Research & scholarship

Publications.

Four decades of research by our founder, Engr. Prof. Peter Azikiwe Onwualu — from soil and tillage mechanics to agro-processing, raw-materials value addition, advanced materials and clean energy.

250+ scientific publications

3,676 citations (Google Scholar)

34 h-index · i10-index 76

27 books & commissioned reports

4 registered patents

Figures from Google Scholar (snapshot June 2026) and the AUST faculty profile; aggregate totals are institutional self-reports and approximate. Citation counts grow over time.

Selected works

Most-cited & representative.

226 citations

The prospects of hydrogen in achieving net zero emissions by 2050: A critical review

S.G. Nnabuife, E. Oko, B. Kuang, A. Bello, A.P. Onwualu, et al.

Sustainable Chemistry for Climate Action · 2023 182 citations

Tomato value chain in Nigeria: Issues, challenges and strategies

C.U. Ugonna, M.A. Jolaoso, A.P. Onwualu

Journal of Scientific Research and Reports · 2015 161 citations

Draught and vertical forces obtained from dynamic soil cutting by plane tillage tools

A.P. Onwualu, K.C. Watts

Soil and Tillage Research, 48(4) · 1998 149 citations

Nano-enhanced polymer composite materials: a review of current advancements and challenges

A.A. Musa, A. Bello, S.M. Adams, A.P. Onwualu, et al.

Polymers, 17(7):893 · 2025 132 citations

Overview of soil-machine interaction studies in soil bins

O.A. Ani, B.B. Uzoejinwa, A.O. Ezeama, A.P. Onwualu, et al.

Soil and Tillage Research, 175 · 2018 113 citations

Recent advances in green processing technologies for valorisation of eggshell waste for sustainable construction materials

B. Ngayakamo, A.P. Onwualu

Heliyon, 8(6) · 2022

By theme

A body of work across five fields.

Soil & tillage mechanics

Foundational agricultural-engineering work on soil–tool interaction, draught/vertical-force prediction and tillage systems — the core of his early career.

Soil compaction effects on maize production under various tillage methods in a derived savannah zone of Nigeria

A.P. Onwualu, U.G.N. Anazodo · Soil and Tillage Research, 14(2)

Evaluation of alternative tillage systems in the absence of herbicides for maize production in a savannah loamy sand

U.G.N. Anazodo, A.P. Onwualu, K.C. Watts · Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 49

Mechanization of agriculture in Nigeria: A critical appraisal

E.U. Odigboh, A.P. Onwualu · Journal of Agricultural Technology

Agro-processing & value chains

Post-harvest processing technologies and crop value-chain analyses aimed at strengthening Nigerian agriculture and rural industry.

Technologies for extraction of oil from oil-bearing agricultural products: a review

A. Ibrahim, A.P. Onwualu · Journal of Agricultural Engineering and Technology

A technical appraisal of potato value chain in Nigeria

C.U. Ugonna, M.O. Jolaoso, A.P. Onwualu · Intl. Research Journal of Agricultural Science

Cashew processing for economic development in Nigeria

I.C. Olife, M.A. Jolaoso, A.P. Onwualu · Agricultural Journal, 8(1)

Raw materials & industrialisation

Policy and applied work from his RMRDC era on raw-material value addition and the industrial transformation of Nigeria's non-oil sector.

Raw Materials Development for the Transformation of the Manufacturing Sector in Nigeria

A.P. Onwualu, A.A. Ogunwusi, A.E. Inyang, I.C. Olife · RMRDC, Abuja

Unlocking the potentials of Nigeria's non-oil sector

A.P. Onwualu, A.E. Inyang, I.C. Olife, E. Obassi · RMRDC, Abuja

Indicative inventory of bamboo availability and utilization in Nigeria

A.A. Ogunwusi, A.P. Onwualu · Journal of Research in Industrial Development

Advanced & sustainable materials

His AUST-era materials-science group: geopolymers, nano-composites, fibre-reinforced polymers, minerals processing and waste-derived construction materials.

Characterization and mechanical performance of metakaolin-based geopolymer for sustainable building applications

O. Ayeni, A.P. Onwualu, E. Boakye · Construction and Building Materials, 272

Potential of lignocellulosic fibre reinforced polymer composites for automobile parts production

A.A. Musa, A.P. Onwualu · Heliyon, 10(3)

A narrative review of the synthesis, characterization, and applications of iron oxide nanoparticles

J.E. Ogbezode, U.S. Ezealigo, A. Bello, V.C. Anye, A.P. Onwualu · Discover Nano, 18(1)

Mechanical behaviour of lateritic soil stabilized with bone ash and hydrated lime

I.I. Obianyo, A.P. Onwualu, A.B.O. Soboyejo · Case Studies in Construction Materials, 12

Energy, biomass & sustainability

Recent work on hydrogen, net-zero pathways and the valorisation of Nigerian biomass residues into bioenergy and biofuels.

Biomass valorization to bioenergy: Assessment of biomass residues' availability and bioenergy potential in Nigeria

U.S. Ezealigo, B.N. Ezealigo, F. Kemausuor, L.E.K. Achenie, A.P. Onwualu · Sustainability, 13(24)

Effect of pyrolysis temperature on physicochemical characteristics of biochar from Prosopis africana biomass

C.E.J. Uzoagba, A. Bello, F.O. Ngasoh, A.P. Onwualu · Biofuels, 17(1)

Books & reports

Authored textbooks and engineering monographs used in Nigerian higher education and industry.

Fundamentals of Engineering for Agriculture

A.P. Onwualu, C.O. Akubuo, I.E. Ahaneku · SNAAP Press, Enugu (397 pp., book)

Design Principles for Post-Harvest Machines

V.I.O. Ndirika, A.P. Onwualu · Naphtali Prints, Lagos (book)

Engineer in Society

S.I. Oluka, A.P. Onwualu, I.I. Eneh · SNAAP Press, Enugu (book)

Principles of Engineering Project Management

A.P. Onwualu, S.I. Oluka, A. Offiong · SNAAP Press, Enugu (book)

Patents

Nigerian national patents (Patent & Design Registry) for agro-machinery and biofuel production systems.

Banana Stem Longitudinal Slicing Machine — Patent No. NG/PT/NC/O/2025/16098

A.P. Onwualu, M.C. Amonye, P.O. Olufemi, A. Bello, et al. · Nigeria Patent & Design Registry

Manual Flywheel Banana Fibre Extraction Machine — Patent No. NG/PT/NC/O/2024/14793

A.P. Onwualu, et al. · Nigeria Patent & Design Registry

Tensioner-Pulley Actuated Multiple Banana Fibre Extractor — Patent No. NG/PT/NC/O/2024/14619

A.P. Onwualu, et al. · Nigeria Patent & Design Registry

Continuous-Process Biodiesel Production Plant — Patent No. NG/PT/NC/2020/4532

A.P. Onwualu, et al. · Nigeria Patent & Design Registry

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