Abstract: The study investigates the causes of road failure at the Federal College of Education (Technical). Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria using the Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) method, a non-invasive approach to delineate subsurface features responsible for road failures. Surveys were conducted along failed road segments to characterize subsurface materials, moisture zones, and the depth to competent strata. Schlumberger array configuration was used to investigate the geotechnical causes of persistent road failure within the area. The research aimed to delineate subsurface geoelectric layers, identify weak zones, and assess their contribution to pavement instability. Five vertical electrical sounding (VES) stations were established along the failed road segments using an ABEM Terameter SAS 1000. The apparent resistivity data were processed and interpreted using RES2DINV and Surfer software to generate sounding curves and geoelectric section. The results revealed three to four distinct geoelectric layers: topsoil (50-300Ωm), lateritic layer (150-3502 m), clayey/silty layer (38-9952m), and weathered basement/high resistivity (470-900Ωm). The low-resistivity clayey/silty layer beneath the lateritic cap at depths of 5.8 m was identified and indicates the presence of weak zones, clay-rich formations, and high moisture content that contributes to pavement failures due to high plasticity in the study area. The Pseudo section results revealed that the road structure is founded on a near homogeneous substratum, indicating that the road is not situated on a better geology. Hence, the study concludes that geophysical techniques such as ERI are effective tools for subsurface characterization and can significantly reduce premature pavement deterioration in roads construction.

Keywords: Road Failure, Resistivity, Schlumberger Array, Characterization, Geoelectric, layers, , Zones, Substratum.

Title: Geophysical Investigation of Road Failure in Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria Using Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) Method

Author: Ojih Victoria Bolanle, Alade Moses Aiyeoribe, Attoh Vivian Anulichukwu, Nuhu Aliyu Tafida

International Journal of Novel Research in Physics Chemistry & Mathematics

ISSN 2394-9651

Vol. 13, Issue 1, January 2026 - April 2026

Page No: 46-51

Novelty Journals

Website: www.noveltyjournals.com

Published Date: 30-April-2026

Abstract: For present work, we are reporting a study on structural and dielectric properties of lead zirconate titanate and nickel zinc ferrite (PZT-NZF) composite having compositional formula 0.9PbZr_0.65Ti_0.35O₃ – 0.1Ni_0.8Zn_0.2Fe₂O₄ synthesized by solid state reaction route using microwave sintering. The composite sample was sintered at 1150^oC for 10 minutes. The presence of two phases (PZT and NZF) was confirmed by using x-ray diffraction technique. Experimental density of sintered pellet was calculated using Archimedes principle. Dielectric properties were studied as a function of temperature (35-500^oC) at 1, 10 & 100 kHz frequency and function of frequency (100 Hz- 1 MHz) at room temperature.

Keywords: Dielectric; Diffraction; Ferroelectric; Ferrite; microwave.

Title: Structural and Dielectric Properties of Microwave Processed PZT-NZF Composite

Author: Rekha Rani

International Journal of Novel Research in Physics Chemistry & Mathematics

ISSN 2394-9651

Vol. 13, Issue 1, January 2026 - April 2026

Page No: 41-45

Novelty Journals

Website: www.noveltyjournals.com

Published Date: 17-April-2026

Abstract: Natural fiber from plant was chemically treated to expose the cellulose contents that gave stronger bonding during reinforcement for composite production. Chemical treatment of Kankan bile fiber was done using three different alkaline solutions; Potassium Hydroxide, Nitric acid, and Acetic anhydride. Optimization of process variables was done to get the optimum condition of the process and model equation was developed. The result showed that nitric acid gave the lowest value of 23.81% lignin removal at 10% concentration, 70minutes and 40^OCand highest  value of 44.19% removal at 14% concentration, 50minutes and 70^OC while Acetic anhydride gave the lowest value of  33.21% lignin removal at 10% concentration, 70minutes and 40^OCand  highest value of 46.3995% removal at 14% concentration, 50minutes and 70^OC. Also, Potassium hydroxide gave the lowest value of 29.89% lignin removal at 6% concentration, 90minutes and 50^OCand highest value of 41.24% removal at 14% concentration, 50minutes and 70^OC. Hence, acetic anhydride was the best chemical to removal lignin from Kankan bile fiber.

