Iqembu le-BFRL lasungulwa ngo-1997, ngokuhlanganisa abakhiqizi ababili abakhulu bamathuluzi okuhlaziya, abanomlando omuhle weminyaka engaphezu kwengu-60 ekukhiqizweni kwezinsimbi ze-chromatograph kanye nentuthuko evelele yeminyaka engaphezu kwengu-50 ekukhiqizeni ithuluzi le-spectroscopic, okunikezwe amathuluzi afika amakhulu ezinkulungwane emikhakheni ehlukahlukene kokubili ekhaya naphesheya.