anr

The ANR (French National Research Agency) is a research funding organisation. The Agency was established by the French government in 2005 to fund research projects, based on competitive schemes giving researchers the best opportunities to realise their projects and paving the way for groundbreaking new knowledge. The role of the Agency is to bring more flexibility to the French research system, foster new dynamics and devise cutting edge-strategies for acquiring new knowledge. By identifying priority areas and fostering public-private collaborations, the ANR also aims at enhancing the general level of competitiveness of both the French research system and the French economy.

ICSM teams are involved in 20 ANR projects, 4 being in progress:

• "RECALL: Sustainable RECovery of vALuable metaLs in bauxite residue" (ANR-20-CE04-0007, Feb. 2021 – Jan. 2025)
  This project aims to develop sustainable processes (in aqueous medium at relatively low temperature and without the use of solvents and strong mineral acids) to recover iron and critical metals (rare earths, gallium and scandium) from bauxite residues while exploring the economic impact of the developed process in terms of social welfare in which the potential environmental and health impacts are taken into account
  Team involved: LTSM.
   
• "MULTISEPAR: Multiscale modelling of solvent phases for solvent extraction" (ANR-18-CE29-0010, Feb. 2019 – Aug. 2022)
  This project, coordinated by Jean-François Dufrêche (LMCT), aims to model the separation processes of rare earths (lanthanides) used in hydrometallurgy and for recycling. The multi-scale approach is based on three complementary levels of description:
  • Molecular Dynamics simulations which can deal with atomic phenomena such as metal complexation,
  • Brownian dynamics modeling where the metal and its environment are considered as reverse micelles,
  • A new approach based on Gaussian random fields and the microemulsion theory.
  Teams involved: LMCT and LTSM.
   
• "AUTOMACT: Solid fixation and auto-conditioning of actinide elements coming from contaminated liquid outflows" (ANR-18-CE05-0016, Oct. 2018 – Oct. 2022)
  This project, coordinated by Xavier Deschanels (LNER), aims to develop a new strategy for the treatment of radioactive effluents based on the use of a functionalized porous support. The aim of this project is thus to propose a new all-in-one way of separation/conditioning of radionuclides using specific materials allowing both decontamination operations and their simple evolution towards a primary containment matrix.
  Team involved: LNER.
   
• "FOAMEX: Leaching foams to extract metals from electronic wastes" (ANR-17-CE08-0016, Feb. 2018 – Feb. 2022)
  This project aims at ...
  Team involved: L2IA.
   
• "X-MAS: Xenotime as a material for actinides specific storage" (ANR-17-CE06-0004, Dec. 2017 – Nov. 2020)
  This project aimed at ...
  Team involved: LIME.
   
• "DECIMAL: DEscription phénoménologique de la Corrosion et son Impact sur la durabilité d’enrobés de déchets MAgnésiens dans des Liants hydrauliques" (Oct. 2017 – Oct. 2021)
  The objective of this project is to better understand the behavior of geopolymer matrices in storage conditions, in particular the phenomena occurring at the magnesium/geopolymer interface and the consequences on the integrity/durability of the containers in which the waste will be conditioned. These data will then be used to consider the conditioning of different magnesium alloys in geopolymer matrix.
  Team involved: LNER.
   
• "CARAPASS: Carbide and Carbonitride Nanocomposite based photothermal Solar Absorbers" (ANR-16-CE08-0026, Nov. 2016 – Oct. 2020)
  This project aimed at ...
  Team involved: LNER.
   
• "TURBO: Toxicity of URanium: Multi-level approach of biomineralization process in BOne" (ANR-16-CE34-0003, Oct. 2016 – Oct. 2018)
  This project aimed at ...
  Team involved: LHYS.
   
• "CADET: Assisted Cavitation for water DEconTamination" (ANR-ANDRA-RTSCNADAAI60014, Mar. 2016 – Sept. 2019)
  This project, supported by Andra within the framework of the "Nucléaire de Demain" program of the "Investissements d'avenir" (Future Investments) - selected during the Andra call for projects "Optimization of the management of radioactive waste from dismantling", organized in cooperation with the ANR, aims to develop a process for decomposing organic compounds present in effluents resulting from the decontamination of nuclear facilities. It is based on the implementation of cavitation phenomena.
  Team involved: LSFC.
   
• "DYNAMISTE: DYNamics of AluMIno-SilicaTEs Fluids" (ANR-15-CE07-0013, Oct. 2015 – Mar. 2020)
  This project, coordinated by Magali Duvail (LMCT), focuses on:
  • the characterization of alkali solutions of aluminosilicates by using experimental and theoretical multiscale approaches,
  • the understanding of the geling processes occurring in such fluids.
  Teams involved: LMCT, L2IA, L2ME and LNER.
   
