RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CHEMISTRY LAB

Urea Fertilizer Modification and Multiplication
We have compounded a slow releasing and less easily leach-able nitrogen fertilizer from urea and maize cob waste. Green house trials of the product were successful and field trials are currently in progress. This product, which has been obtained through a collaborative project with the Raw-Materials Research and Development Council, Abuja, Nigeria, is more environmentally friendly and efficient than the conventional urea fertilizer. The project can also lead to the multiplication of the available urea fertilizer stock and thus making more fertilizer available to the farmers.

Production of Industrial Grade Talc From Local Ore Deposits
The mineral talc finds application in several sub-sectors of the manufacturing sector of the economy such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, paper, ceramics, and paints and pigments sub-sectors. Large deposits of the ore occur in various states of the Country such as Niger, Osun, Kwara, Kaduna, Ogun states and the Federal Capital Territory. However, the mineral as mined is not suitable for most industrial applications as it occurs in association with other substances and is therefore impure. In fact the ban on its importation into the country was recently lifted. We have worked out a simple procedure for purifying the ore in our Laboratory.