Background

• Staff scientist, LLNL, 2020-present
• Postdoctoral Research Scientist, LLNL, 2019–2020
• Postdoctoral Research Scientist, LBNL, 2016–2019

Research Interests

Radiochemistry, hydrometallurgy, speciation, bioinorganic chemistry. My research focuses on the interactions between metal ions and chelators (natural small molecules, polyoxometalates, synthetic ligands, or macromolecules such as proteins) with implications spanning from separation technologies to medical applications, actinide and lanthanide sciences, strategic metal mining, and the behavior of heavy metals in the environment. U.S. DOE Early career award recipient (2023).

Public Profiles

LinkedIn | ResearchGate | Google Scholar | Publons | ORCID

Patent List

[6]          Separation of elements using polyoxometalates and cations. G.J.-P. Deblonde. 2022. US Patent App. 17/722,248. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20230331562A1/en

[5]  Method of sequestering target elements. G.Deblonde, Y. Jiao, D.M. Park, J.A. Mattocks, J.A. Cotruvo Jr.. 2021. US-17175228. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20210268132A1/en

[4]  Separation of metal ions by liquid-liquid extraction. G.Deblonde, R.K. Strong, R.J. Abergel. WO2018097871A4. 2018. https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2018097871A4/en

[3]  Chelating platform for delivery of radionuclides. R.K. Strong, P. Rupert, R.J. Abergel, I. Captain, G.J.-P. Deblonde. WO2018044812A2. 2018. https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2018044812A2/en?oq=PCT%2fUS2017%2f048954

[2]  Formulations and treatments employing hydroxypyridonate actinide/lanthanide decorporation agents. R.J. Abergel, G.J.-P. Deblonde. WO2017192581A1. 2017. https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2017192581A1/en

[1]  HYDROMETALLURGICAL METHOD FOR SEPARATING AND PURIFYING TANTALUM AND NIOBIUM. G.J.-P. Deblonde, M.-A. Roux, V. Weigel, A. Chagnes, G. Cote. WO2017085404A1. 2017. https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2017085404A1/en?oq=WO2017085404

Reviewer for the Following Journals

ACS Omega; Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology; Chemical Communications;  ChemPlusChem; Chemical Science; Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects; Dalton Transactions; Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; Hydrometallurgy; Inorganic Chemistry; Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research; JACS; Journal of chromatography A; Journal of Hazardous Materials; Journal of luminescence; Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry; Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids; Metallomics; Minerals; Minerals Engineering; Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review; New Journal of Chemistry; Separation and Purification Reviews; Separation and Purification Technology; The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering; Waste Management...

PhD, Physical and analytical chemistry, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, 2015

Engineer diploma, Chemical sciences and engineering, École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris (‘‘Chimie ParisTech’’), 2012

MS, Nuclear fuel cycle engineering, ParisTech and the National Institute for Nuclear Sciences and Technology, 2012

[58] G.J.-P. Deblonde, K. Morrison, J.A. Mattocks, J. Cotruvo Jr., M. Zavarin, A.B. Kersting. Impact of a Biological Chelator, Lanmodulin, on Minor Actinide Aqueous Speciation and Transport in the Environment. Environmental Science & Technology, 2023, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06033. Supplementary cover highlight.

[57] M. Nyman and G.J.-P. Deblonde. Metal-oxide cages open up strategy for processing nuclear waste. Nature, 2023, 616, 7957, 438-440. DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-01019-8

[56] C. Colla, I. Colliard, A. Sawvel, M. Nyman, H.E. Mason, G.J.-P. Deblonde. Contrasting Trivalent Lanthanide and Actinide Complexation by Polyoxometalates via Solution-State NMR. Inorganic Chemistry, 2023, 62, 16, 6242–6254. DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c04014. Front cover highlight.

[55] I. Colliard, J.R.I. Lee, C.A. Colla, H.E. Mason, A.M. Sawvel, M. Zavarin, M. Nyman, and G.J.-P. Deblonde. Polyoxometalates as ligands to synthesize, isolate and characterize compounds of rare isotopes on the microgram scale. Nature Chemistry, 2022, 14, 1357–1366. DOI: 10.1038/s41557-022-01018-8. Featured article – Front cover highlight.

