RESEARCH & FACULTY
François Caron
François Caron
Full Professor705.675.1151 ext. 2400
F-322
Sudbury Campus
Dr. François Caron has a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry (UQAC), a Master`s in Freshwater Sciences (INRS) and a PhD in Geochemistry (McMaster). He joined Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) in 1990 as a research scientist, where he worked on projects related to nuclear waste management, environmental research, emissions reduction, and reactor chemistry. He was the co-recipient of the AECL Discovery award for understanding the radiocarbon production and emissions, followed by its application in a strategic plan submitted to reactor owners.
He joined Laurentian University in 2000 in the Chemistry and Biochemistry department, where he continued his teaching and projects on multidisciplinary and environmental issues. He is cross-appointed with the Environmental Earth Science Program (now Environmental Science), he is also adjunct with the Department of Earth Sciences. He was the coordinator for Liberal Science from 2005 to 2011, and the Radiation Safety Officer from 2001 to 2011. He was Vice-Dean of Science and Engineering from 2009 to 2012, and the interim director of the School of Mines 2011-12. He has taught first year chemistry since 2002, and continues to be involved in chemical education. He is also an academic representative on a high level scientific committee to adjudicate the project funding on strengthening Canada`s terrorism prevention and public safety. He has been active in the Mining in the Environment series of conferences, and in Program development at Laurentian University, namely Environmental Science and the School of Mines at Laurentian University.
- B. Sc. Chemistry, UQAC
- M.Sc. Sciences de l'eau, INRS
- Ph.D. Geochemistry, McMaster
His research focus is related to environmental radioactivity and radiochemistry. One major impact is related to the environmental fate of Carbon-14, one of the major contaminants of nuclear reactors. His work has focused on Carbon-14 retention within reactor systems, upon its production, and in post-service (storage). A major contribution was the calculation of the Carbon-14 production from reactors in the nuclear era, and its environmental control.
His other area is related to the migration of radioactive contaminants in soils, and their interaction with natural organic matter (NOM). NOM is a silent constituent of all waters, and its environmental role is not well understood. His novel work continues to reveal new properties and impacts of NOM in natural systems, and the relation with radioactivity migration He is active in his field, with presentations at international conferences (Nuclear and Radiochemistry, NRC-series), and Canadian Institute of Chemistry (environmental radiochemistry, May 2013).
- Discovery Award, President
- Canadian Institute of Chemistry, Gendron travel award (1999)
- Fluorescence analysis of natural organic matter fractionated by ultrafiltration: contrasting between urban-impacted water, and radio-contaminated water from a near-pristine site.
- Fluorescence characterization of the natural organic matter in deep ground waters from the Canadian Shield, Ontario, Canada
- Potential use of ultrafiltration for groundwater remediation and aqueous speciation of 60Co and 137Cs from a contaminated area
- Life cycle and Management of Carbon-14 from nuclear power generation
- Determination of the thermal degradation rate of polystyrene-divinyl benzene ion exchange resins in ultra-pure water at ambient and service temperature.
