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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/R001138/1
Title Development of Novel Treatments for Carbon-based radioactive wastes
Status Completed
Energy Categories Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Nuclear supporting technologies) 100%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry) 50%;
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics) 50%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 50%;
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions) 50%;
Principal Investigator Dr JC Renshaw
No email address given
Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
University of Birmingham
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 18 September 2017
End Date 31 December 2019
Duration 27 months
Total Grant Value £202,034
Industrial Sectors Energy
Region West Midlands
Programme Energy : Energy
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr JC Renshaw , Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences, University of Birmingham (99.998%)
  Other Investigator Prof RJ (Rebecca ) Lunn , Civil Engineering, University of Strathclyde (0.001%)
Dr C Switzer , Civil Engineering, University of Strathclyde (0.001%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract The nuclear energy and weapons programmes of the past 70 years have created a legacy of waste and contamination around the world. Amongst the very diverse and complicated wastes arising from these programmes are a range of "orphan" wastes. These are wastes which are not suitable for treatment in existing processing plants and for which there is no currently accepted treatment option.This project will determine the feasibility of a wholly new approach to treatment of orphan radioactive wastes. The overarching longer-term research vision is for a three-stage waste treatment process. First, smouldering the waste (in the same way that coal smoulders in a fire) to burn the carbon and produce a small volume of stable radioactive ash that can be encapsulated (generally in cement) and placed into a container (comprised of steel or concrete) for future geological disposal. Second, capturing safely the radioactive emissions that are released by the smouldering process. These are in the form of microscopic particles of radionuclides and carbon dioxide gas that contains the radioactive element, Carbon 14. This capture will make use of similar technologies to those being explored to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to tackle climate change. Bacteria will be used to stimulate the production of carbonate and/or phosphate minerals, removing the radioactivity from the gases and capturing them into a stable mineral (i.e. into a rock) . Finally, this process of capturing the radioactivity into a mineral will be performed as part of the encapsulation process either for the radioactive ash (prior to placing it in a container) or for other radioactive wastes, so as to reduce the final volume of radioactive material that requires disposal.In order for any treatment process of orphan wastes to be accepted by the UK regulatory authorities, it is critical that no radioactive gases are emitted. Hence, this research project will focus on demonstrating the feasibility of capturing (1) 14C as a stable carbonate and (2) other particulate radioactive emissions into stable phosphate minerals. The project will focus on demonstrating feasibility for a single wasteform, graphite, which is the largest volume orphan waste. If feasibility can be demonstrated, other research projects will follow to explore the smouldering process and the use of the carbonate and phosphate minerals for encapsulation of the radioactive ashes, created by the smouldering process.
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 04/12/17