[54] G.J.-P. Deblonde, A. Chagne, G. Cote. Recent Advances in the Chemistry of Hydrometallurgical Methods. Separation and Purification Reviews, 2022. DOI: 10.1080/15422119.2022.2088389

[53] J. Mattocks, J. Cotruvo Jr., G.J.-P. Deblonde. Engineering lanmodulin's selectivity for actinides over lanthanides by controlling solvent coordination and second-sphere interactions. Chemical Science, 2022, 13, 6054-6066, DOI: 10.1039/D2SC01261H

[52] K.P. Carter, J.N. Wacker, K.F. Smith, G.J.-P. Deblonde, L.M. Moreau, J.A. Rees, C.H. Booth, R.J. Abergel. In situ beam reduction of Pu(IV) and Bk(IV) as a route to trivalent transuranic coordination complexes with hydroxypyridinone chelators. Journal of Synchrotron Radiation, 2022, 29, 315-322. DOI: 10.1107/S1600577522000200.

[51] G.J.-P. Deblonde, J. Mattocks, Z. Dong, P. Wooddy, J. Cotruvo Jr., M. Zavarin. Capturing an elusive but critical element: Natural protein enables actinium chemistry. Science Advances, 2021, 7, eabk0273. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk0273

[50] Z. Dong, J. Mattocks, G.J.-P. Deblonde, D. Hu, Y. Jiao, J. Cotruvo Jr., D.M. Park, Bridging Hydrometallurgy and Biochemistry: A Protein-Based Process for Recovery and Separation of Rare Earth Elements, ACS Central Science, 2021, 7, 11, 1798-1808. DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.1c00724

[49] G.J.-P. Deblonde, J. Mattocks, H. Wang, E. Gale, A.B. Kersting, M. Zavarin, J. Cotruvo Jr. Characterization of americium and curium complexes with the protein lanmodulin: a potential macromolecular mechanism for actinide mobility in the environment. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2021, 143, 38, 15769–15783. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c07103

[48] G.J.-P. Deblonde, M. Zavarin, A.B. Kersting. The coordination properties and ionic radius of actinium: A 120-year-old enigma. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 2021, 446, 21413. DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2021.214130

[47] G.J.-P. Deblonde, J. Mattocks, Z. Dong, P. Wooddy, J. Cotruvo, M. Zavarin. Protein-Based Platform for Purification, Chelation, and Study of Medical Radiometals: Yttrium and Actinium. Pre-print. DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv.14763426.v1

[46] Z. Dong, G.J.-P. Deblonde, A. Middleton, D. H, A. Dohnalkova, L. Kovarik, O. Qafoku, V. Shutthanandan, H. Jin, H. Hsu-Kim, N. Theaker, Y. Jiao, and D. Park. Microbe-Encapsulated Silica Gel Biosorbents for Selective Extraction of Scandium from Coal Byproducts. Environmental Science & Technology, 2021, 55, 9, 6320-6328. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08632

[45] L.A. Arnedo-Sanchez, K.F. Smith, G.J.-P. Deblonde, K.P. Carter, L. Moreau, J.A. Rees, T. Tratnjek, C. Booth, A. Abergel. Combining the Best of Two Chelating Titans: A Hydroxypyridinone?Decorated Macrocyclic Ligand for Efficient and Concomitant Complexation and Sensitized Luminescence of f?Elements. ChemPlusChem, 2021, 86, 483-491. DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202100083

[44] R. M. Pallares, D. An, G.J.-P. Deblonde, B. Kullgren, S.S. Gauny, E.E. Jarvis, R.J. Abergel. Efficient discrimination of transplutonium actinides by in vivo models. Chemical Science, 2021, 12, 5295-5301. DOI: 10.1039/D0SC06610A

[43] G.J.-P. Deblonde. Spectrophotometric methods to probe the solution chemistry of lanthanide complexes with macromolecules. Book chapter in: Methods in Enzymology, Academic Press, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2020.12.012.

[42]  A. Müller*, G.J.-P. Deblonde*, P. Ercius, S.E. Zeltmann, R.J. Abergel, A.M. Minor. Probing electronic structure in berkelium and californium via an electron microscopy nanosampling approach, Nature Communications, 2021, 12, 1–6. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21189-1. *Co-first authors.

[41] G.J.-P. Deblonde, A.B. Kersting, M. Zavarin. Open questions on the environmental chemistry of radionuclides, Communications Chemistry, 2020, 3, 1–5. DOI: 10.1038/s42004-020-00418-6

[40]  K.P. Carter, K.F. Smith, T. Tratnjek, G.J.-P. Deblonde, L.M. Moreau, J.A. Rees, C.H. Booth, R.J. Abergel. Controlling the Reduction of Chelated Uranyl to Stable Tetravalent Uranium Coordination Complexes in Aqueous Solution, Inorg. Chem. 60 (2021) 973–981. DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c03088.

