(I)Software for Capture and Image Analysis and (II)Development of fuel elements for critical facility in the MB-01 research reactor to simulate the nuclear core of the Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor (BMR)

• Grant number: 14/22414-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Technical Reserve for Institutional Research Infrastructure
• Start date: March 01, 2015
• End date: February 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Nuclear Engineering - Nuclear Fuel
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Linardi
• Grantee: Marcelo Linardi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

(I)The Lasers and Applications research area at IPEN has installed, recently, an inverted fluorescence microscope, acquired with CAPES / Pro-Equipment 3026/2011 aid. The microscope allows the development of methodologies that seek to assess the cellular metabolism by use of fluorescent biomarkers, as conjugated antibodies and fluorochromes the fluorescent molecules known metabolic pathway. At the moment, the microscope is virtually unused, since some important accessories are missing, that could not be purchased by CAPES grants. A high-resolution CCD camera and a software for image analysis are the most important missing elements. The CCD camera has just been acquired with funds from another Project. However, the equipment still needs that software. Therefore, this acquisition is of fundamental importance for the correct functioning of the inverted microscope, and will surely optimize and leverage their use. This purchase will also improve the scientific and technological research infrastructure in our Institute, especially for research groups working in the areas of Health, which cut across various IPEN department, soon has multiuser character in the house. (II)IPEN has a research laboratory to develop new fuel elements (CE). In the coming years, IPEN has to develop the technology for manufacturing ECs for the Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor, to be built in Iperó, SP. This project is part of the Nuclear Fuel Department of the Institute to develop a nuclear fuel manufacturing technology, with applications in radioisotope producing research reactors. This effort aligns the growing Brazilian demand for radiopharmaceuticals (TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION), which has been growing at a rapid pace since 1999, with an average increase of about 10% per year. In this framework, it is clear the need for a new technological advance in the manufacturing area of dispersion type plate for fuel use in research reactors for radioisotopes production. (AU)