Atomic and Macro-scale Studies of Surface Processes: Towards a Mechanistic Understanding of Surface Reactivity and Radionuclide Binding Mechanisms

Completed

Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Nuclear supporting technologies)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences)

Not Cross-cutting
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions)

Dr M Ryan
Materials
Imperial College London

Standard

EPSRC

01 April 2012

31 March 2016

48 months

£961,432

Energy

London

Strategic Partnerships

Dr M Ryan, Materials, Imperial College London

Dr NA Burton, Chemistry, University of Manchester
Dr NDM Evans, Chemistry, Loughborough University
Dr K Morris, Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester
Professor JFW Mosselmans, Science Division, Diamond Light Source Ltd
Dr RA Wogelius, Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester

In this programme we seek to develop a mechanistic understanding of radionuclide (RN) interactions with mineral surfaces, under conditions likely to exist in a geological disposal facility (GDF).This proposal describes integrated experimental and multi-scale modelling studies on selected key surfaces which are designed to address fundamental questions on: (i) how the surfaces of candidate materials in an engineered barrier system (EBS) behave in a typical disposal environment; and (ii) the effect of any alteration processes on RN/surface interactions. Crucially, our approach represents fundamental, underpinning scientific research that will provide mechanistic understanding of key RN retardation processes, simulating a range of post-closure RN retardation scenarios on to candidate EBS and natural surfaces. This approach seeks to develop a methodology that is transferrable to other materials and systems. Such a transferrable, approach supports the current generic stage of the UK disposal programme so that methods developed can be used to perform experiments on other materials using other RNs of interest as the UK geological concept progresses. It allows us to perform key experiments and underpin these with mechanistic prediction approaches. By quantifying the energetic and kinetics of reactions we will create a predictive tool for use in developing and revising more accurate field-scale computational models.The proposal brings together a new, interdisciplinary collaborative team with a range of complementary expertise capable of taking a holistic approach to this complex and challenging issue. Advanced, in-situ surface sensitive experimental techniques will be applied, and developed for hyper-alkaline and radioactive applicability. A key component is to work on real RN materials to provide accurate and unambiguous data for model development.This work will inform regulatory bodies, have a profound impact on the development of the new GDF safety case, and has implications in a wider scientific context

30/04/12