• "VECT'OLEO: Laboratoire de structuration des corps gras naturels pour la vectorisation de composés bioactifs végétaux en nutrition topique et orale" (projet ANR Labcom ANR-14-LAB4-0005, Sept. 2014 – Sept. 2017)
  The Labcom VECT'OLEO will develop ternary systems [vegetable oil + natural complexant + bioactive compound] offering increased performance in terms of concentration and stability through better control of the mesoscopic organization of oily systems. This Labcom will establish a lasting exchange of knowledge, creativity and analytical tools to drive the innovative and more efficient creation of Oléoactifs® that will be on the food and cosmetic markets via OLEOS.
  Team involved: L2IA.
  Further information on the LabCom website
   
• "SILEXE: Strategic metal recycling in Ionic Liquids by EXtraction and Electrodeposition process" (ANR-13-CDII-0010, Jun. 2014 – Dec. 2017)
  This project, coordinated by Stéphane Pellet-Rostaing (LTSM), focuses on:
  • the development of an efficient process for the extraction and purification of strategic metals: tantale, lithium, rare earth elements,
  • the study and the use of ionic liquids at room temperature, using lipohilic and/or hydrophobic ligands.
  Team involved: LTSM.
   
• "GTM: Materials for thermo management" (ANR-13-TDMO-0006, Nov. 2013 – Oct. 2016)
  This project, coordinated by Sébastien Donet (CEA Liten), proposes a passive solution to develop a thermal buffer reservoir (based on SiC) coupled with precious metals coating directly on honeycombs ceramics. It aims at maximizing the time slot catalytic activity of the post-treatment systems used in automotive vehicles.
  Team involved: LHYS.
   
• "CELADYCT: Charged properties of colloids by electroacoustics and dynamic conductivity : experimental and multiscale theoretical approach" (ANR-12-BS08-0017, Feb. 2013 – Feb. 2017)
  This project, coordinated by Emmanuelle Dubois (PECSA – UPMC), aims at developing theoretical and experimental tools allowing the determination of the charge properties of colloidal systems. More precisely, this project focuses on non-transparent and nano-colloidal systems thanks to the charged species response under acoustic waves or oscillating electric field.
  Teams involved: L2IA, LSFC and LMCT.
   
• "ILLA: Active liquid-liquid interfaces" (ANR-12-BS08-0021, Mar. 2012 – Mar. 2016)
  This project, coordinated by Olivier Diat (L2IA), is a fundamental project combining for the first time synthesis of a "reporter" extractant, non linear optics spectroscopy (SHG) coupled with surface tension measurements, and simulations (molecular dynamics) on the same systems.
  Teams involved: L2IA, LMCT and LTSM.
   
• "FANTA-SiC: Fluoro-alkane Amphiphile diblocks for Non-aqueous soft-Templating Approaches – a route to SiC with controlled porosity" (ANR-12-JS08-0010, Nov. 2012 – Dec. 2015)
  This project, coordinated by Julien Cambedouzou (LDD), associated fundamental studies (understanding the organisation of fluorinated amphiphilic molecules at the molecular scale in totally anhydrous and anoxic media) and a strong applied stake: the production of SiC with moulded shape and controlled porosity.
  Team involved: L2ME (LDD).
   
• "MEMFIS: Extraction of Radioelement using Innovative Functionalized Membranes" (ANR-10-RMNP-0003, Feb. 2011 – Feb. 2015)
  This project, coordinated by Agnès Grandjean (LNER), aimed at providing a method of complexation-filtration membrane for decontamination of radioactive waste, competitive with current processes.
  Team involved: LNER.
   
• "CATASURF: Catalytic surfactants for the design of oxidizing polyphasic microdispersed reaction media. Application to microreactors" (ANR-10-CD2I-0001, Nov. 2010 – Nov. 2014)
  This project, coordinated by Véronique Rataj (University Lille 1, France), aimed at developing new "green" catalytic processes for fine-chemicals manufacture with a low environmental impact involving H₂O₂ as the oxidant.
  Team involved: L2IA.
   
• "NEQSON: Non Equilibrium Sonochemistry" (ANR-10-BLAN-0810, Oct. 2010 – Oct. 2013)
  This project, coordinated by Serguei Nikitenko (LSFC), focused on the fundamental research of sonoluminescence and sonochemistry to reach the highest yield of excited and/or ionized species during the cavitating event.
  Team involved: LSFC.
   
• "COMP-ACT: New Actinide compounds: from precursors to model materials" (ANR-08-BLAN-0216, Jan. 2009 – Jan. 2012)
  This project focused on :
  • the synthesis of new organic-inorganic hybrid actinide compounds, precursors of oxides, carbides (or nitrides) simple or mixed,
  • their characterization by X-ray diffraction and numerous physicochemical techniques,
  • their thermal decomposition under different atmospheres and the study of the intermediate steps leading to the ultimate oxides, carbides (or nitrides),
  • the study of the physico-chemical properties of the materials such as the sintering ability and the behavior towards dissolution.
  Team involved: LIME.