Materials Chemistry Studies

In 2006, a new research group has been created at the SCK-CEN in order to focus more specifically on chemical issues relevant to the studies of materials. The integrated staff personnel has a long experience in many different fields of expertise such as radiochemistry (fuel cycles and radioisotopes), organic chemistry, electrochemistry (analytical techniques and corrosion) and sonochemistry. The previously running activities are now being reoriented according to a well-defined work programme. Each research line that was previously running had specific objectives. Fuel cycle studies were axed on the partitioning of lanthanides and actinides in aqueous solutions. Support to corrosion studies was devoted to the development of a new method for the treatment of electrochemical noise data for the detection and the classification of local corrosion events. New objectives for the future put a strong accent on radioisotopes for the pharmaceutical industry as well as the use of non-aqueous chemistry as a tool for several applications among which the treatment and the separation of radioisotopes, analytical measurements as well as the chemical control of impurities in liquid metals