TSP's Journey through PhD Chemistry as a Bulldog

In today's post, I would be sharing some key points about Biochar (The points, except the 9th one, are excerpts from the book: Biochar Production, Characterization, and Applications edited by Yong Sik Ok, Sophie M. Uchimiya, Scott X. Chang, and Nanthi Bolan).  My post is coming in late because I have been immensely occupied with a few things of late. I took my second Environmental Toxicology exam on Friday. Grappled with some Profession Chemistry assignment to be finally turned in on Monday night, and few personal projects I do not want to bore you with, here.  Remember, all posts here have to be in relation to my academic and research experience in grad school. Already, I am done with the Report Writing for Professional Chemistry task, what is left is the insertion and alignment of in-text citations and references. It is about a thousand words. I know you would like to read it, and trust me, I shall share it here in about a fortnight. I need to submit it for grading first, s...

 In my country Nigeria, ''expo" is the slang for examination malpractice. When a person gets an examination question verbatim and in correct sequence before hand, or to engage in an open-book practice as against examination rules. Yes, it means so, but this is not what I am alluding to, and it's contrary to what the subject of this post refers. For your information, it occurs to me that the word ''expo" has various meaning in some (or many) countries of the world. Nigeria has a lot of slangs, and most high school students, particularly public high school students, have a lot of them in their head. Most of the slangs are often used in pidgin English, a popular parlance in my country of over 500 languages and 250 ethnic groups. The pidgin English unites us more than the British English (N.B: the British colonized us). To know more about 100 and something slangs used in public high schools in Nigeria, see this page . This morning, after attending Environment...

For me, determining the pH point of zero charge (pHpzc) seems to be the hardest part of all experiments involving Biochar synthesis. As simple as the procedure is on paper, it is time-consuming in action, particularly if you have several analytes to immobilize in soil and aqueous media. Illustrating Point of Zero Charge As a reminder, my project for the semester centers on using Rice Husk Biochar (RHB) as well as its treatment (with Steam + inorganic phosphate, and with Calcium chloride + inorganic phosphate) for immobilizing the heavy metal matrix (Cd, Pb, and As). I am trying to understand the efficiency of untreated biochar (UB) in comparison with the treated versions (BA and BB), in addition to comparing the efficiency of the two treated versions. Results from this will ideate the scientific community on how much unit metal is adsorbed from a polluted, infertile soil, with respect to a certain pH value. Do not forget that the presence of phosphorus in water leading to algal blooms,...

 Yes, that's my definition of OP.  It is not synonymous with the conventional Oral Proposal which is a prerequisite for advancing to PhD candidacy, at MSU. OP: What is your Activation Energy? Before briefly delving into why I made this post. I would love to mention that, in the previous week, I made some progress in my research. I have had to prepare stock solution of 5 ppm each of my analytes (As, Pb, Cd). I will be analyzing the Point of Zero Charge .  In addition, using the muffle furnace I analyzed the ash content of the modified and pristine biochar, which are all in the range of 30-62%. I have kept the samples for later use, particularly for the next, which is mineral analysis. I have completed an instrumental training on TGA ( Thermogravimetric Analysis ).  I am progressing, and this is true. Yes, why am I talking about OP. As the subject refers; Opportunity vs Priority, which is what I am being presented every now and then in Grad school. Usually, research w...

I had informed in my previous post that I would unveil to you what I am up to, this semester. I had also told you that I would tell about what I am working on, in conjunction with my mentor, who is also my senior colleague. To begin, Sis. Beatrice works on biochar-supported phosphate as fertilizer, where in she added some amount of anhydrous magnesium sulfate as well as potassium dihydrogen phosphate. I am doing something similar too.  The difference is the compound(s) that serve(s) as the activating ingredient. Rice husk is a biomass feedstock with high surface area, and this characteristic per se makes it a good agent for biochar use. I took some grams of rice husk biochar dissolved in de-ionized water, activated with calcium chloride and potassium dihydrogen phosphate with some stirring at temperature 35-40 deg. C, for a period of 30 mins for each of the activators. The significance of activating with compounds as calcium chloride or magnesium sulfate is to increase the porosity...

  A mixture of mild and wild, that's the true content of life. This can be homogeneous or heterogenous; it all depends on how you look at it. At least, that's how I see it.  TSP: Listen, I've found the true content of life I missed a 50-minute class on Current Problems in Chemistry because I chose to begin work at the research lab, today. Sister Beatrice who is in her finals has proved to be a superlative mentor. I really flow with her so well, not because she is African, but because of the adjective to her name: Sister! I like other lab members too- everyone with his or her uniqueness. I am wowed by Samadhi's viable and enviable altruism. I am getting to know everyone in the lab better. About Beatrice. It's a story for another day how I got to know her, and how she wins my heart as a "superlative mentor".  "Starting is the capital of any state you wish to experience" - @thesolutionpeddler I am working with her on the synthesis of phosphate ferti...

Hey, Ana! Check to see if no one is eavesdropping.  As I was saying... In fulfilment of the responsibility saddled to me and my other fresh colleagues in the department by the Graduate Coordinator; Dr. Wipf, I had mailed three other faculty members whose works draw my attention. Well, prior to my arrival in Starkville, I had made up my mind I would do nothing else but Biochar. I had decided not to do any lab rotation until now, when Dr. Wipf mandated that every incoming graduate student should interview a minimum of three faculty members before a final commitment is made to work for a particular mentor.  Today, I interviewed with Dr. Scott for 50 minutes. She did show a great deal of enthusiasm concerning her research interests and current projects. The one that catches my attention is the use of lignin-rich plant materials towards the synthesis of biodegradable plastics as well as coatings and adhesives . She is also into biochemical sensor and electrochromic aspects of polym...