[39]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, J. Mattocks, D. Park, D. Reed, J. Cotruvo Jr., Y. Jiao. Selective and Efficient Biomacromolecular Extraction of Rare Earth Elements Using Lanmodulin. Inorganic Chemistry. DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c01303. Featured article – Cover highlight.

[38]  Y. Wang*, G.J.-P. Deblonde*, R. Abergel. Hydroxypyridinone derivatives: A low-pH alternative to polyaminocarboxylates for TALSPEAK-like separation of trivalent actinides from lanthanides. ACS Omega, 2020, 5, 22, 12996–13005. *Co-first authors. DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c00873.

[37]  K. Carter*, G.J.-P. Deblonde*, T. Lohrey, T. Bailey, D. An, K. Shield, W. Lukens Jr., R. Abergel. Developing Coordination Chemistry to Advance 44Sc/47Sc and 86Y/90Y Theranostic Radiopharmaceuticals. Communications Chemistry, 2020. *Co-first authors. DOI: 10.1038/s42004-020-0307-0.

[36]  L. Moreau, A. Herve, M. Straub, D. Russo, R. Abergel, S. Alayoglu, J. Arnold, A. Braun, G. J.P. Deblonde, Y. Liu, T. Lohrey, D. Olive, Y. Qiao, J. Rees, D. Shuh, S. Teat, C. Booth, S. Minasian. Ultra-Small Thorium and Uranium Dioxide Nanoparticles Embedded in a Covalent Organic Framework under review. Chemical Science, 2020, 11, 4648-4668. DOI: 10.1039/C9SC06117G

[35]  D. Park, A. Middleton, R. Smith, G.J.-P. Deblonde, D. Laudal, N. Theaker, H. Hsu-Kim, Y. Jiao, A biosorption-based approach for selective extraction of rare earth elements from coal byproducts, Separation and Purification Technology. (2020) DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2020.11672

[34]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, A. Ricano, R.J. Abergel. Ultra-selective ligand-driven separation of strategic actinides, Nature Communications, (2019) DOI:10.1038/s41467-019-10240-x

[33]  T. Schenkel,  A. Persaud, H. Wang, P. A. Seidl,  R. MacFadyen, C. Nelson, W. L. Waldron,  J.-L. Vay,  G.J.-P. Deblonde,  B. Wen, Y.-M. Chiang, B. P. MacLeod, and Q. Ji, Journal of Applied Physics, (2019). DOI: 10.1063/1.5109445

[32]  A. Ricano,  I. Captain,  K. P. Carter,  B. P. Nell,  G.J.-P. Deblonde , R.J. Abergel . Combinatorial design of multimeric chelating peptoids for selective metal coordination. Chemical Science. (2019) DOI: 10.1039/C9SC01068H.

[31]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, T.D. Lohrey, R.J. Abergel. Inducing selectivity and chirality in group IV metal coordination with high-denticity hydroxypyridinones. Dalton Transactions. (2019) DOI: 10.1039/C9DT01031A.

[30]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, D. Bengio, D. Beltrami, S. Bélair, G. Cote, A. Chagnes. Niobium and tantalum processing in oxalic-nitric media: Nb2O5·nH2O and Ta2O5·nH2O precipitation with oxalates and nitrates recycling , Separation and Purification Technology. (2019) DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2019.05.087

[29]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, D. Bengio, D. Beltrami, S. Bélair, G. Cote, A. Chagnes. A fluoride-free liquid-liquid extraction process for the recovery and separation of niobium and tantalum from alkaline leach solutions, Separation and Purification Technology. 215 (2019) 634–643. DOI:10.1016/j.seppur.2019.01.052.

[28]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, T.D. Lohrey, C.H. Booth, K.P. Carter, B.F. Parker, Å. Larsen, R. Smeets, O.B. Ryan, A.S. Cuthbertson, R.J. Abergel. Solution Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Metal Complexation with a Hydroxypyridinone Chelator Designed for Thorium-227 Targeted Alpha Therapy, Inorganic Chemistry. (2018). DOI:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.8b02430.

[27]  A. Muller, G.J.-P. Deblonde, P. Ercius, R.J. Abergel, A.M. Minor. Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy of Actinides at the Nanogram Scale, Microscopy and Microanalysis. 24 (2018) 444–445. DOI:10.1017/S1431927618002714.

