NAUTILE: the first research laboratory for the study of the ecotoxicity of carbon nanotubes in the aquatic environment

09/10/2010    Press Release

Arkema, CNRS, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse and Université Paul Sabatier have signed a framework agreement to set up a joint research laboratory, NAUTILE (NAnotUbes et écoToxIcoLogiE), the first public/private joint laboratory dedicated to the study of the ecotoxicological impact of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)  in the aquatic environment.

Since committing in 2006 to manufacture CNTs at its Lacq research center, Arkema has always placed prevention, the control of risks, and the development of knowledge at the center of its concerns. préoccupations la protection de ses salariés, de ses clients et de l’environnement, en application du principe de précaution As regards the environment précisément, from the very beginning Arkema began to undertake fundamental studies jointly with Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse (INPT) in order to better characterize any ecotoxicological impact that CNTs may have. Arkema has now decided to boost this research by setting up with Toulouse CNRS, INPT and Université Paul Sabatier, the NAUTILE joint research laboratory, which will be dedicated to the study of multiwall CNTs in the aquatic environment. For CNRS, this agreement should enable new advances in CNT characterization through the pooling of the skills and expertise of its laboratories with Arkema’s.

With their extensive field of applications and their outstanding properties, CNTs stand apart from the many categories of nanomaterials now available. Hence their potential effects on health and the environment represent an area of continuous investigation. This joint laboratory, drawing on the INPT, CNRS, and Université Paul Sabatier joint research units in collaboration with Arkema’s own researchers, will be tasked with the development of experimental protocols and standardized methods for the study of the ecotoxicological properties of CNTs. It will therefore help develop knowledge of the potential impact of multiwall CNTs on aquatic species, at every stage of their lifecycle (development, production, use, and end-of-life of products featuring CNTs).

The NAUTILE program is one of the components of the GENESIS program, which is managed and run by Arkema at European level.

A global chemical company, Arkema consists of three businesses: Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals, and Performance Products. Arkema reported sales of 4.4 billion euros in 2009. Arkema has 13,800 employees in over 40 countries and 7 research centers located in France, the United States and Japan. With internationally recognized brands, Arkema holds leadership positions in its principal markets.

CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique), France’s leading research body, produces knowledge for the benefit of society. With over 32,000 people, a budget of 3.367 billion euros in 2009 including 607 million euros of own resources, and facilities across the country, CNRS is engaged in every field of knowledge through over 1,200 research and service units.

Since its creation in 1969 Université Paul Sabatier has offered multidisciplinary education in the fields of science, health, engineering, technologies and sport, and has developed one of the leading scientific research hubs in France. Based in Toulouse, Europe’s aeronautics and aerospace capital, UPS is a renowned European university with a resolutely global reach.

Institut polytechnique de Toulouse is a public higher education establishment overseen by the Ministry for Education, Higher Education and Research. It comprises 5 engineering schools, runs 17 laboratories, and is one of France’s 4 polytechnic institutes alongside Grenoble INP, Lorraine INP and Bordeaux IP. With over 600 regional players from industry, research, training, as well as public authorities and socio-economic partners, INP plays an active role in the Aeronautics, Space and Embedded Systems competitiveness cluster, and the Cancer-Bio-Health competitiveness cluster.