Textile Technology

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    Development and Characterisation of a Nanocomposite Membrane Using Polyethersulphone and Graphene Oxide-Magnetite Nanoparticles for Rejection of Chromium Hexavalent Ions from Tannery Wastewater
    (2018) Gadlula, S.; Ndlovu, L.N.; Ncube, L.K.
    Polyethersulphone (PES) polymer blended with Graphene Oxide (GO) and magnetite ( nano-composite was synthesized using an immersion precipitation process for the filtration of chromium hexavalent ions from leather processing waste water. PES is a synthetic polymer with good chemical resistance, wide pH range (2-13) as well as good mechanical and thermal properties. However, it is hydrophobic and prone to fouling hence its limitations in aqueous separation processes. In order to improve hydrophilicity, porosity, permeability and strength properties of the polymeric membrane, GO was synthesized from coal via a modified Hummers Method and then blended with anhydrous ferrous chloride to form Graphene oxide/ magnetite () hybrid nano-particles. To assess the performance of the membrane pure water flux, Equilibrium Water Content (EWC) and tensile strength test was measured. Structural analysis involved porosity measurement. The filtration efficiency of the membranes was found by testing the waste water for chromium ion concentration before and after filtration. It was established that both the physical properties and chromium ion rejection improved with increase in polymer concentration and addition of hybrid nano-particles.
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    Development of a low cost re-usable microfibre sanitary pad.
    (Science and Engineering Publishing Company, 2014-07-04) Chakwana, C.; Nkiwane, L.
    Menstrual hygiene management is a big problem for women and girls in Zimbabwe as the sanitary pads are expensive. An average pack of 8-10 at $ US1. 50 is significantly expensive for females coming from low income families, which has caused women and girls to resort to unhealthy ways such as using grass and cow dung for managing their menstruation, which exposes them to infections. The aim was to develop a low-cost re-usable microfibre sanitary pad with good performance properties and low cost maintenance, affordable to poor women. The design was based on the Johnson and Johnson re-usable (a rectangular shape) sanitary pads. The new re-usable pad was developed from polyester microfibre materials. It has a pocket for an insert of another material that will enhance the collection of blood. The developed pad was tested for wicking, leakage and strike through properties. The newly developed pad exhibited better properties and yet cheaper than the commercial disposable pads.
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    Extraction and characterisation of the mechanical properties of cotton stalk bastfibres.
    (2016) Nkomo, N.Z.; Nkiwane, L.C.; Njuguna, D.; Oyondi, E.
    Cotton stalks are a waste by-product of cotton farming and a problem to dispose of as they tend to harbour parasites such as pink bollworm. The stalks are normally disposed of by burning, which contributes to the emission of harmful greenhouse gases which pollute the environment. Cotton stalks were collected from Umguza region in Zimbabwe which is located 53km from Bulawayo town. The stalks were subjected to retting for 3 weeks and there after fibre extraction carried out by means of manual decortication. The fibres were then subjected to a number of tests such as tensile strength, moisture regain, linear density, density and fibre length measurement test. The fibres were characterised according to their position relative to the cotton stalk and segmented as fibres from the top section, middle section and bottom section. The test results from characterisation of the fibres were analysed using SPSS statistical software. The cotton stalk fibres have a light brownish colour and the fibre length was approximately 8.18 cm. The moisture regain of the fibres was highest with fibres extracted from the root area having regain of 11.14%, fibres from the top half had moisture regain of 10.68% and fibres from the bottom half of 10.20%. The diameter of the cotton stalk fibres is 0.23mm which is similar to the diameter found in sisal fibres. The fibres have an elongation of 1.5%. The fibre yield from the cotton stalks is 23%. The cotton stalk fibres have density of approximately 1.45g/cm3.These fibres have possibility in various application which include fibreboards, for wall partitions, furniture applications and ceiling boards to replace solid wood materials.
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    Performance characteristics of local and imported sanitary pads.
    (Zimbabwe Journal of Science & Technology, 2014) Nyoni, A.B.; Nkiwane, L.; Gonde, P.; Sibanda, P.
    A comparative study of Zimbabwean manufactured and imported sanitary pads was carried out in order to elucidate the performance characteristics that make them popular with the majority of women. Five different types of the most popular imported and locally made sanitary pads that were determined by a preliminary questionnaire survey were selected and their performance characteristics, that is, absorbency, liquid retention and strike through properties determined. The results show that imported sanitary pads are preferred by Zimbabwean women (47%) due to their performance characteristics such as comfort, odour control, size, absorption, sticking of adhesive, packaging and protection of strike through. Women using local products account for 39% of the sample population and those using both imported and local products 14% and a significant number of women in rural areas (72%) are still using alternative methods due to the prohibitive costs of modern methods of sanitary protection.