Centre of Radiochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry

History of the Department dates back to the beginnings of the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, at that time Institute for Nuclear Researches, or 1955. Initially, it existed as a Department of Radiochemistry, and since 2009 as the Centre of Radiochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry (C-5) created on the basis of the previous Department. In 2012, the investment project POIG "Centre of Radiochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry for the needs of nuclear energy and nuclear medicine" was completed. The staff of the Department started to work in modernized and equipped with modern research equipment radiochemical laboratories of II and III categories.

Research and development activities of the Centre for Radiochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry include the following issues:

  • Radiochemistry,
  • Radiopharmaceutical chemistry,
  • Coordination chemistry,
  • Isotope chemistry,
  • Material chemistry,
  • Nuclear chemical engineering and separation methods of elements,
  • Spectroscopy and molecular modeling.

In recent years, the work of the Department focuses on two main areas of modern radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry: nuclear energy and nuclear medicine.

The research focused on the needs of nuclear power includes the development of new methods of disposal of radioactive waste, spent fuel processing issues with the separation of minor actinides, the development of fuel for nuclear reactors of new generation and searching for new sources of fissile materials. Conducted research meets the needs of the nuclear power program in the country; they include, among others an assessment of the ability to provide raw materials to produce fuel for the first nuclear reactors from national resources, as well as work to ensure the safety of planned radioactive waste disposal facilities.

The researches of the Center in the field of radiopharmaceutical chemistry concern the development of methods for the preparation of increasingly effective therapeutic and diagnostic radionuclides and a wide range of new, highly specific radiopharmaceuticals for targeted therapy. Permanent marking of selected biologically active compounds with various radionuclides allows to receive new potential radiopharmaceuticals recognizing cell receptors of diseased tissue in the body. 

Apart from work in line with the two main trends of research, the Center also carries out other projects using competences gained in the implementation of statutory tasks. These include work on environmental protection issues, management of raw materials and material research.