PhD Studentship 2010 At Leeds University – UK
Leeds University Provides PhD Scholarships For School Of Earth And Environment 2010 In UK
Detail:
Nuclear materials processing has produced a global legacy of radioactively contaminated ground. Of immediate concern is the geochemical behaviour of high activity fission products, such as 137Cs and 90Sr, and long lived actinides, such as U. Mineral precipitation and incorporation reactions offer a potential route to irreversible fix radionuclides such as Sr, Cs and U in sediments, so that they are unreactive on long time scales preventing further migration. Experiments will be performed in the presence of glacial till, clay and soil materials typical of UK contaminated sites. In microcosms, mineral precipitation will be induced via manipulation of the groundwater geochemistry and microbiology to form either overgrowths of new minerals on sediment particles or recrystallisation of native minerals.
We will investigate the uptake rates and mechanisms of Sr, Cs and U during precipitation of the 3 most common stable mineral types in oxic conditions, ferric oxides (addition and oxidation of Fe(II,0) containing phases e.g magnetite, nZVI or Green Rust), carbonates (Ca and urea containing solution) and silicates (pH increase to pH13+ inducing recrystallisation). All of these interventions are designed to produce a temporary change in groundwater conditions, which will ultimately return to background conditions, but with a permanent change in mineral assemblage and radionuclide speciation. We will develop methodologies using advanced X-ray, (including synchrotron methods, high resolution X-ray diffraction, µ-XAS) and electron microscope (SEM/TEM) techniques to characterise the induced changes mineralogy and changes in radionuclide speciation. Finally, this will provide protocols necessary for remediating and characterisation core samples (with low radiological hazard) collected from contaminated sites. This will allow the assessment of the potential effectiveness of mineral incorporation reactions for in situ grouting of contaminated land or the ex situ stabilisation of contaminated soils or sludges.
Objectives:
1. Develop in situ methodologies for achieving irreversible incorporation radionuclide in contaminated sediments or sludges.
2. Investigate the incorporation mechanisms of Sr, Cs and U into stable mineral phases, such as iron oxides, carbonates and silicates common to all UK sediment types.
3. Develop protocols for investigating radionuclide speciation in experimental samples and in core materials from NDA sites, including the use of advanced synchrotron and electron microscopy techniques.
Training:
Training will be provided in state-of-the-art bio-geochemical techniques such as high-resolution electron microscopy, mineralogy and geomicrobiology. The student will use X-ray absorption spectroscopy to characterise the radionuclide interaction with minerals at the molecular scale, using the world-class synchrotron radiation research sources at the UK’s Diamond Light Source. This combination of advanced training will provide a broad portfolio of skills required for future employment in the academic, environmental and industrial sectors. Travel to present results at national and international conferences is an expected part of PhD training.
Funding Notes:
This 3.5 year PhD studentship is funded by the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The NDA Studentship offers payment of full university tuition fees and a living costs bursary (£13,490 in year one). Applications are invited from UK and EU graduates who have, or expect to gain, a good degree in geochemistry, chemistry, geology, environmental science, materials science, or another relevant science discipline. Relevant Masters level qualifications are also welcomed. You also should have a good communication skills including written.
Salary:
Apply using: for details please visit http://www.see.leeds.ac.uk/
Download an application form: (pdf version) | (Word version)
Informal enquiries:
Dr Ian Burke, email i.burke@see.leeds.ac.uk
Send completed applications to:
see the School website: http://www.see.leeds.ac.uk/
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Address:
University of Leeds
Woodhouse Lane
Leeds, LS2 9JT
UK
EMail: hr@leeds.ac.uk
Last Date To Apply:3 Aug,2010
Source:http://hr.leeds.ac.uk/jobs/ViewJob.aspx?m=all&JId=1170
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