AAMUSTED Knowledge Manager

Welcome to the AAMUSTED Knowledge Manager (Institutional Repository), an open access digital archive of scholarly intellectual and research outputs of AAMUSTED. The Knowledge Manager contains and preserves: Theses and Dissertations; Research Articles and Conference Papers; Rare and Special Materials and many other Digital Assets of the University.

Click on the link to visit our Library website for more services: AAMUSTED Library.

Discover

Communities in AAMUSTED Knowledge Manager

Select a community to browse its collections.

Recent Submissions

  • Thumbnail Image
    Item type: Item , Access status: Open Access ,
    Extraction And Characterization Of Microcrystalline Cellulose From Malted Sorghum Mash For Pharmaceutical Use.
    (N-TEYABI, Nyobon Bosco, 2025-09) N-TEYABI, Nyobon Bosco
    Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a multipurpose polymer used in biomedical, food, chemical, and cosmetic industries. Though malted sorghum is widely utilized in different agro-industries, its mash is often treated as an agricultural waste. This study aimed to extract MCC from malted sorghum mash (MSM), characterized it and study its use as a sustainable source of cellulose for MCC production. The extraction process involved sequential treatment of the malted sorghum mash with water, 4% (w/v) NaOH solution, 5.5% (v/v) sodium hypochlorite for bleaching, 40% (v/v) H2O2 solution for further bleaching and 3.0M hydrochloric acid for acid hydrolysis. From the study, MCC was successfully extracted from malted sorghum mash. Fourier transform infrared analysis of the extract confirmed the absence of impurities in the MSM-MCC fibers produced. The resultant MSM-MCC fiber displayed a distinct crystalline cellulose structure, as indicated by X-ray diffraction analysis of MSM-MCC product reported crystallinity index of 86.63%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed variations in the morphology of the MSM-MCC product whilst Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the MSM-MCC product also demonstrated enhanced thermal stability for the product. MSM-MCC extracted had a percentage yield of 60%. The MSM-MCC was insoluble in distilled water, dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid, acetone and ethanol. This insolubility is consistent with the typical behaviour of cellulose-based material. MCC production from malted sorghum mash presents promising opportunities for use as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and thickener in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food production sectors.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item type: Item , Access status: Open Access ,
    Instructional Leadership Behaviours Of Heads Of Senior High Schools At Mankranso Senior High School
    (2024-02) Jonathan Abugri
    The study examined the instructional leadership styles of the senior high school administrators at Mankraso SHS. The objectives of the study were to identify the typical instructional leadership practices utilized most frequently by heads of senior high schools in Mankraso SHS, evaluate the senior high school administrators at Mankraso SHS for their successful leadership techniques as well as identify the strategies used to enhance the instructional leadership behaviors of Mankraso SHS heads of senior high schools. For the study, a descriptive survey design was used. Teachers from three senior high schools made up the population. The census method was utilized to choose the schools. The teachers were chosen using simple random sampling method. There were 78 respondents in the sample. The primary tool for gathering data was the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha was used to examine the pre-test, and the reliability co-efficient was 0.79. Data were presented using descriptive statistics like frequencies and percentages. According to the study, heads coordinated the curriculum (61.6%) and oversaw its application (60.3%). According to the study, providing constructive criticism and empathetic leadership were also found to be successful instructional leadership behaviors, scoring 59% each. As a result, the study draws the conclusion that heads were responsible for coordinating the school curriculum and overseeing its application as aspects of their instructional leadership qualities. It also suggests that regional directors hold seminars for heads on curriculum design, monitoring, and implementation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item type: Item , Access status: Open Access ,
    Human and Ecological Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soils from Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Areas.
    (BRENYAH-KANKAM Lawrence, 2025-04) BRENYAH-KANKAM Lawrence
    Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) plays a significant role in the economies of many developing countries, including Ghana, but it is also associated with serious environmental and health risks due to the release of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) into the ecosystem. This study assessed the concentrations, sources, ecological risks, and human health implications of PTEs in soils from Gbani, a prominent ASGM area in Ghana. Using a Niton XL3t GOLDD+ field portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, the levels of key metals such as As, Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Co, Ti, V, and Mn were quantified. Multivariate statistical methods, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF), were employed to identify pollution sources. Pollution indices such as the Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), Enrichment Factor (EF), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) indicated moderate to high contamination levels, primarily of anthropogenic origin. Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk assessments were conducted for both children and adults via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal pathways. While most metals remained below regulatory thresholds, elevated concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn, and V exceeded Dutch intervention values, suggesting a potential ecological threat. However, the Hazard Index (HI) and Hazard Quotient (HQ) values for all exposure pathways were below 1, indicating no immediate health risk. The study highlights the need for regular environmental monitoring and the implementation of mitigation strategies to safeguard human health and ecological integrity in mining communities.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item type: Item , Access status: Open Access ,
    Exploration of Avocado Seeds as Material for the Elimination of Toxic Metals in Groundwater in Some Communities in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality, Ghana.
    (ASOMU, Ader Blondy, 2025-08) ASOMU, Ader Blondy
    The use of activated avocado seeds for adsorption is an environmentally safe, effective and affordable technique for cutting back heavy metal levels in water. In this study, activated carbon was produced from avocado seeds, characterised, and tested for its adsorptive capacity on As, Cd and Pb in selected groundwater resources at Sefwi Wiawso Municipality in the Western North region of Ghana. A physical activation method was used to obtain the activated avocado seeds. Surface properties of the activated avocado seeds produced were assessed by XRF, FTIR and SEM-EDX spectroscopy before and after use in the adsorption process. Surface characterisation analysis showed that the activated avocado seeds were potentially good adsorbents for selected heavy metals. Except for turbidity levels, the physicochemical properties of the water samples used were below WHO permissible limits. As, Cd, and Pb levels in the water samples also exceeded the WHO permissible limit. Over 90% of the ions of the heavy metals were removed from the water samples. The metal ions investigated were removed from the water samples. The Freundlich isotherm and the second-order pseudo-kinetic models best fitted the equilibrium adsorption data of the study. The kinetics studies showed that the adsorption process was chemisorption, whilst the thermodynamics studies found the adsorption to be spontaneous and exothermic. This study recommended a study into the production of activated carbon from other agricultural waste products and assesses their adsorptive capacities on metal-ion removal in water resources.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item type: Item , Access status: Open Access ,
    Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Activated Carbon Nanotubes in Removal of Pb, As, and Cd in Groundwaters in Berekum Municipality of Ghana.
    (ANTEPIM, Yeboah Samuel, 2025-09) ANTEPIM, Yeboah Samuel
    Safe, convenient, and cost-effective method of treating water to meet the drinking water needs of human is the key responsibility of upcoming scientist. Heavy metal contamination in water poses significant global challenge affecting both developed and developing nations due to their detrimental effect and health injuries on human and other organisms in the ecosystem. Carbon nanotubes has received the attention of researchers in water treatment and has been detailed premeditated in salt removal, heavy metal removal, removal of cosmetics, removal of antibiotics, removal of potentially toxic elements, and microorganism removal in drinking water. This investigation synthesized carbon nanotubes from graphite powder to remove Pb, As and Cd from ground water. Characterization with SEM, FTIR, UV-VIS and XRD showed polydisperse distribution of carbon nanotubes with particle sizes between 0.0553 µm (55.3nm) to 4.480 µm (480nm). UV showed multiwalled carbon nanotubes and XRD suggested moderate crystallinity. Synthesized carbon nanotubes showed effective adsorbent for removal of selected metal with removal rates of 95.36%, 96.3% and 94.33% for Pb, As and Cd respectively. The adsorption of Pb was best described by the Lagmiur isotherm model whereas the Freundlich isotherm model provided a better fit for As and Cd adsorption, as evidenced by coefficient if determination and chi-square error analysis. The activated carbon nanotubes have exhibited effective adsorption capacity for heavy metal treatment in water with higher maximum adsorption capacity which shows effective treatment of large volumes of water with higher metal contamination. The study suggest that activated carbon nanotubes will be used for water treatment for public due to economic feasibility and environmental sustainability.