Keywords: Acetic Anhydride, Composite, Kankan bile, Natural Fiber, Nitric acid, Potassium hydroxide.

Title: Effect of Chemical Treatment on Kankan Bile Fiber for Composite Production

Author: Agu Francis Anezichukwu, Edeani Nkiruka Justina, Echereobia Blessing Chidinma

International Journal of Novel Research in Physics Chemistry & Mathematics

ISSN 2394-9651

Vol. 13, Issue 1, January 2026 - April 2026

Page No: 28-40

Novelty Journals

Website: www.noveltyjournals.com

Published Date: 14-April-2026

Abstract: Northern Nigeria faces acute electricity challenges due to weak grid infrastructure, transmission losses, water scarcity, and rising energy demand from population growth and industrialization. Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, though abundant, are intermittent and insufficient to meet baseload requirements. In this context, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have emerged as a promising solution due to their modularity, safety features, scalability, and compatibility with hybrid energy systems. This study applied the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method, to evaluate and rank four SMR technologies Light Water Reactor SMR (LWR-SMR), High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor SMR (HTGR-SMR), Molten Salt Reactor SMR (MSR-SMR), and Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor SMR (SFR-SMR). Fourteen decision criteria were developed based on Nigeria’s energy context, the results showed that LWR-SMR ranked highest (closeness coefficient = 0.5693), owing to its high technology readiness, proven commercial deployment, and financing maturity. HTGR-SMR ranked second (0.5575), excelling in water efficiency and renewable integration, which are vital in Northern Nigeria’s arid climate. In contrast, SFR-SMR (0.4097) and MSR-SMR (0.3598) ranked lower due to technological immaturity, higher complexity, and limited financing pathways. The study concludes that LWR-SMR and HTGR-SMR are the most suitable options for first-phase deployment in Northern Nigeria, while advanced designs such as MSR and SFR may be considered in the long term as technology and regulatory capacity evolve.

Keywords: Energy Security, Intermittent, Insufficient, Northern Nigeria, Nuclear Power, Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM), Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), TOPSIS.

Title: Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Nuclear Energy (Small Modular Reactors) Scalability and Deployment Flexibility for Sustainable Electricity Supply in Northern Nigeria A TOPSIS-Based Approach

Author: A Kabir, A O Musa

International Journal of Novel Research in Physics Chemistry & Mathematics

ISSN 2394-9651

Vol. 13, Issue 1, January 2026 - April 2026

Page No: 19-27

Novelty Journals

Website: www.noveltyjournals.com

Published Date: 16-March-2026

Abstract: Pharmaceutical residues in municipal wastewater pose a critical environmental and public health challenge, as conventional activated sludge treatment removes less than 50% of many pharmaceutical compounds. This systematic review compares three advanced tertiary treatment technologies: advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), biochar adsorption, and membrane filtration. The comparison evaluates removal efficiency, energy consumption, capital and operational costs, technology readiness level, and transformation product risks. Reverse osmosis and photo-Fenton oxidation achieve the highest removal efficiencies, exceeding 95% across diverse pharmaceutical classes. However, they require substantial energy inputs (1.5 to 6.0 and 0.5 to 2.0 kWh/m³, respectively) and significant capital investment. Biochar adsorption offers the most cost-effective solution for moderate removal targets (70 to 90%) with minimal energy requirements (less than 0.1 kWh/m³), making it particularly valuable for resource-limited settings. Hybrid systems that combine oxidation with biological treatment or adsorption consistently outperform standalone technologies by 10 to 20 percentage points. No single technology dominates across all decision criteria. Technology selection should incorporate treatment objectives, regulatory requirements, budget constraints, and local implementation capacity based on specific context. Future municipal wastewater systems will likely use combinations of technologies rather than relying on single universal solutions.

Keywords: advanced oxidation processes, biochar, pharmaceutical removal, membrane filtration, municipal wastewater treatment, technology comparison.

Title: A Performance-Based Comparison of Advanced Oxidation Processes, Biochar Adsorption, and Membrane Filtration for Removing Pharmaceuticals from Municipal Wastewater

Author: Patrick E. Okose

International Journal of Novel Research in Physics Chemistry & Mathematics

ISSN 2394-9651

Vol. 13, Issue 1, January 2026 - April 2026

Page No: 1-18

Novelty Journals

Website: www.noveltyjournals.com

Published Date: 07-February-2026