In this research area, the Sector develops and applies primary analytical techniques based on instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), for the certification of reference materials used in the determination of critical raw materials (CRM) and environmental contaminants, such as copper, cobalt, lanthanum, gallium, and tantalum, contained in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The matrices of interest are the WEEE itself or soils where CRM may potentially be dispersed near collection or recycling centres. In addition to the certification of reference materials, the Sector performs CRM measurements in various solid matrices also using X-ray fluorescence microscopy (micro-XRF), to obtain surface elemental mappings.
Moreover, the Sector uses gamma spectrometry (HPGe) for the characterization of emerging radionuclides produced by either research reactors or cyclotrons, and currently under intensive research in nuclear medicine, e.g. 111Ag.