The Solid Transformation Processes and Instrumentation (PTSI) department develops its activities around the reactivity of solids in interaction with gases, integrating the electrical properties of solids and the control of solid processing and transformation processes. Thus, two main themes are addressed in the department. The first focuses on the optimization of industrial processes to make them more energy- and raw material-efficient in order to meet industrial and societal challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and material sustainability. The second theme concerns the development of gas and particle sensors and associated microsystems in the fields of industrial process intensification, environmental standards control, and health.
Head
Mathilde Rieu
Email: rieu@mines-stetienne.fr
Phone: +33 4 77 42 02 82
Areas of Expertise
Core Competencies
- Heterogeneous kinetics
Study of mechanisms and reaction rates between solids and gases. - Multi-scale modeling
Approach combining physicochemistry, texture, and morphology for process modeling. Machine learning. - Electrical properties of solids
Development of gas and particle sensors, as well as associated microsystems. - Instrumentation
Design and optimization of instruments for process analysis and control.
Fields of activity
- Energy production and storage
Process optimization for improved energy efficiency. - Processing and recycling of mineral materials
Improvement of transformation and recycling processes. - Gas capture
Development of technologies for gas capture and storage. - Environmental monitoring
Design of sensors for air quality monitoring and compliance with environmental standards.
Research Areas
- Chemical transformations of divided solids
Optimization of industrial processes to make them more energy- and raw material-efficient, covering areas such as energy production (nuclear fuel cycle), solar energy storage, and material cost optimization in metal additive manufacturing. - Electrical properties of solids
Development of gas sensors (NOx, NH₃, O₂, H₂, VOC) and particle sensors (soot), as well as associated microsystems, for process intensification, environmental standards control, and safety aspects.
Research unit
PTSI collaborates closely with the UMR CNRS 5307 – Georges Friedel Laboratory (LGF), sharing complementary expertise in the fields of materials and processes. This partnership focuses on the study of interactions between solids and gases, as well as on the development of gas and particle sensors. Together, they conduct innovative projects on the characterization of electrical and physicochemical properties of materials, contributing to the optimization of industrial processes and the creation of new technological solutions for the energy and environmental sectors.
Contact and Practical Information
- Head
Mathilde Rieu - Email
rieu@mines-stetienne.fr - Phone
+33 4 77 42 02 82
- Address
École des mines de Saint-Étienne
Centre for Chemical Engineering
158, cours Fauriel,
42000 Saint-Étienne, France - Transportation
Bus: Line 6, stop “École des Mines”