[26]  A.K.R. Junker, G.J.-P. Deblonde, R.J. Abergel, T.J. Sørensen. Investigating subtle 4f vs. 5f coordination differences using kinetically inert Eu(III), Tb(III), and Cm(III) complexes of a coumarin-appended 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetate (DO3A) ligand, Dalton Transactions. 47 (2018) 7362–7369. DOI:10.1039/C8DT01547C.

[25]  M.P. Kelley, G.J.-P. Deblonde, J. Su, C.H. Booth, R.J. Abergel, E.R. Batista, P. Yang. Bond Covalency and Oxidation State of Actinide Ions Complexed with Therapeutic Chelating Agent 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO), Inorganic Chemistry. 57 (2018) 5352–5363. DOI:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.8b00345.

[24]  J.A. Rees*, G.J.-P. Deblonde*, D.D. An*, C. Ansoborlo, S.S. Gauny, R.J. Abergel. Evaluating the potential of chelation therapy to prevent and treat gadolinium deposition from MRI contrast agents, Scientific Reports. 8 (2018). DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-22511-6. *Co-first authors.

[23]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, M.P. Kelley, J. Su, E.R. Batista, P. Yang, C.H. Booth, R.J. Abergel. Spectroscopic and Computational Characterization of Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic Acid/Transplutonium Chelates: Evidencing Heterogeneity in the Heavy Actinide(III) Series, Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 57 (2018) 4521–4526. DOI:10.1002/anie.201709183.

[22]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, T.D. Lohrey, D.D. An, R.J. Abergel. Toxic heavy metal – Pb, Cd, Sn – complexation by the octadentate hydroxypyridinonate ligand archetype 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO), New Journal of Chemistry. 42 (2018) 7649–7658. DOI:10.1039/C7NJ04559J.

[21]  R.J. Abergel, W.A. de Jong, G.J.-P. Deblonde, P.D. Dau, I. Captain, T.M. Eaton, J. Jian, M.J. van Stipdonk, J. Martens, G. Berden, J. Oomens, J.K. Gibson. Cleaving Off Uranyl Oxygens through Chelation: A Mechanistic Study in the Gas Phase, Inorganic Chemistry. 56 (2017) 12930–12937. DOI:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.7b01720.

[20]  P. Ribagnac, G.J.-P. Deblonde, S.B. Blancher, L. Lengagne, L. Donati, C. Malimba, B. Courtaud, V. Weigel, D. Beltrami. Leaching of niobium- and REE-bearing iron ores: Significant reduction of H2SO4 consumption using SO2 and activated carbon, Separation and Purification Technology. 189 (2017) 1–10. DOI:10.1016/j.seppur.2017.07.073.

[19]  B. De Cock, N. Delaunay, G. Deblonde, V. Bosi, L. Pasti, D. Mangelings, Y. Vander Heyden. Kinetic study of niobium and tantalum hexameric forms and their substituted ions by capillary electrophoresis in alkaline medium, Talanta. 175 (2017) 127–134. DOI:10.1016/j.talanta.2017.07.025.

[18]  B. De Cock, J.D. Oliver, N. Delaunay, G. Deblonde, D. Mangelings, Y. Vander Heyden. Interinstrumental transfer of a fast short-end injection capillary electrophoresis method: Application to the separation of niobium, tantalum, and their substituted ions: CE and CEC, Electrophoresis. 38 (2017) 2069–2074. DOI:10.1002/elps.201700094.

[17]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, M. Sturzbecher-Hoehne, P.B. Rupert, D.D. An, M.-C. Illy, C.Y. Ralston, J. Brabec, W.A. de Jong, R.K. Strong, R.J. Abergel. Chelation and stabilization of berkelium in oxidation state +IV, Nature Chemistry. 9 (2017) 843–849. DOI:10.1038/nchem.2759.

[16]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, A. Chagnes, M.-A. Roux, V. Weigel, G. Cote. Extraction of Nb(V) by quaternary ammonium-based solvents: toward organic hexaniobate systems, Dalton Transactions. 45 (2016) 19351–19360. DOI:10.1039/C6DT03873E.

[15]  I. Captain, G.J.-P. Deblonde, P.B. Rupert, D.D. An, M.-C. Illy, E. Rostan, C.Y. Ralston, R.K. Strong, R.J. Abergel. Engineered Recognition of Tetravalent Zirconium and Thorium by Chelator–Protein Systems: Toward Flexible Radiotherapy and Imaging Platforms, Inorganic Chemistry. 55 (2016) 11930–11936. DOI:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b02041.

[14]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, R.J. Abergel. Active actinium, Nature Chemistry. 8 (2016) 1084–1084. DOI:10.1038/nchem.2653.

