Gard rhodanien: Roger Bonniaud, an eminent scientist has joined the stars

Roger Bonniaud lived peaceful days in his adopted village, Saint-Gervais.

En 1982, Roger Bonniaud était honoré, avec son équipe, d’un “Special Award”, remis par l’American nuclear society, une distinction exceptionnelle.

This distinguished researcher, who lived in Saint-Gervais and had worked in Marcoule, contributed to a major advance in the final phase of nuclear energy production: the vitrification of waste.

A man of great quality has left us. A researcher eminently recognized in all countries with nuclear energy, he died peacefully at the age of 95. Roger Bonniaud had the modesty typical of true scientists: he knew how to explain complex subjects simply and was happy to answer questions from laypeople. Antoine Schülé, who worked with him at the Académie de Lascours, testifies:“I learned more about the atom from him in two hours of discussion than in many popular treatises.”
He contributed to a major advance in the final phase of nuclear energy production: the vitrification of nuclear waste. A chemical engineer, in his first professional engagement of three and a half years for the Roussel pharmaceutical laboratory, this researcher will work on folliculin.

From the medical tablet to the glass tablet

In 1957, Saclay (*) opened its doors to him and entrusted him with a new laboratory with the mission: the management of the remains of fission products and to develop the idea that “waste is the future”. Securing the future requires foresight: in the long term, avoiding any contamination harmful to humanity. A new but empty lab, three benches, the scientist emphasized, not a beaker, not a test tube, not a siphon, everything had to be created, to be done. The man focuses on the study of the treatment of high-level waste. Based on the idea of ​​a simple initial process, but one that required metal containers that were not very reusable, Roger Bonniaud developed a continuous process.

Arriving in Marcoule in 1968

Suspended for a year, his research, with his team, could not stop there. In 1968, scientists from Saclay arrived in Marcoule to develop the Piver (Glass Pilot) program. The technological development was mainly carried out on the Gard site. In 1978, the Marcoule vitrification workshop (AVM) was built. The development of a continuous vitrification prototype was completed. The problem of long-term storage still needed to be resolved. Roger Bonniaud proposed a core drilling well under the Dent de Marcoule, in order to study the compatibility of the subsoil with the storage of fissile products. This mission was entrusted to Andra. Another site will be selected.

An exceptional distinction

In 1982, Roger Bonniaud and his team were honored with a “Special Award”, presented by the American Nuclear Society, an exceptional distinction.
Gardening and chats with his former colleagues will be the retiree's daily life.
A tribute will be paid to him on Saturday, August 17 at 3:30 p.m. at the small cemetery of Saint-Gervais.

(*) CEA research center, in Essonne. I subscribe to read the rest