Journal of Engineering in Industrial Research
Volume:4 Issue: 3, Sep 2023

In Nasarawa State, groundwater is the most often used source of fresh water for daily consumption, but its quality still remains a serious concern due to rising concentrations of radon resulting from activities of mining. This study assesses the effective dose arising from radon exposure through groundwater consumption and inhalation in Nasarawa, Nigeria, using the liquid scintillation detector. Ten borehole samples of groundwater were collected. The mean content of radon from water samples of Nasarawa was 19.393±0.254 Bq/l. The average ingested and inhaled dose effectiveness annually was 0.102±0.0014 mSv/y and 5.05 x10-5±0.000 mSv/y, respectively. In Nasarawa, the average ingested extra lifetime cancer risk was 3.585 x10-4±0.000 and for inhalation was 1.768 x 10-7 ±0.000. Research area's average radon concentration was higher than the standard of 11.1 Bq/l set by the SON and USEPA. Based on the findings of the present work, the radon concentration is unacceptable. Hence, inhabitants should be restricted from using the water until measures are put into place. However further analysis could be carried out in the area to prevent people from cancer risk. To cover the entire zone, additional research should be conducted covering additional sources in the study area. As concentrations of radon in water sources varies with time as a result of dilution by rainfall, more examination may be conducted in dry and raining periods.

SrS/Zr films were grown using an electrochemical deposition technique. The spectrum is polycrystalline with a cubic structure and a noticeable (111) peak. The addition of 0.01 mol of zirconium dopant increases the peak intensity, confirming successful doping. Precursor temperature affects peak intensity, indicating film crystallinity. The spectrum is cubic with a distinct (111) peak and is polycrystalline. Peak intensity rises with the addition of 0.01 mol zirconium dopant, implying dopant acceptance. Peak intensity grows with higher precursor temperature, indicating film crystallite. Cloudlike precipitates appear on the film surface due to variations in precursor temperature. The cloudlike precipitate recircled and created a dense cloud on the film surface with increasing precursor temperature. The SrS material with doping demonstrated consistent deposition and complete substrate coverage by nanoparticles for photovoltaic applications. The synthesized films have an energy bandgap of 1.23 eV to 1.50 eV.

Zirconium doped Lead selenide (PbSe) nanocrystal films were synthesized on FTO substrates by electrodeposition technique, and analyzed by UV-Visible Spectrophotometer, four-point probes technique, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometer and Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The results show that the synthesized Zr/PbSe films exhibited an increase in optical absorbance as the deposition pH increased, with the highest absorbance value in the UV region. The forbidden energy gap values of the synthesized films were observed to increase with an increase in deposition pH. A direct forbidden energy gap ranging from (1.80–1.90)eV within the pH value of 7.5–9.0 was recorded. A refractive index range of 0.65-1.25 was observed. The XRD patterns show that the synthesized films exhibit large grain size and polycrystalline and cubic crystal structure. The SEM image exhibits a densely packed uniformed smooth surface of distribution of spherical-shaped grains, which covered the entire substrate. The spherical-shaped-like grains coalesce to form bigger particles with triangular-shaped rough surfaces at a higher value of pH. The film thicknesses were found to decrease from 105.55nm to 100.98nm as the pH increased from 7.5 to 9.0.

The broad spectrum of radiation, encompassing electromagnetic waves, particle radiation, and acoustic radiation, poses potential negative biological consequences, particularly when exposure surpasses the occupation exposure limit (OEL) recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. This study investigates the health implications of ionizing radiation on professional radiation workers in selected tertiary hospitals in South Southern Nigeria. The research evaluates the effective doses incurred by medical and non-medical workers across six different centers (A, B, C, D, E, and F). Among medical workers, center B registers the highest mean effective dose at 0.836±0.200 mSv, followed by center C (0.801±0.313 mSv), center E (0.761±0.123 mSv), center A (0.760±0.250 mSv), center D (0.722±0.120 mSv), and center F with the lowest mean at 0.700±0.067 mSv. A similar pattern is observed for non-medical workers, with center B again exhibiting the highest mean effective dose (0.725±0.200 mSv). While mean differences between medical and non-medical workers are slight, the study underscores that medical workers generally receive higher doses, attributed to their proximity to medical radiation facilities. Statistical analyses, including t-test values and p-values, indicate non-significant differences in means among centers. Importantly, all recorded doses adhere to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) limits, affirming a commitment to maintaining radiation exposure within globally recognized safety thresholds. This comprehensive evaluation provides valuable insights into the health impact of ionizing radiation on professional radiation workers in the selected tertiary hospitals in South Southern Nigeria.

Supercritical fluids have emerged as a unique and promising class of materials for various applications owing to their tunable physical and chemical properties. These fluids are characterized by their state above the critical temperature and pressure, where they exhibit properties of both liquid and gas phases. Their properties, including density, viscosity, and diffusivity, can be finely tuned by precisely controlling their pressure and temperature. Furthermore, they possess excellent solvating properties that can dissolve a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds. Supercritical fluids are utilized in diverse fields, including materials science, pharmaceuticals, energy, and environmental remediation. Some of the popular applications include supercritical fluid extraction, supercritical drying, supercritical fluid chromatography, and supercritical fluid in materials sciences. This review provides an overview of the basic principles of supercritical fluids, their unique properties, and their recent advances and applications in different scientific fields