RAPSODEE Research Centre (UMR CNRS-EMAC 2392)

Research in Albi on Particulate Solids, Energy and the Environment

The RAPSODEE research Centre (previously the Chemical Engineering Laboratory for Particulate Solids) is a joint laboratory between the Centre National de la Recherche Sientifique (CNRS) and the Ecole des Mines d'Albi-Carmaux (EMAC) formed by the fusion of the Research Centre for Powder Processing and the Research Centre for Energy and the Environment.

Personnel

The Director of the new research centre is Professor Jacques Fages and Professor John A.Dodds is the director of the UMR-CNRS-EMAC N° 2392

In 2006 RAPSODEE has a staff of 85 persons 29 academic staff, 16 technicians and administrative staff, A 40 non- permanent staff including graduate students of MSc and doctorates, post doctors and visiting academics. The research centre publishes about 50 scientific papers per year and has as many presentations in scientific conferences.

RAPSODEE is structured in six research themes:

Separation engineering in complex media : drying, separation method in porous media, pollutant remediation, eco-compatibility, sludge treatment, (Professor Didier Lecomte)
Reaction engineering with particulate solids : combustion, paralysis, gasification, stabilisation of waste products, thermo chemistry. (Professor Ange Nzihou)
Particle generation : crystallisation and precipitation, whether assisted by ultrasound, of using supercritical fluids (Dr. Fabienne Espitalier HDR)
Solid product design : granulation, mechano-synthesis, grinding, co-grinding, powder compaction. (Dr. Driss Oulahna HDR)
Thermal processing : thermal measurements and analysis, thermo-physical characterisation, heat probes, radiant energy transfer, solar energy (Dr. Jean-Jacques Bezian research engineer)
Powder transport interface transfer processes : powder mixing, particle flow, surface interactions (Professor Alain De Ryck)

RAPSODEE carries out research on industrial processes for treating particulate solids. That is materials which are structured, complex and inhomogeneous which require specific action for characterisation. Typically research involves powders, granular matter, solid wastes and biomass.
In the EU about 60% of industrial products or intermediates involve particulate solids in one form or another. But the production, transformation and handling of such materials pose many problems which due to lack of understanding of the basic behaviour of powders usually only find empirical solutions which lack generality. In particular for fine particles when the surface/ volume ratio become greater and surface forces tend to dominate properties bring problems of cohesion which needs to be taken account in all processing steps: mixing, grinding transport, storage. . With solid wastes their final disposal or their possible re-use as an energy source depends on the prior processing steps and often can only be envisaged of when they have been rendered as inoffensive as possible.

The particular point requiring solution for further progress concern:

Methods for characterising, particle size and distribution, physico-chemical and thermal properties.
Development of new innovative methods for industrial processing of particulate solids (transport, formulation, product design, powder production, continuous mixing) in particular for micron or nanometre scales
Energy valorisation of particulate solid wastes and biomass, whilst respecting sustainable development and the environment

The main industrial partners are:

The pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries
Agriculture and food production.
Speciality chemicals
High-energy intensity industries; cements, power generation, drying equipment, pyrolysis, incineration, combustion and gasification processes.
Waste treatment industries

The objectives of RAPSODEE are to improve processing methods for particulate solids required by or issued from industrial production: particle production, product formulation and design, processing or stabilisation either for high value powders or for waste products. The main scientific themes are those from chemical and process engineering involving: information exchanges in a process, expertise in structuring products for user properties, multi-scale and multi-tool analysis, process intensification.

With more than 1 million euros in contracts per year RAPSODEE is an important partner for industrial research. Having an exceptionally well equipped laboratories especially for particle characterisation and apparatus for industrial pilot plants.
Work in RAPSODEE has already resulted in the creation of 2 high technology companies N-GHY created in 2002, and Neo-Tim created in 2005.

RAPSODEE is involved in many international research collaborations for example with the Japanese Universities of Gifu, Sendai, Keio, and also in the USA, Canada, Chili, Australia, China as well as European countries (within and outside European Union).

The evaluation group invested by the CNRS and EMAC, together with section 10 of the CNRS National Committee pronounced very favourably on the scientific results obtained by the laboratory and renewed the contract of association with the CNRS for the period 2005-2008.