[13]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, C. Coelho-Diogo, A. Chagnes, G. Cote, M.E. Smith, J.V. Hanna, D. Iuga, C. Bonhomme. Multinuclear Solid-State NMR Investigation of Hexaniobate and Hexatantalate Compounds, Inorganic Chemistry. 55 (2016) 5946–5956. DOI:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b00345.

[12]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, V. Weigel, Q. Bellier, R. Houdard, F. Delvallée, S. Bélair, D. Beltrami. Selective recovery of niobium and tantalum from low-grade concentrates using a simple and fluoride-free process, Separation and Purification Technology. 162 (2016) 180–187. DOI:10.1016/j.seppur.2016.02.025.

[11]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, A. Chagnes, G. Cote, J. Vial, I. Rivals, N. Delaunay. Development of a capillary electrophoresis method for the analysis in alkaline media as polyoxoanions of two strategic metals: Niobium and tantalum, Journal of Chromatography A. 1437 (2016) 210–218. DOI:10.1016/j.chroma.2016.01.075.

[10]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, A. Chagnes, V. Weigel, G. Cote. Direct precipitation of niobium and tantalum from alkaline solutions using calcium-bearing reagents, Hydrometallurgy. 165 (2016) 345–350. DOI:10.1016/j.hydromet.2015.12.009.

[9]  D. Beltrami, G.J.-P. Deblonde, S. Bélair, V. Weigel. Recovery of yttrium and lanthanides from sulfate solutions with high concentration of iron and low rare earth content, Hydrometallurgy. 157 (2015) 356–362. DOI:10.1016/j.hydromet.2015.07.015.

[8]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, N. Delaunay, D. Lee, A. Chagnes, G. Cote, P. Gareil. First investigation of polyoxoniobate and polyoxotantalate aqueous speciation by capillary zone electrophoresis, RSC Advances. 5 (2015) 64119–64124. DOI:10.1039/C5RA11521C.

[7]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, A. Chagnes, S. Bélair, G. Cote. Solubility of niobium(V) and tantalum(V) under mild alkaline conditions, Hydrometallurgy. 156 (2015) 99–106. DOI:10.1016/j.hydromet.2015.05.015.

[6]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, A. Moncomble, G. Cote, S. Bélair, A. Chagnes. Experimental and computational exploration of the UV-visible properties of hexaniobate and hexatantalate ions, RSC Advances. 5 (2015) 7619–7627. DOI:10.1039/C4RA14866E.

[5]  M. Sturzbecher-Hoehne, G.J.-P. Deblonde, R.J. Abergel. Solution thermodynamic evaluation of hydroxypyridinonate chelators 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) and 5-LIO(Me-3,2-HOPO) for UO2(VI) and Th(IV) decorporation, Radiochimica Acta. 101 (2013) 359–366. DOI:10.1524/ract.2013.2047.

[4]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, M. Sturzbecher-Hoehne, R.J. Abergel. Solution Thermodynamic Stability of Complexes Formed with the Octadentate Hydroxypyridinonate Ligand 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO): A Critical Feature for Efficient Chelation of Lanthanide(IV) and Actinide(IV) Ions, Inorganic Chemistry. 52 (2013) 8805–8811. DOI:10.1021/ic4010246.

[3]  G.J.-P. Deblonde, M. Sturzbecher-Hoehne, A.B. Mason, R.J. Abergel. Receptor recognition of transferrin bound to lanthanides and actinides: a discriminating step in cellular acquisition of f-block metals, Metallomics. 5 (2013) 619. DOI:10.1039/c3mt20237b. Front cover highlight.

[2]  M. Sturzbecher-Hoehne, C. Goujon, G.J.-P. Deblonde, A.B. Mason, R.J. Abergel. Sensitizing Curium Luminescence through an Antenna Protein To Investigate Biological Actinide Transport Mechanisms, Journal of the American Chemical Society. 135 (2013) 2676–2683. DOI:10.1021/ja310957f.

[1]  S. Michaud, M. Miguirditchian, G. Deblonde, B. Dinh, X. Hérès, G. Andreoletti. Modelling of Thorium Extraction by TBP, Procedia Chemistry. 7 (2012) 251–257. DOI:10.1016/j.proche.2012.10.041.

U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Award, 2023

LLNL Director's award for excellence in publication, 2022.

LLNL PLS Directorate award for publication: 2022, 2021 (x2), and 2020.

Joe Wong poster award 2017 (Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource / Linac Coherent Light Source).