Postgraduate research opportunities Combined grouting and mechanochemical treatment for safe asbestos decommissioning and disposal
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Wednesday 24 April 2024
- Deadline: Wednesday 26 June 2024
- Number of places: 1
- Duration: 4 years
- Funding: Home fee, Equipment costs, Travel costs, Stipend
Overview
The aim of this project is to provide a safe decommissioning strategy for Asbestos-containing materials. ACMs are present in many legacy nuclear structures and pose health hazards alongside potential radiation contamination during decommissioning. The researcher will explore the stabilization of friable ACMs through colloidal silica grouting, mechanochemical asbestos-neutralization treatment and identification of waste forms suitable for disposal in a Low-Level Waste Repository or LLWR.Eligibility
Applicants should have a first-class or upper-second-class bachelor's degree and/or Master’s degree in an appropriate science or engineering discipline. Knowledge of X-ray characterisation techniques (X-ray tomography and X-ray diffraction) and analytical chemistry would be advantageous. Theoretical and hands-on training will be provided both through the aligned SATURN Nuclear Centre for Doctoral Training and at the University of Strathclyde.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate enthusiasm, creativity, resourcefulness and a passion for problem solving. Independent and critical thinking will be encouraged.
Project Details
Asbestos solutions are key milestone number 1 in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s 10 by 2030 roadmap, highlighting the vital and immediate need to establish an innovative solution for managing asbestos waste by 2030. There is a specific need for a suitable asbestos management route to enable safe retrieval, packaging, and disposal as part of the decommissioning of nuclear structures. The friable nature of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and high volumes of waste pose significant risks to human health; there is, therefore, a need to safely retrieve these materials and transform them into a non-friable form to enable disposal within an LLWR.
This project will explore methods for:
Stabilising ACMs in a non-friable form by using colloidal silica as an in-situ grouting material to increase the strength and cohesion of particulate wastes to produce a non-friable ACM with minimal risk of air-borne asbestos fibres or radionuclide-contaminated particulates.
Neutralising the asbestos through mechanochemical processing: Mechanical action can be used to chemically transform the asbestos fibres into amorphous silicate powder, thereby neutralizing their hazardous properties.
Altering the mobility of radionuclides through mechanochemistry: We will explore whether mechanochemical CO2 treatment of ACM reduces or increases the solubility of radionuclides.
Disposal routes of neutralised ACMs: identifying if vitrification in glass or encapsulation in cementitious storage is an appropriate disposal route.
Further information
Funding details
The project is funded through a Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) Bursary totalling £149,000. Funding includes tuition fees, a four-year stipend at the Home student rate and a maintenance grant for 4 years, starting at the UKRI minimum of £19,237 pa. for 2024-2025, research costs and travel expenses. The researcher will join the SATURN Nuclear Energy Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT), where they will benefit from a 3-month taught course led by subject experts followed by 3-4 months of research skills training to prepare the researcher with the skills and knowledge to succeed as an independent researcher.
Apply
To apply, please email: SATURN@manchester.ac.uk
Number of places: 1
To read how we process personal data, applicants can review our 'Privacy Notice for Student Applicants and Potential Applicants' on our Privacy notices' web page.
Contact us
Informal enquiries are welcomed. Please get in touch if you have any questions.
For informal enquires email Dr Mark Stillings (mark.stillings@strath.ac.uk).