Assessment of the processing and sale of marine fish and its effects on the livelihood of women in Mfantseman Municipality,Ghana

Fish is a key source of protein for many households in Ghana. It is also an essential source of income to many households in the coastal communities of Ghana. The importance of the fisheries sector to the socio-economic development of the country cannot be over emphasised. Women dominate the fishing value chain in Ghana but paradoxically, the study of their activities has not attracted the attention of researchers and policy makers. This study examined the processing and sale of smoked marine fish and its effects on the livelihood of women in Mfantseman Municipality. The survey was conducted in four communities. A sample size of 363 was drawn from women in the industry and institutions whose activities are related to the industry. The data were analysed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Findings from the study revealed that the industry offers employment opportunity for the majority of women in the municipality, and it is an important source of income to them. Further, the industry has potentials for reducing poverty and enhancing economic empowerment of women in the district. However, women in the industry are confronted with challenges which include health risks that erode whatever gains made by them. The study concludes that the municipal assembly must spearhead and provide a conducive environment for this economic activity to flourish as a way of reducing poverty among women in the municipality.     

Evaluating technological innovation impact: an empirical analysis of the offshore wind sector

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study analyzed the determinants that impact innovation on offshore wind energy (OSW) for a select group of countries, applying mixed-method...     

Total mercury distribution in different tissues of six species of freshwater fish from the Kpong hydroelectric reservoir in Ghana

Total mercury concentrations were determined in seven tissues of 38 fish samples comprising six species from the Kpong hydroelectric reservoir in Ghana by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry technique using an automatic mercury analyzer. Mercury concentration in all the tissues ranged from 0.005 to 0.022 μg/g wet weight. In general, the concentration of mercury in all the tissues were decreasing in the order; liver > muscle > intestine > stomach > gonad > gill > swim bladder. Mercury concentration was generally greater in the tissues of high-trophic-level fish such as Clarotes laticeps, Mormyrops anguilloides and Chrysichthys aurutus whereas low-trophic-level fish such as Oreochromis niloticus recorded low mercury concentration in their tissues. The results obtained for total mercury concentration in the muscle tissues analysed in this study are below the WHO/FAO threshold limit of 0.5 μg/g. This suggests that the exposure of the general public to Hg through fish consumption can be considered negligible.     

Ferric-manganese doped sulphated zirconia nanoparticles catalyst for single-step biodiesel production from waste cooking oil: Characterization and optimization

Biodiesel of waste cooking oil origin is gaining attention as a replacement for current fossil fuels, as its low-priced, recycled feedstock shall prevent food source competition, which is estimated to happen with current biodiesel production processes. As a result, waste cooking oil has been claimed to be a highly potential feedstock for biodiesel production. In the present research work, Fe-Mn doped sulphated zirconia catalyst was synthesized and used in simultaneous esterification and transesterification of waste cooking oil to biodiesel synthesis. The catalyst was prepared through the impregnation method and characterized by using XRD, TPD-NH_3, FT-IR, BET, and TEM. Response surface methodology (RSM) in conjunction with the central composite design (CCD) was applied to statistically evaluate and optimize the biodiesel preparation process. It was found that the synthesis of biodiesel achieved an optimum level of 97.2% waste cooking oil methyl ester’s (WCOME’s) yield at the following reaction conditions: methanol/oil molar ratio: 10:1, catalyst concentration: 3.0 wt %, and reaction temperature: 160 °C. The extremely high WCOME’s yield of 97.2% was proved to be due to high acidity, surface area, and large pore diameter; reactants can easily diffuse into the interior pore of the catalyst and allow them to be in contact with active sites that enhance catalytic activity.