Departments of the Institute
The Institute of Isotopes has five scientific departments:Radionuclide Applications
Research areas:- Identification of various oxidation and coordination states in iron or tin containing catalysts by in situ Mössbauer spectroscopy.
- Study of radioisotope migration typical of high-level nuclear waste in geological samples (borecores).
Nuclear Research
Research Areas:- Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA) and its applications
- Nuclear spectroscopy with neutron-induced reactions
- Nuclear data measurements and evaluation
- Gamma-ray spectrometry and metrology
- In-beam Mössbauer spectroscopy
Radiation Chemistry
Research Areas:- Radiation and photochemistry of hydrocarbons
- Degradation of environmental pollutants e.g. chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons, reactive textile dyes.
- Polymer radiation chemistry and mechanism of radiation induced polymerization.
- Radiaton methods for synthesis of polymers for biomedical applications.
Radiation Safety
The main research fields and expert services are:- Nuclear section
- Nuclear safeguards
- Combatting illicit trafficking of nuclear materials
- Dosimetry section
- Chemical dosimetry
- Solid state dosimetry; environmental, accidental, reactor and personal dosimetry
- Radiation processing dosimetry
- Dosimetry control at industrial high-activity gamma and at high-energy electron irradiation facilities
- Radiation protection services
- Radioactive Material Registry Section
- Center registry of radioactive materials in Hungary with a dedicated computer system.
- Software development for the central registry.
- ICP-MS Mass Spectrometry Laboratory
- Analysis of nuclear material of unknown origin (illicit trafficking). Determination of isotopics of uranium and other actinides, analysis of trace elements
- Assessment of nuclear material collected on filters and swipes, or contained in other safeguards related samples
- Analysis of long-lived radionuclides in environmental samples
- Study of the laser ablation technique in the above and other fields
Surface Chemistry and Catalysis
Research Areas:- Studies on surface of highly dispersed metal particles: model catalysis
- Activation of C1 molecules: structure and reactivity relationship of promoted mono- and bimetallic catalysts
- Selective hydrogenation, asymmetric heterogen catalytic hydrogenation
- Environmental Chemistry
- Wet catalytic oxidation, waste water management
- Study of supported bimetallic catalysts in the conversions of hydrocarbons.
- The structure, catalytic effect (influence on the activity and selectivity pattern) of carbonaceous deposits formed during refinery model reactions
- Study the selective oxidation of CO (PROX) in presence of hydrogen for fuel cell application
- Study of surface species formed on platinum upon chemisorption of low molecular weight hydrocarbons applying Auger spectroscopy (AES) and work-function measurement at UHV conditions.
There are two more departments for financial matters and for supporting the research departments.