The LN1 Laboratory within ATALANTE has been commissioned in May 2005.

The LN1 Laboratory within the ATALANTE facility in Marcoule is dedicated to molecular chemistry of all actinides in solution, solid state and at interfaces. Its main scope is the chemical and physico-chemical study of transuranic samples to understand at the molecular scale the behavior of actinide compounds with selective ligands.

This new laboratory, part of the ACTINET pooled facilities, brings together selected techniques to obtain structural information, speciation and thermodynamic properties.

The main techniques implemented are: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometry (400MHz shielded magnetic field), four circle X-ray diffractometry for single crystals, microcalorimetry for the measurement of low heats of reactions, Time Resolved Laser-induced spectrofluorimetry, vibrational spectrometry: FTIR and Raman, and Electrospray Ionisation Mass spectrometry.

Specific glove boxes have been built for each technique to work safely on all radio elements and to allow the analysis of samples under various forms: aqueous and organic liquids, gels, solids, etc.

Source:

Pascal CHAIX