Over the years the department has engaged in impactful R&D and other projects to propagate the development of Nigeria’s vast mineral resources. These programmes/projects include:
- Beneficiation of Gypsum for the Cement Industry and Other Uses: The Council played a great role towards linking Sokoto State Government with Saboo Nigeria Ltd. On the establishment of a Mini-cement plant in the state.
- Mineral Raw Materials Testing Centre, Abuja: This began as a collaboration between RMRDC and African University of Science and Technology (AUST). The aim was to domesticate mineral testing and analysis technology in the country. Leading to harnessing the economic potential of minerals in the country. The laboratory (which has been moved to the Council’s RDPC centre at the National Space Research and Development Agency NASRDA) is actively providing testing services for minerals and other raw materials.
- Development/Beneficiation of Gypsum for Cement and Plaster of Paris (PoP) manufacturing: The Council in its efforts to ensure the production of high-quality gypsum for cement industry developed a Scrubber (gypsum washer) in collaboration with an indigenous engineering company. The scrubber removes physical impurities such as clay which has been a major challenge in the utilization of local gypsum. The equipment proved specification of between 80 – 90% purity required by PoP and cement industries. The Gypsum Scrubber has been patented and displayed at the RDPC centre at NASRDA.
- Development of Industrial Grade Talc Powder for the Toiletry and Cosmetic Industry: RMRDC in collaboration with Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) successfully developed laboratory process technology for the processing of both pharmaceutical and industrial grade talc from Kagara and Isanlu talc deposits.
- Development of Biofuel: As Part of Efforts to Address Nigeria’s Energy Deficit, the country is exploring alternative forms of energy especially from renewable sources, to improve the energy mix. In the past, the Council engaged with Biofuel Resource organizations such as Jathropha Growers, Processors and Exporters Association of Nigeria from development of Biofuel.
To create more impact, the department recently undertook an R&D project in collaboration with a researcher from the Federal University Lafiya, Nasawara State, on “From Waste to Fuel: Laboratory Scale Bioethanol Production from Cassava Peels”.
| Parameter | Outcome |
| Ethanol Yield | 140–165 litres per ton of dry cassava peels |
| Ethanol Purity | ~93.2% confirmed via GC and HPLC instrumentation |
| Sugar Conversion Efficiency | ≥ 82% under optimized enzymatic conditions |
| Production Cost (Lab Scale) | ₦210–₦230 per litre of ethanol |
| Carbon Emission Reduction | Estimated ~1.2 tons CO₂ offset per ton of peels used |
These results affirm that bioethanol production from cassava peels is technically sound, environmentally beneficial, and financially attainable for localized use.
The department is planning to commence the second phase of the project (confirmatory tests on bioethanol derived from cassava peels). This phase is critical to validating the practical utility of cassava peel-derived bioethanol, enabling pilot deployments and supporting policy integration for sustainable energy solutions. The objective is to evaluate the performance, safety, and applicability of cassava peel-derived bioethanol in real-world settings, ensuring its suitability for rural energy applications and policy adoption.
Collaboration with Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) on:
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- Development and Utilization of Bauxite for the Production of Aluminium Sulphate (Cake Alum) and Refractory Materials: Bauxite rocks are typically classified according to their intended commercial applications – metallurgical, abrasive, cement, chemical and refractory. The Council in collaboration with Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) conducted studies on the occurrence of bauxite clays in Nigeria. The report shows that it occurs in Taraba and Ekiti states.
- Occurrence of Lithium: A study was conducted to assess the lithium deposits in Nigeria for production of glass, ceramics, lubricants, greases, aluminum products, batteries, etc.
From Shells to Solutions: Laboratory Conversion of Crustacean Waste into Functional Chitosan
This research initiative focused on developing a reproducible, low-cost, and environmentally sustainable protocol for the laboratory-scale extraction of chitosan from conventional biological sources such as crustacean shells and fish scales. Chitosan is a value-added biomaterial recognized for its biodegradability, antimicrobial properties, and wide-ranging industrial applications. The core aim was to validate chemical extraction steps and to characterize the physicochemical properties of laboratory-produced chitosan to align with commercial benchmarks.
Sample Collection and Characterization of Minerals from Nigeria
The Council in promoting national economic growth and development is currently engaged in an initiative to collect and characterize critical and strategic minerals. This is being carried out in collaboration with RMRDC State Offices and other stakeholders. The aim of the programme is to provide accurate data for the Council’s database as well as for investors in mineral processing. So far, the following minerals have been collected (with their coordinates) and characterized by the Council’s laboratory at NASRDA using the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 requirements for testing laboratories:
- Monazite and Talc from Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi Oyo, Kogi, Niger, Kwara, Osun, Kaduna and Ogun. The Interpretation of result shows predominantly Cerium dioxide (a rare earth metal) associated with Silica & Phosphorus oxide as major constituents in the monazite analysis test result. Also, predominantly Kaolinite clay associated with magnesium oxide as impurity in the talc analysis.
- Silver, Nickel and lead-zinc, mineral samples collected from Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Kaduna and Cross-River.
- Diatomite mineral samples collected from Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
- Characterization of Nigerian K-Feldspar for the for the fillers/Extenders industry (i.e. Industrial paints, plastic and Rubber) and characterization of Nigerian fluoride deposit for industrial applications in metallurgical and Chemical industries e.g. Steel making, Aluminium smelting and Hydraulic Acid production.
