Development of quantitative detection method for mass spectrometry coupled to an infrared laser spectroscope (Picarro) to monitor in nitrogen matrix a complex gas mixture of H , He, CO, N , Ne, O , Ar, CO , H S, CH , C H , C H , C H , C H , i-C H , n-C H , and C H.

Rationale: The deep geological repository is considered the international reference for radioactive waste management. All gas exchanges must be understood in the context of the feasibility of such a repository. The technological challenge is to continuously monitor a wide range of gaseous molecules at low concentrations in confined spaces.

The design and fabrication of beta sensor system for in situ diffusion tests in mudstone in France.

Long term in situ diffusion experiments in the Callovian-Oxfordian mudstone (France) are designed in the context of nuclear waste management. β-emitters HTO and Cl radiotracers are representative of neutral and anionic species in these experiments. Studies have been carried out to design an in situ beta monitoring system in order to quantify tracer migration in the rock pore water over time.

Desulfosporosinus burensis sp. nov., a spore-forming, mesophilic, sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from a deep clay environment.

A novel anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming, curved rod-shaped, mesophilic and sulfate-reducing bacterium was isolated from pore water collected in a borehole at -490 m in Bure (France). This strain, designated BSREI1(T), grew at temperatures between 5 °C and 30 °C (optimum 25 °C) and at a pH between 6 and 8 (optimum 7). It did not require NaCl for growth, but tolerated it up to 1.

Non-disturbing characterization of natural organic matter (NOM) contained in clay rock pore water by mass spectrometry using electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization modes.

We have investigated the composition of the mobile natural organic matter (NOM) present in Callovo-Oxfodian pore water using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) and emission-excitation matrix (EEM) spectroscopy. The generation of knowledge of the composition, structure and size of mobile NOM is necessary if one wants to understand the interactions of these compounds with heavy metals/radionuclides, in the context of environmental studies, and particularly how the mobility of these trace elements is affected by mobile NOM. The proposed methodology is very sensitive in unambiguously identifying the in situ composition of dissolved NOM in water even at very low NOM concentration, due to innovative non-disturbing water sampling and ionization (ESI/APCI-MS) techniques.