Analytical Test of Water-Extract from Fermented Ground Maize as an Alternative Base for Engine Coolants

Abstract

The existing Water-based Engine Coolants (WBEC) areproduced by adding Corrosion Inhibitors (CI) and Anti-Freezing Agents (AFA) tode-ionized water. Water is first deionized to remove corrosion factors (CF)before the additives. This study seeks to determine whether Water-Extract fromFermented Ground Maize (WEFGM) can be a better alternative to water forproduction of WBEC on account of the additives. WEFGM was analyzed for CI, CFand AFA. Two samples of WEFGM decanted from kewesoke (white) and western yellowvarieties of maize were used. In the analysis, Atomic Absorption Spectrometryand other methods were used for CF; Colorimetric Methods usingSpectrophotometer was used for CI andGas Chromatography/Flame Ionization Detection (GC/FID) was used for AFA. Theresult for CF in the two samples respectively revealed pH values of 2.82 and 2.67, conductivity of 1941 and 1786µs/cm, Pb of 0.06 and 0.05 mg/l, Zn of 0.74 and 0.89 mg/l.. CI found were 12.25and 22.51 mg/l of phosphates and 5.00 and 6.00 mg/l of nitrates while AFAobtained were 5.29 and 2.38 mg/l of ethylene glycols and 4.74 and 2.15 mg/l ofpropylene glycols from the two samples respectively. There was no significant difference in these properties for the twosamples (P<0.05). Detection of CI and AFA in WEFGM makes it a prospectivemore cost-saving base fluid for WBEC than water.