(SATURN CDT) Gas transport in compacted bentonite in high salinity environments

About the Project

Saturn_Nuclear_CDT

This 4-year PhD studentship at the University of Strathclyde provides an annual stipend of £26,000. It is offered in partnership with Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) and forms part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Skills And Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear (SATURN).

Around the world, many countries are developing deep geological disposal facilities designed to safely dispose radioactive waste for hundreds of thousands of years. These facilities consist of networks of tunnels deep below the surface, where canisters containing radioactive waste will be emplaced to permanently isolate the waste from the surface environment. A series of engineered and natural barriers will be employed to contain the waste over long timescales, ensuring environmental safety is maintained.

Bentonite, a type of natural clay, is one of the key candidate engineered barrier materials being considered to surround the canisters, to isolate them from the surrounding environment and contain the release of radionuclides. The main advantage of bentonite is that it swells when in contact with water, forming a tight, protective barrier around the waste. This barrier helps to contain the radioactive waste by minimising the flow of groundwater towards the waste and the subsequent release of radionuclides to the surrounding environment.

Over time, gases will naturally form inside a disposal facility, for example, as the metal waste containers slowly corrode. If gas is generated at sufficient rates and quantities, gas pressures could lead to the generation of temporary cracks or pathways that allow the gas to move through the bentonite. Normally, once the gas escapes, these cracks seal themselves again, restoring the integrity of the barrier.

However, some potential geological disposal facilities, including those being considered in the UK, have highly saline groundwater. The presence of salt is a game changer: the behaviour of bentonite when wetted with saline water changes dramatically, as its swelling and sealing capabilities are reduced. Yet, it is not clear whether salinity also makes the clay mechanically stronger, potentially allowing it to resist the formation of dilatant pathways or fractures. At the same time, the presence of salt alters the molecular interactions at the gas-water-clay interface, easing the passage of gas through the bentonite pore network, hence reducing the potential of fracturing the bentonite barrier.

Project Overview

This PhD project will investigate the fundamental processes that control how gas pressure, bentonite integrity, and resealing ability interact when the bentonite clay is exposed to high-salinity conditions.

The research will address a multiphysics problem, since gas transport through bentonite can occur through several fundamental mechanisms, such as dissolution and diffusion, capillary breakthrough, or mechanical fracturing of the clay. Each of these mechanisms is influenced differently by salinity.

Given this complex scenario, key questions remain unanswered:

• How does high salinity affect gas movement through bentonite?
• Does it allow gas to pass more easily without damaging the barrier, or does it create larger, longer-lasting fractures that prevent resealing?
• Can the bentonite barrier be engineered so that gas moves through it in a controlled and favourable way?

The PhD candidate will work on a custom-designed gas injection apparatus that allows for the creation of the bentonite barrier, simulate water arrival and gas pressure increase within the same cell, minimizing experimental artifacts and ability of in-situ monitoring of the barrier parameters.

Post-mortem samples will undergo a multiscale characterization to investigate the interaction between gas transport and bentonite clay microstructure. Micron and submicron scale imaging such as X-ray Computer Tomography or Scanning Electron Microscopy will be used along side analytical methods such as Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry.

About SATURN

This PhD is based with the SATURN Centre for Doctoral Training. SATURN is made up form a consortium of NW Universities that include Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Lancaster, Sheffield and Strathclyde. The ethos of the programme is to recruit students from across STEM and give them the necessary skills and training to become a subject matter expert in the nuclear sector in either industry or academia. You will be recruited with a cohort of other researchers all looking at nuclear focused research but from across the breadth of the sector. Your training will include an introduction to nuclear course as well as opportunities to do a deep dive in the areas that really interest you. You will also have the opportunity to broaden your experience and skills by visiting internationally relevant facilities, having an industry secondment, undertaking leadership training, and involving yourself in outreach and public engagement activities. If this sounds like the sort of opportunity that you are looking for, we would love to hear from you.

Nuclear Boot Camp (Months 1 - 3)

The Bootcamp is based at Manchester for any of our students based at a partner institutions SATURN can offer you accommodation in Manchester and cover the cost

Eligibility

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline. Interviews are likely to take place in February.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor(s) for this project before you apply. For informal enquiries, please contact Matteo Pedrotti at (matteo.pedrotti@strath.ac.uk)

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact. We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status. We also support applications from those returning from a career break or other roles. We consider offering flexible study arrangements (including part-time: 50%, 60% or 80%, depending on the project/funder).

How to apply

Please complete the Enquiry Form to express your interest. We strongly recommend you contact the project supervisor after completing the form to speak to them about your suitability for the project.

If your qualifications meet our standard entry requirements, the CDT Admissions Team will send your enquiry form and CV to the named project supervisor

Funding Notes

This is a 4-year PhD studentship at the University of Strathclyde, offered in partnership with Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) and part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Skills And Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear (SATURN). Including a stipend of £26,000 per year.