Marcoule Institute for Separative Chemistry

ICSM fondamental research is structured along several transverse axes:

• Deeper understanding the processes used for ionic, isotopic or molecular separation, by transfer between liquid phases, by phase changing or using heterogeneous systems (multiphase).
• Anticipating this separation by taking into account the life cycle of materials, by studying the cycle of chemical and / or physical-chemical processes related to the lifetime of the material and fluid associated. Understanding the relationship between structure (electronic, composition, microstructure, nano-organization ...) and reactivity (dissolution, physical stress ...) of solid compounds and materials associated such as nuclear fuel models.
• Once completed, maintaining the separation in the storage or disposal materials. It aims at studying and modelling the transfers at the solid-liquid interface. It also aims at allowing the maintaining of this separation by the design, during the material synthesis, of a multi-scale structure allowing an optimum containment.
• Beyond the fourth-generation electro-nuclear power green chemistry processes are involved (alias those of chemistry in the service of sustainable development). Here, bio-inspired systems such as self-assembled peptides, reagents called "clean" or the catalysis, are important components of this axis. Solution processes are part of this research on the dissolution processes allowing the separation of species.