 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg/cm 3 as well as methotrexate (reference standard) at concentration of 0.05 mg/cm 3. The growth lengths were measured at 24, 48 and 72 hours of the experiment and expressed as percentage inhibition and percentage growth. The extracts produced considerable amount of antiproliferative effect on the radicle length of the seeds. The antiproliferative activity of the three extracts were concentration (dose) dependent, as the concentration of the extracts of leaves of D. senegalense increases, the percentage inhibition also increases, with a percentage of 89.47 % at an optimum concentration of 100 mg/cm 3. Similarly, D. senegalense stem bark and C. citratus leaves showed percentage inhibition which corresponds to 73.68 % at optimum concentration of 100 mg/cm 3 and 86.84 % at an optimum concentration of 80 mg/cm 3 after the 72 hours of the incubation period. This research work however, has unveiled the use of D. senegalense as potential therapeutics for cancer treatment especially in developing countries, and has added a new-found knowledge to science.

Research paper thumbnail of Biodiesel Production from <i>Ceiba pentandra</i> Seed Oil Using CaO Derived from Snail Shell as Catalyst

Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of A step forward toward quantum dots based perovskite solar cells in an ambient environment

Research paper thumbnail of Biodiesel Production from Terminalia catappa (Tropical Almond) Seed Oil using CaO Derived from Snail Shell as Catalys

Biodiesel which is a biodegradable, nontoxic and ecofriendly fuel was produced from Tropical Almo... more Biodiesel which is a biodegradable, nontoxic and ecofriendly fuel was produced from Tropical Almond seed oil. The almond oil was extracted using n-hexane and then transesterified using CaO catalyst derived from snail shell into biodiesel. The catalyst was calcined and characterized using Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform-InfraRed (FT-IR) methods. The Physicochemical and fuel properties of the biodiesel were determined and compared to ASTM approved ranges. The Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) present in Tropical Almond biodiesel after characterization analysis per area percent include; Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (55.95 %), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester (5.88 %), 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (9.23 %), Cyclopropane, (2-methylenebutyl) (0.07 %) and Methyl stearate (4.58 %). The optimum yield of biodiesel (73.60 %) was obtained at a temperature of 60 °C and time of 120 minutes. The experimental results showed the percentage yield of Almond S...

Research paper thumbnail of A simplistic approach to evaluate the power conversion efficiencies for hybrid charge transport layers in open-air fabricated perovskite solar cells

Journal of Materials Research

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative Antiproliferative Activity of Leaf and Stem Bark Extracts of Detarium senegalense and Leaf of Cymbopogon citratus

Research paper thumbnail of Biodiesel Production from Terminalia catappa (Tropical Almond) Seed Oil using CaO Derived from Snail Shell as Catalyst

Journal of Energy and Environmental Sustainability , 2018

Biodiesel which is a biodegradable, nontoxic and ecofriendly fuel was produced from Tropical Almo... more Biodiesel which is a biodegradable, nontoxic and ecofriendly fuel was produced from Tropical Almondseed oil. The almond oil was extracted using n-hexane and then transesterified using CaO catalystderived from snail shell into biodiesel. The catalyst was calcined and characterized using ThermalGravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier Transform-InfraRed (FT-IR) methods. The Physicochemicaland fuel properties of the biodiesel were determined and compared to ASTM approved ranges. TheFatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) present in Tropical Almond biodiesel after characterization analysisper area percent include; Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (55.95 %), 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid,methyl ester (5.88 %), 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (9.23 %), Cyclopropane, (2-methylenebutyl)(0.07 %) and Methyl stearate (4.58 %). The optimum yield of biodiesel (73.60 %) was obtained at atemperature of 60 °C and time of 120 minutes. The experimental results showed the percentage yield ofAlmond Seed Oil to be 56.8 % and that of the biodiesel produced to be 65.71 %. Critical Fuel Propertiesof Almond Seed Oil investigated such as density (0.89 g/cm3), pour point (0.6 °C), cloud point (6.1°C), flash point (148 °C) and specific gravity (0.90) are in conformity with ASTM D6751 standards.This makes Tropical Almond Seed Oil a good feedstock for biodiesel production with little modificationsin its properties.

Research paper thumbnail of Biodiesel Production from Ceiba pentandra Seed Oil Using CaO Derived from Snail Shell as Catalyst

Due to the environmental problems caused by the use of fossil fuels, considerable attention has b... more Due to the environmental problems caused by the use of fossil fuels, considerable attention has been given to biodiesel production as an alternative to petrol diesel. Biodiesel is ecofriendly, alternative diesel fuel prepared from domestic renewable sources that is, from vegetable oils and animal fats. It is a renewable source of energy which seems to be an ideal solution for global energy demand. In this study, the biodiesel production from kapok (Ceiba pentandra) seed oil with methanol has been considered in the presence of catalyst that is, CaO derived from snail shell. Optimum yield conditions were determined experimentally by changing certain parameters such as reaction time and temperature, at the end of the experiment, the maximum yield of 56.7 % was obtained at 60°C and reaction time of 60 minutes. The physicochemical properties of the produced biodiesel were determined by ASTM procedures and were found to be comparable to ASTM standards for diesel fuel except for acid value which was above the recommended standard. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) demonstrated the presence of hydrocarbons.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative Antiproliferative Activity of Leaf and Stem Bark Extracts of Detarium senegalense and Leaf of Cymbopogon citratus

Malignant cancer cells exhibit uncontrollable high proliferation similarly to meristematic cells ... more Malignant cancer cells exhibit uncontrollable high proliferation similarly to meristematic cells of seeds, this led to the establishment that agents capable of producing antiproliferative effects are potential anticancer agents. The experimental plant used for this research was Sorghum bicolor seeds. The sole aim of this research work is to unveil the antiproliferative potential of Detarium senegalense and to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus on radicle length of Sorghum bicolor seeds. The three extracts were prepared at concentrations of 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg/cm 3 as well as methotrexate (reference standard) at concentration of 0.05 mg/cm 3. The growth lengths were measured at 24, 48 and 72 hours of the experiment and expressed as percentage inhibition and percentage growth. The extracts produced considerable amount of antiproliferative effect on the radicle length of the seeds. The antiproliferative activity of the three extracts were concentration (dose) dependent, as the concentration of the extracts of leaves of D. senegalense increases, the percentage inhibition also increases, with a percentage of 89.47 % at an optimum concentration of 100 mg/cm 3. Similarly, D. senegalense stem bark and C. citratus leaves showed percentage inhibition which corresponds to 73.68 % at optimum concentration of 100 mg/cm 3 and 86.84 % at an optimum concentration of 80 mg/cm 3 after the 72 hours of the incubation period. This research work however, has unveiled the use of D. senegalense as potential therapeutics for cancer treatment especially in developing countries, and has added a new-found knowledge to science.