ROBL – The Rossendorf Beamline at ESRF

Research at ROBL

The Rossendorf Beamline is a synchrotron X-ray beamline at the ESRF (European Synchrotron Research Facility), which is dedicated to molecular actinoid sciences. We investigate the chemistry and physics of elements such as uranium, plutonium and other f-block metals to contribute to safe nuclear waste management. In this context a variety of high-performance tools, e.g. EXAFS-Spectroscopy (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) and HERFD-XANES (high energy resolution fluorescence detection X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy), are used to determine the electronic, molecular and long-range structure of actinides. This includes aqueous speciation, sorption processes, redox reactions, as well as the interaction with bacteria, and higher biota. In this way HZDR-researchers are engaged in fundamental as well as applied radioecological research.

ROBL set-up for users

The HZDR scientists at ROBL are responsible for the operation of four experimental radiochemistry stations (XAFS, XES, XRD-1, XRD-2). Beamtime is being offered to in-house and external users upon scientific merit of the submitted proposal, which is evaluated by review panels of HZDR or ESRF.

ROBL was a pooled Facility of ACTINET/TALISMAN from 2004 through 2015 and provides AcReDaS, the spectroscopic database for actinoids and other elements.

Operators and funding

As a collaborating research group (CRG) beamline (BM-20 ROBL) ROBL is located at the ESRF in Grenoble, France. It has been operated by the HZDR since 1998 and receives additional support from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the European Council.

Between 2016 and 2020 the HZDR is investing about four Mio. Euro to widen the portfolio of the experimental possibilities of ROBL for the actinide user community.

ROBL-News

Restart News
October 18, 2019
Upgrade proceeds as planned, restart expected in September 2020!

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Publications

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