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Papers by Frank Ofori Agyemang

Bioresource technology, Jun 1, 2024

Frontiers in membrane science and technology, Apr 19, 2024

The demand for freshwater keeps increasing on a global scale, and on the other hand, the availabi... more The demand for freshwater keeps increasing on a global scale, and on the other hand, the availability of freshwater keeps diminishing. Groundwater has been identified as the largest source of freshwater that is readily accessible. Although the water is available for abstraction, it must be treated to meet application standards. Membrane processes are the options that industry and researchers are turning to for the purification of groundwater. This review provides an insight into the use of pressure-driven membrane processes for groundwater treatment, with focus on the spiral wound membrane module. A brief description of what a spiral wound module is and the plant setup in which it is used is given. The various applications of the spiral wound module with regards to groundwater treatment have been reviewed. The shortcomings and challenges limiting the application of spiral wound modules and by extension, the treatment plant itself have been highlighted. To cap it all, the opportunities that can be exploited to overcome these challenges and position pressure-driven membrane processes for groundwater treatment as the go-to purification method have been discussed.

Journal of Chemistry

Contamination of the environmental receptors with heavy metals due to mining is a major topical e... more Contamination of the environmental receptors with heavy metals due to mining is a major topical environmental issue in Ghana. This research investigates the possible ecological and human health risks of heavy metal impacts due to mining in the Amansie West District in Ghana. A total of 18 soil samples were taken from the Bontesso illegal mining site in the district and analyzed for the levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). From principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and correlation coefficient analysis, the metals are derived from multiple sources, with substantial levels of correlations. Using geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), degree of contamination (Cd), pollution load index (PLI), ecological risk index (Er), and noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, respectively, the impacts of As (12.2 mg/kg) and Cd (1.3 mg/kg) are above the WHO stipulated limit. Findings for p...

Ceramics International, Jun 1, 2015

ABSTRACT Tricalcium phosphate is the most commonly used biomaterial because of its good biocompat... more ABSTRACT Tricalcium phosphate is the most commonly used biomaterial because of its good biocompatibility. However, its poor mechanical strength under complex stress and powder-like appearance hinder its application. The use of a composite biomaterial which maintains a fine balance between excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility can be a solution to this problem. In the present study, we aimed to fabricate porous composite scaffolds via phase-inversion technique without using any additional toxic chemicals which can interfere with their biocompatibility. The composite materials fabricated of poly (vinylidene fluoride) and tricalcium phosphates were prepared, using polyvinyl pyrrolidone as a dispersant. The resulting scaffolds were characterized by using attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and universal tensile strength (UTM) analysis. The composites showed well blend of materials and internal porous structures. The XRD results indicated a mixture of α and β-phases due to successful incorporation of tricalcium phosphate in polymer blends, thereby, exhibiting a crystalline structure. The fabricated composites showed an efficient thermal stability at around 400 °C. The tensile strength of scaffolds increased from 140±1.6 to 148±2.2 g/mm2, which makes the composite scaffold potential candidate for hard tissue applications.

Analytical letters, Jun 19, 2024

Materials Chemistry and Physics

Journal of Energy Storage

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

Fluoride is recognized as a vital ion for human and animal growth because of the critical role it... more Fluoride is recognized as a vital ion for human and animal growth because of the critical role it plays in preventing skeletal and dental problems. However, when it is ingested at a higher concentration it can cause demineralization of teeth and bones resulting in fluorosis, therefore, the production of high-adsorptive capacity material which is also cost-effective is necessary for the treatment of fluorides. In this study, aluminium foil is valorised into alumina nanoparticles. The as-prepared alumina was modified with alum in two different ratios of 1:0.5 and 1:1 (alumina to alum w/w%) and later used as adsorbents for the removal of fluoride from groundwater. The adsorbents were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), point of zero charge and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Different factors that influence the removal efficiency of fluorides such as pH, initial concentrations, contact time and adsorbent dosage were studied and optimized using a simulated fluoride...

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

Nanoscale Research Letters

A new, sizable family of 2D transition metal carbonitrides, carbides, and nitrides known as MXene... more A new, sizable family of 2D transition metal carbonitrides, carbides, and nitrides known as MXenes has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. This is because MXenes exhibit a variety of intriguing physical, chemical, mechanical, and electrochemical characteristics that are closely linked to the wide variety of their surface terminations and elemental compositions. Particularly, MXenes are readily converted into composites with materials including oxides, polymers, and CNTs, which makes it possible to modify their characteristics for a variety of uses. MXenes and MXene-based composites have demonstrated tremendous promise in environmental applications due to their excellent reducibility, conductivity, and biocompatibility, in addition to their well-known rise to prominence as electrode materials in the energy storage sector. The remarkable characteristics of 2D MXene, including high conductivity, high specific surface area, and enhanced hydrophilicity, account for the increasi...

Process Safety and Environmental Protection

Journal of Chemistry

The release of harmful particles from industries is one of the important sources of environmental... more The release of harmful particles from industries is one of the important sources of environmental pollution worldwide. The goal of this study was to determine the amounts of dust deposition and heavy metal pollution in the soils surrounding a cement mill in Konongo, Ghana. Topsoils (0-10 cm) were sampled at the four geographical axes of the factory within a radius of 400 m, while at the same time, about 500 g of cement was sampled with a hand trowel. A Frisbee dust sampler was used to examine the levels of dust depositions at the various geographical axes of the factory. The heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) were measured in a total of 20 soil samples using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The results obtained for climatic elements such as wind speed and direction, temperature, and relative humidity were 2.25, 25.7, and 49.5 m3/s, respectively. The average deposition of dust within the study period using the geographical axi...

