The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has disclosed that it has recorded major breakthroughs following researches it carried out in petrochemicals and automobile engineering.

The vice chancellor of the university, Prof Ibrahim Garba, who revealed this when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, yesterday, said the university, with the assistance of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), successfully developed a petroleum refining material called zeolite, using a kind of clay called kaolin.

According to him, zeolite, which is a natural mineral, can be used in refining petroleum products in the country.

He, however, decried that the mineral was not available in commercial quantity in the country.

“The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has commissioned a research to develop one kind of material that is used in petroleum refining which is called zeolite – and there are two types.

“They found that if we can convert certain minerals to zeolite it will help. This research has succeeded in converting a clay mineral which is called kaolin to two types of zeolite which can be applicable to petroleum refining.

“The university has even received a patent certificate from former President Goodluck Jonathan. It is now ready to go into semi commercialisation to produce it in large quantities and that has been successful.

“PTDF is also ready to join hands with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council ((RMRDC) to take it to commercial scale,’’ he said

Garba also stated that ABU had developed a mini-refinery in its Chemical Engineering Department to train prospective engineers in the practical aspect of petrochemical engineering.