1. Immobilisation of radionuclides via in situ incorporation into stable mineral phases Janice Littlewood Supervisors: Dr Ian Burke, Dr Sam Shaw, Dr Caroline Peacock External Supervisor/Sponsors: Dr Divyesh Trivedi (National Nuclear Laboratory), Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

2. My Background Personal taxation consultant for accountants KPMG. 2005-2006 Science Foundation, University of Huddersfield. 2006-2010 Integrated Master’s Degree in Chemistry, University of Huddersfield. This included a one year placement in the Landers Research Group, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA.

3. Why is there a need for this project? Nuclear industrial processes have resulted in a global legacy of radioactively contaminated land around nuclear power plants. At Sellafield, concrete storage bunkers have cracked and radioactive waste has leached into the ground water. 137 Cs & 90 Sr are radionuclides (atoms with an unstable nucleus so spontaneously decay emitting radiation) which are very mobile. Contamination will continue to spread unless the radionuclides are immobilised or removed. Removal methods of nuclear waste can be extremely expensive, impractical or inefficient. Sellafield contaminated land site, aerial view NDA, 2009

4. Aims of the project To develop in situ techniques to irreversibly fix the radionuclides into sediments (mineral precipitation, incorporation of radionuclides into sediments or recrystallisation of native minerals ) To investigate uptake rates and mechanisms of incorporating Sr and Cs into stable mineral phases eg carbonates, silicates and ferric oxides.

5. Initial sorption experiments Materials non-radioactive Cs or Sr dissolved in KOH or NaOH bentonite or kaolinite Method samples will be shaken and repeat experiments will be carried out in which temperature, length of the reaction & concentrations will be varied. Analysis Solution - pH, ion concentration using ion chromatography Solid - x-ray & microscopy techniques.

6. The End! Thank you for listening...