Fingerprinting environmental releases from nuclear facilities

About the project

Identifying the source of nuclear materials in the environment rapidly and with minimal sample processing is a key objective in the field of nuclear forensics. Characterisation of these materials is essential in the responsive management and risk assessment of both authorised and accidental discharges of radioactive materials to the environment.

Rapid techniques for the identification and characterisation of hot particles in environmental matrices is of fundamental importance to this objective. Laser ablation techniques offer significant potential for the analysis of elemental distribution at the micron scale. However, they are limited to being semi-quantitative due to matrix-related variability in ablation efficiencies.

This project focuses on developing laser ablation mass spectrometry techniques (LA-ICPMS, TOF-ICPMS) for the rapid characterization of particles released from nuclear facilities, and from uranium mining and processing facilities. The project focuses on developing effective approaches to correct for variable ablation efficiency across diverse matrices.

Working closely with UK and European partners, and with access to comprehensive archive of materials, the project will develop new methods for the rapid elemental and isotopic analysis of fuel and fuel cladding debris (and other “hot” particles), high temperature glasses and composites, and U-rich particulates and demonstrate their application in a nuclear forensics context.

For full project details visit the Inspire project page .

Supervisors

• Professor Phil Warwick (University of Southampton)
• Professor Andrew Cundy (University of Southampton)
• Professor J. Andy Milton (University of Southampton)

Lead supervisor

• Lead supervisor: Professor Phillip Warwick Associate Dean (Enterprise)

Professor Phillip Warwick

• Professor Phillip Warwick: Associate Dean (Enterprise)

Professor Andy Cundy

• Environmental radioactivity and radiochemistry
• Environmental geology
• Contaminated land, wastes and water management

Professor J. Andy Milton

• Professor J. Andy Milton: Professor of Analytical Geochemistry

Entry requirements

A 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent , in one of these subjects:

• any Earth or environmental science discipline
• chemistry
• geology
• oceanography
• marine science
• physics

Fees and funding

INSPIRE studentships are funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC, part of UK Research and Innovation, UKRI). The stipend is in line with UKRI standard levels, including the recent cost of living increase.

All studentships are fully funded for 3.5 years.

How to apply

To make an application, visit the how to apply section of the INSPIRE website .

Contact us

For questions about the project, contact Professor Andrew Cundy.

Email: A.Cundy@soton.ac.uk

For questions about the application process, contact the graduate school office.

Email: gsnocs@soton.ac.uk

Research areas