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Environment research within the department of Chemistry
Environmental concerns are, of course, at the forefront of social, scientific and political consciousness at the moment, and work in our Department addresses many key issues, including CO2 capture and utilisation, toxic metal remediation, and the control and management of radionuclides resulting from the nuclear industry. The latter area is especially vibrant thanks to the exceptionally well equipped and experienced Radiochemistry section here at Loughborough. In the course of this work we have forged strong links with other departments at Loughborough, other universities, government organisations (eg the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority) and major funding bodies. Further general information on activities within this Group can be obtained by contacting the Group Leader, Dr Nick Evans.
With respect to the recent announcement of University studentships, we have a large range of potential projects on offer. A selection of these are listed below. Before reading them please bear in mind a few points:
- This list is not absolutely definitive and if you have an interest in the work of an individual member of staff here at Loughborough then please feel free to contact them directly.
- Further information on the work of the member of staff associated with each project can be obtained from the links to individual's home pages. Specific information on the projects in question can be obtained from the staff member in question by email request or phone. Please remember, though, that for things to progress a general application form must be filled in and this can be obtained by contacting Dr George Weaver. Remember also that this current initiative is competitive, and funding for projects is not guaranteed; note also such funding is limited to UK/EU students only.
- Often the projects listed are actually collaborative ventures involving a number of members of staff from Chemistry and, in some cases, other departments at Loughborough. In addition, in some cases the work will span more than one of our Research Groups, and has been placed within “Environment” as this is maybe the primary focus. The staff member mentioned is, though, the best port of call for preliminary enquiries.
Potential PhD projects include:
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The Effect of Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (NAPLs) on Radionuclide Transport
In the proposed UK Geological Disposal Facility for Radioactive Waste, the waste will contain a variety of NPALs such as oils. It is essential to understand the effect of these on radionuclide mobility in the Geosphere in order accurately assess the safety of such a repository.
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Novel Radiochemical Methodologies For Rapid Actinide And Lanthanide Analyses And Separations From Complex Matrices (with AWE)
The measurement of ratios of actinide nuclides to each other and to lanthanide nuclides has the capability to reveal information on the origin of samples, both as regards the processes and times of their manufacture. The information from these measurements is required to be timely and accurate when applied to National Security.
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Transfer and speciation of transuranium elements and others from Chernobyl wastes (with Portsmouth University)
The project will carry out field studies in key radiation hotspots in the Ukrainian sector of the Chernobyl 30-km Zone, in combination with laboratory experiments, to improve our ability to predict the long term behaviour of hot particles and radioactive wastes containing transuranium elements (TUE).
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Transport of Nanoparticles in the Environment - Experiment and Modelling (with Birmingham University)
Nanoparticles are being increasingly used in the developed world. It is inevitable that some will reach the environment either intentionally or by accident. It is essential to be able to predict their fate in the environment. Humic substances and inorganic surfaces control the fate of pollutants such as toxic 'heavy metals' (eg Ag, Hg, Cd). However, before reliable predictions can be made it is necessary to have a physicochemical model of this system, i.e. nanoparticles, humics and surfaces. The aims of this study are to investigate the behaviour of these systems, and to develop a rigorous physicochemical model that may be used in coupled chemical transport codes to predict the fate of nanoparticles in the geosphere. A combination of static (batch) and dynamic (column) experiments, coupled with mathematical modelling will be used.
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The coordination chemistry of Technetium(IV)
This collaborative work will look at many aspects of the fundamental chemistry of the neglected chemistry of this important nuclide's oxidation state, with a view to not only developing inherently new chemistry, but also applying the results back into scenarios pertinent to nuclear decommissioning programmes.
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Conversion of Carbon Dioxide and Other Small Molecules into High Value Products
This project will develop new classes of catalyst material for the entrapment and conversion of carbon dioxide (and other important carbon feedstocks) into high value commodity products.
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Utilisation of CO2 Using Sunlight-Driven Electrosynthesis
In 2004, the UK produced 2% of global CO2 emissions, in the region of 151 million tonnes of carbon in one year. In its energy white paper, published in 2003, the government agreed to combat climate change by reducing UK carbon emissions by at least 60% before 2050. The chemical reduction of CO2 has received considerable interest in the last few years, both as a method for recycling CO2 in industrial waste streams and as well as a route to useful chemical products. This cross-disciplinary, collaborative project will bring together physical chemistry (semiconductor photoelectrochemistry) and organic chemistry (electrosynthetic chemistry) in order to exploit initial findings within the group, with the ultimate aim of assembling an integrated device for CO2 capture.
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