http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/61 Tue, 14 Jul 2026 08:01:06 GMT 2026-07-14T08:01:06Z http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10300 Title: Eco-friendly catalyst design: Transforming volcanic lava ashes into sustainable synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol in one pot solvent-free route Authors: Kandola, Isack; Kivevele, Thomas; Hilonga, Askwar; Baraka, Kichonge; Maina, Paulo; Ramkat, Rose C.; Orlando, Castro-Ocampo; Delesma, Cornelio; Okoye, Patrick U. Abstract: Volcanic lava ash (VLA), a natural waste from nature’s geological activities was used as a raw material for the first time to produce a series of heterogeneous catalysts via facile calcination from 300 to 900 °C. The heterogeneous catalysts were used to synthesize glycerol carbonate (GC) from the transesterification reaction of glycerol (GL) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC). The structural-morphological-crystalline characterization revealed dominant active sites Mg1.04 (SiO3), CK2O3, KAlSiO4, Na3PO4, NaAlO2 and CaO with some silicates and organic carbon, which provided support and stabilizing effects for the alkaline oxides and mixed oxides. The calcination facilitated phase transformation from lower basicity hydroxides and carbonates to higher basicity oxides. The VLA-800 °C catalyst produced the best GC yield and GL conversion reaching 91 ± 1 % and 97 ± 3 %, respectively, at reaction conditions 75 °C, GL: DMC of 1:3, and catalyst loading of 5 wt% under 90 min reaction time. The catalyst maintained (74 ± 1 %) GC yield after the 6th reuse cycle with leaching of active sites and masking by organic matter as the main causes of the progressive loss in catalytic activity. Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10300 2025-04-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10297 Title: Evaluation of antioxidant, antibacterial and fastness properties of erythrina abyssinica extracts on cotton fabric using biomordants Authors: Manyim, Scolastica; Kiprop, Ambrose K; Mwasiagi, Josphat I; Achisa, Cleophas M; Odero, Mark P. Abstract: Due to the toxicity of synthetic dyes, natural dyes have been touted as possible alternatives owing to their ecofriendliness and ability to impart bio-functional properties, such as antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant properties, especially when natural dyes are mordanted using with biomordants. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of using biomordants on the natural dyeing properties of Erythrina abyssinica dye extract, and to evaluate their antioxidant and antimicrobial biofunctionalization properties on cotton fabric. The biomordants used in this study were from mango bark and rosemary extracts. The antioxidant activity of the dyed cotton fabric was established using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) method, while the antimicrobial activity of cotton fabric was measured against the Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains of bacteria using the direct absorbance method. The use of biomordants in dyeing led to an increase in colour strengths from 0.601 to 0.762 and 0.692 for rosemary and mango biomordants, respectively. Cotton dyed using E. abyssinica demonstrated an antioxidant activity of up to 78.6 1%. The dye imparted a microbial reduction ability of up to 69.11% and 70.06% against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively, to the fabric. Dyeing properties, such as wash fastness, light fastness, colour fastness and perspiration, improved after biomordanting. It can thus be concluded that E. abyssinica dye extracts are suitable for textile dyeing and biofunctionalization Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10297 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10295 Title: Renewable energy villages roadmap development for Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Botswana nations Authors: Nebiyu, Girgibo; Rabetino, Karita Luokkanen; Achisa, Cleophas; Kiprop, Ambrose; Kasedde, Hillary; Kirabira, John Baptist; Kasim, Kumakech Abstract: This article aims to map out a roadmap 2025–2029 for 4 African nations—Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Botswana—and associated policy recommendations. The method is to work on the project, long-term Joint Relationship Between European and African in Renewable Energy Research in Energy Village Concept in Africa (LEAP-RE: WP 14) and mapping polices and roadmaps from experience and literature. The significance and contribution is an example to African nations for developing and mapping out a Roadmap for 2025–2029 for Energy Village (EV) projects. The novelty is the African Energy Villages, which were identified to be unique and different from implementations in European nations. The EV concept identifies and analyses potential supplies of renewable energy (RE) and local consumption needs to help local communities become energy self-sufficient. Understanding policies and initiatives for self-sufficient RE villages in Africa under the LEAP-RE program is a crucial prerequisite in implementing EV concepts using clean and secured sources of RE such as biomass, small hydropower, solar, and wind for rural African people. The main conclusion is that such EVs are able to use more than 100% RE from local communities to overcome the energy shortage. Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10295 2025-07-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10294 Title: The development and future direction of renewable energy in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Botswana Authors: Girgibo, N.; Haapalainen, P.; Karita, L.; Adam, G.; Cleophas, A; Kiprop, A. Abstract: Renewable energy (RE) solutions can reduce the climate change effects and their adoption can help local villages to improve community’s energy security. This research aims to identify the challenges and future development paths for African nations based on practical project experience and a systematic literature review. This will help researchers and others (such as policymakers) to implement national and international projects in Africa RE development. The literature and project experience show, the main challenges noticed in Africa are 1) resistance to change and lack of acceptance of RE by local communities; 2) the prohibitive cost of RE technologies and a lack of financial supports and insurance; 3) a lack of knowledge/knowledge gaps in RE production and management; 4) limited willingness and knowledge to share data and lack of knowledge in the energy consumption by locals and no available weather data; 5) a lack of RE infrastructure; 6) the difficulty of establishing contacts with locals; and 7) security issues. The significance and novelty of this research lie in identifying the practical challenges faced by locals and international organizations when implementing RE projects in African nations; providing recommendations for possible solutions and the future direction of African RE development; and planning international continuous collaboration through the creation of a collaborative network. The Energy Village concept was helped Finland and one case study is Jeppo biogas plant, which is build based on this concept and its projects. Despite the numerous challenges facing the development of RE in Africa, African nations hold significant untapped RE potential that can be harnessed systematically. The challenges noticed can be reduced by using the recommended solutions described in this article. Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.mu.ac.ke:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10294 2025-09-01T00:00:00Z