Materials Chemistry and Physics

Bioresource technology, Jun 1, 2024

Frontiers in membrane science and technology, Apr 19, 2024

The demand for freshwater keeps increasing on a global scale, and on the other hand, the availabi... more The demand for freshwater keeps increasing on a global scale, and on the other hand, the availability of freshwater keeps diminishing. Groundwater has been identified as the largest source of freshwater that is readily accessible. Although the water is available for abstraction, it must be treated to meet application standards. Membrane processes are the options that industry and researchers are turning to for the purification of groundwater. This review provides an insight into the use of pressure-driven membrane processes for groundwater treatment, with focus on the spiral wound membrane module. A brief description of what a spiral wound module is and the plant setup in which it is used is given. The various applications of the spiral wound module with regards to groundwater treatment have been reviewed. The shortcomings and challenges limiting the application of spiral wound modules and by extension, the treatment plant itself have been highlighted. To cap it all, the opportunities that can be exploited to overcome these challenges and position pressure-driven membrane processes for groundwater treatment as the go-to purification method have been discussed.

Journal of Chemistry

Contamination of the environmental receptors with heavy metals due to mining is a major topical e... more Contamination of the environmental receptors with heavy metals due to mining is a major topical environmental issue in Ghana. This research investigates the possible ecological and human health risks of heavy metal impacts due to mining in the Amansie West District in Ghana. A total of 18 soil samples were taken from the Bontesso illegal mining site in the district and analyzed for the levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). From principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and correlation coefficient analysis, the metals are derived from multiple sources, with substantial levels of correlations. Using geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), degree of contamination (Cd), pollution load index (PLI), ecological risk index (Er), and noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, respectively, the impacts of As (12.2 mg/kg) and Cd (1.3 mg/kg) are above the WHO stipulated limit. Findings for p...

Ceramics International, Jun 1, 2015

ABSTRACT Tricalcium phosphate is the most commonly used biomaterial because of its good biocompat... more ABSTRACT Tricalcium phosphate is the most commonly used biomaterial because of its good biocompatibility. However, its poor mechanical strength under complex stress and powder-like appearance hinder its application. The use of a composite biomaterial which maintains a fine balance between excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility can be a solution to this problem. In the present study, we aimed to fabricate porous composite scaffolds via phase-inversion technique without using any additional toxic chemicals which can interfere with their biocompatibility. The composite materials fabricated of poly (vinylidene fluoride) and tricalcium phosphates were prepared, using polyvinyl pyrrolidone as a dispersant. The resulting scaffolds were characterized by using attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and universal tensile strength (UTM) analysis. The composites showed well blend of materials and internal porous structures. The XRD results indicated a mixture of α and β-phases due to successful incorporation of tricalcium phosphate in polymer blends, thereby, exhibiting a crystalline structure. The fabricated composites showed an efficient thermal stability at around 400 °C. The tensile strength of scaffolds increased from 140±1.6 to 148±2.2 g/mm2, which makes the composite scaffold potential candidate for hard tissue applications.

Analytical letters, Jun 19, 2024

Materials Chemistry and Physics

Journal of Energy Storage

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

Fluoride is recognized as a vital ion for human and animal growth because of the critical role it... more Fluoride is recognized as a vital ion for human and animal growth because of the critical role it plays in preventing skeletal and dental problems. However, when it is ingested at a higher concentration it can cause demineralization of teeth and bones resulting in fluorosis, therefore, the production of high-adsorptive capacity material which is also cost-effective is necessary for the treatment of fluorides. In this study, aluminium foil is valorised into alumina nanoparticles. The as-prepared alumina was modified with alum in two different ratios of 1:0.5 and 1:1 (alumina to alum w/w%) and later used as adsorbents for the removal of fluoride from groundwater. The adsorbents were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), point of zero charge and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Different factors that influence the removal efficiency of fluorides such as pH, initial concentrations, contact time and adsorbent dosage were studied and optimized using a simulated fluoride...

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

Nanoscale Research Letters

A new, sizable family of 2D transition metal carbonitrides, carbides, and nitrides known as MXene... more A new, sizable family of 2D transition metal carbonitrides, carbides, and nitrides known as MXenes has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. This is because MXenes exhibit a variety of intriguing physical, chemical, mechanical, and electrochemical characteristics that are closely linked to the wide variety of their surface terminations and elemental compositions. Particularly, MXenes are readily converted into composites with materials including oxides, polymers, and CNTs, which makes it possible to modify their characteristics for a variety of uses. MXenes and MXene-based composites have demonstrated tremendous promise in environmental applications due to their excellent reducibility, conductivity, and biocompatibility, in addition to their well-known rise to prominence as electrode materials in the energy storage sector. The remarkable characteristics of 2D MXene, including high conductivity, high specific surface area, and enhanced hydrophilicity, account for the increasi...

Process Safety and Environmental Protection

Journal of Chemistry

The release of harmful particles from industries is one of the important sources of environmental... more The release of harmful particles from industries is one of the important sources of environmental pollution worldwide. The goal of this study was to determine the amounts of dust deposition and heavy metal pollution in the soils surrounding a cement mill in Konongo, Ghana. Topsoils (0-10 cm) were sampled at the four geographical axes of the factory within a radius of 400 m, while at the same time, about 500 g of cement was sampled with a hand trowel. A Frisbee dust sampler was used to examine the levels of dust depositions at the various geographical axes of the factory. The heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) were measured in a total of 20 soil samples using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The results obtained for climatic elements such as wind speed and direction, temperature, and relative humidity were 2.25, 25.7, and 49.5 m3/s, respectively. The average deposition of dust within the study period using the geographical axi...

Materials Chemistry and Physics