PRISME-Z: THEMIS and the CNRS Launch a Joint Laboratory on the Regeneration of Industrial Oils

THEMIS, a division of Antara Groupe specializing in the design and manufacture of filtration and organic fluid treatment solutions, has partnered with the CNRS to establish the PRISME-Z joint laboratory as part of the National Research Agency’s (ANR) LabCom program. The initiative brings together the company and CNRS laboratories in Lille and Caen to focus on the regeneration of industrial fluids and the selective identification of radical species using materials.

Take action at the first signs of deterioration

Industrial oil does not degrade all at once. The process begins with free-radical reactions: highly reactive species form, multiply, and eventually lead to oxidation products and, ultimately, to deposits such as oxidation residues that affect machine performance and oil life.

PRISME-Z aims to identify these species as early as possible, in a selective manner, using materials. The goal is both to better understand the mechanisms of oil aging and to develop new solutions to regenerate the oils rather than replace them.

A Sustainable Framework for THEMIS Research

The ANR’s LabCom program supports the creation of joint laboratories between a public research laboratory and an SME. Each is based on shared governance and a jointly developed research and innovation roadmap.

For THEMIS, based in Châteaudun (Eure-et-Loir), this is the way to ensure the long-term viability of its research and to continue innovating. The company has been working for more than twenty years on processes for treating organic fluids (oils, fuels).

Using EPR detection technology and with support from the CNRS in Lille to identify early warning signs of degradation, THEMIS received the 2024 Innovation Award at the Trophées des Entreprises. Together with the CNRS in Caen, a new milestone has been reached with the establishment of a partnership focused on the regeneration of industrial fluids and the selective identification of radical species by materials.

“The establishment of this joint laboratory will be a key milestone in our development. It will support our research efforts and strengthen the link between academic research and practical industrial applications, thereby improving equipment reliability and extending the service life of oils.”

Laurent Lefur, CEO of THEMIS

 A Look Back at INFRANALYTICS Day

This collaboration between public research and industry was the focus of the 3rd INFRANALYTICS Day, “Support for Industry and Innovation,” held on June 10, 2026, at the CNRS campus in Gif-sur-Yvette. INFRANALYTICS is the national research infrastructure, led by the CNRS, that provides both laboratories and companies with access to state-of-the-art analytical equipment: NMR, EPR, and FT-ICR mass spectrometry.

Antara Groupe was represented there by several team members, and Laurent Le Fur participated in the roundtable discussion titled “How Can We Promote the Activities of Public Research Platforms to Industry?”