R&D-Center Will Open On The Basis of All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Chemical Technology (VNIIkHT) For Dividing the Heavy Rare-earth Group.
These days Russia comes in a close second in REE storage, while in production its part is only 1%. According to the program developed in Rosatom, Russia faces the task to become one of the leading players on the REE market before 2030.
In order to fulfill this ambition, among other things, upon the order of Viacheslav Pershukov, the head of scientific-technical complex of the state corporation, a special R&D center is being created on the basis of the “Science and Innovation” JSC chemi-technological block. It will be located in the building of VNIIkHT, however, Karpov Scientific Research Institute of Physics and Chemistry (NIFKhI) and “Gidermet” JCS are also involved.
“The focus of work is the development of technologies in the field of REE (from production to processing). In uranium ores associated elements are gold, silver, vanadium, rare earth elements, some elements of the platinum group, thus the question of deep processing of mineral raw materials is very serious. Another problem related to it is processing of industrial waste, which our country has accumulated tens of billions of tons. Often they contain very valuable components in high concentrations, the extraction of which is not as expensive as the extraction from soil, “- says Gennady Sarychev, the Director of VNIIKhT.
In addition we are planning to pass the center the works, related to closure of the nuclear fuel cycle technology, including the management of radioactive waste. Another activity is production and application of isotopes in national economy, including medicine, and the use of fluoropolymers in various industries.
By late November VNIIKhT is planning to prepare specific proposals on the concept of the center, its content, scientific fields, list of equipment and the number of personnel.
The center of Electron Beam Technology is Being Created in Rosatom.
The work on accelerators and electron-beam technology has been going on for decades, with different institutions of the industry. In order to ccordinate the efforts of research institutes the state corporation decided to set up the Center for Electron Beam Technologies. The following atomic companies will take part in it: NIITFA, TRINITY, Efremov Institute, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences.
“The idea is to develop new technologies and equipment that will use radial approach, and at the same time to create specific requirements for new equipment – says Valentin Smirnov, the research manager for “Science and Innovation” JSC electrophysical block. Our current accelerators were created a few decades ago and the appearance of new systems that would extend the range of their application is extremely important. “
There are lots of possible applications of electron beam technology. The treatment of urban waste water, for instance. Another project is related to notorious eight-toothed bark beetle. It is extremely hard to eliminate, since the use of pesticides is prohibited. While the NIITFA experiments showed that the radiation exposure is an effective way to fight pests.
The center also continues work on the so-called nuclear battery. It is planned to apply the isotopes radiant energy which is converted into electricity. The life of such a device could be several decades, the power – 1 – 10 watts. Such a battery can be applied in border protecting systems.
