Our expertise
CIME develops innovative, tailor-made and integrated solutions, always more respectful of the environment by relying on 4 clusters:
- Studies
- Testing laboratory
- Industrial pilots
- Analytical laboratory
Sampling
Main step in the estimation of mining reserves
Sampling is an essential step in estimating deposit reserves or conducting representative tests in an ore processing process.
Sampling consists in obtaining a reasonable number of representative samples of a deposit or a pile of several thousand or millions of tons of ore by means of direct sampling, reductions or successive divisions.
CIME engineers use Gy's theory to optimize the different steps of the process.
Process Design and management
Customized processes design for industries
The teams carry out studies which integrate the development and the fine-tuning of processes for the implementation of pilots. These tests are carried out under real-life operating conditions to address the customer problem. The fields are variable, such as elements from non-nuclear residues (urban mine...). In the nuclear fields, CIME authorizations allow handling of up to 34t U, 2t Th and 800g U235 enriched up to 5%.
- Mobile Skid
- Nuclear instrumentation
- Exchange resin
- Waste cementation
- Membrane separation
- Liquid / solid separation
- Biohydrometallurgy
- Stabilization of residues
- Dissolution
- Extraction of radioactivity
- Solvent extraction
- Study of corrosion
- Precipitation in a fluid bed
Medical research:
Study and production of radioisotopes
Processes design for extraction and purification of radioactive elements for medical research
Study and production of radioisotopes for medical research :
- Precipitation
- Exchange resin
- Solidification
CIME works on extraction, purification and recovery processes of radioactive elements, such as Pb212, for use in medical research. This activity is subject to confidentiality rules.
Environment:
Decontamination and depollution of water,
effluents and soils
Expert in extraction, concentration and decontamination
- Water treatment
- Mobile skid
- Membrane separation
- Extraction with solvents
- Exchange of resin
- Liquid / solid separation
Recovery of metals associated with radioactivity
Expert for the valorization of strategic metals, essential for the industry
- Mobile Skid
- Membrane separation
- Solvent extraction
- Exchange resin
- Liquid / solid separation
- Precipitation
- Mechanical separation
- Sampling
- Leaching
Mining sector:
Design and Improvement of Mining Processes
Design of innovative processes to increase mining performance
- Physical preparation of the ore
- Extraction with solvents
- Exchange resin
- Liquid / solid separation
- Mechanical / magnetic separation
- Biohydrometallurgy
- Sampling
- Leaching
- Mineral studies
Analyses laboratory
State of the art COFRAC analysis laboratory
The analytical laboratory has the necessary skills and authorizations to analyze a large number of elements in any type of matrix.
- Analytical Section
- Measurement of natural and artificial radionuclides
- Analysis of organic elements
- Analysis of elements of mineral chemistry
- Environmental monitoring analysis
- Analysis of industrial effluents and process water
- Waste analyses according to ANDRA (French Radioactive Waste Repository Center) and SOCODEI specifications
- On-line analysis
- Analytic development
The CIME analytical laboratory is approved by the French ; Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) for measurements of radioactivity in the environment.
The CIME site is certified for the use of natural and artificial radionuclides in the conduct of analyses.
CIME is the only French research establishment which has the regulatory authorizations issued by the Senior Defense and Security Officer within the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition to handle up to 34T of uranium (natural and depleted), 2T of Thorium and 800g of U235 enriched to 5% in the processes.
Implementing tailor-made pilotsDesign and manufacture customized pilots
Within the ‘Industrial Pilot’ division, a multidisciplinary team designs, scales and manufactures modular pilot plants. This cluster includes a design office and workshops in mechanics, electricity, instrumentation, metrology, machining, boiler making, ensure coordination between specialized equipment manufacturers and engineering companies, responsible for the construction of the factories. Take part in start-up operations of industrial units in order to transmit the selected processes to the operators.
Its missions :
- Design office
- Mobile skid
- Prototype manufacturing
Test laboratoryExpert of hydometallurgical processes development
The test laboratory is comprised of 12 laboratories specializing in environment, hydrometallurgy, ore processing, uranium and thorium chemistry:
- Exchange resin
- Extraction with solvents
- Liquid-solid separation
- Biohydrometallurgy
- Dissolution
- Study of corrosion
- Sampling
- Leaching