Advanced Waste Management Strategies for High Dose Spent Adsorbents
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Materials Science and Engineering
Abstract
The Great East Japan Earthquake, on 11 March 2011, triggered a devastating tsunami, leading to the loss of at least 19,000 lives and partial melt down of three boiling water reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ici site (Units 1-3). A key technology need in the site stabilisation, recovery and decommissioning programme at the Fukushima Dai-ici site is the decontamination of water used to cool the damaged reactor cores and ground water infiltrating the damaged reactor buildings. This is achieved by use of commercial inorganic ion exchange materials to strip the radionuclide contaminants in several purpose built facilities, which yield a variety of highly radioactive and dispersible "High Dose Spent Adsorbents". Of key concern is the production of hydrogen from radiation induced degradation of water within the adsorbent material, which poses an explosive hazard. The overarching aim of this project is to improve the passive safety of the high dose spent adsorbents to assure prolonged near surface storage and / or disposal in an engineered facility, in accordance with IAEA Safety Standards for the storage and pre-disposal management of radioactive wastes. To achieve this goal, we will develop novel thermal treatment approaches to transform the wet, granular, and dispersible material into an immobile monolithic form which is chemically and physically stable, eliminating the key hazard of hydrogen production. The approaches developed in this project will address a common need in international decommissioning and civil nuclear energy programmes, in which inorganic ion exchange materials find common application. In particular, the research will provide a route to treat a substantial volume of clinoptilolite waste present on the Sellafield site (classed as intermediate level waste) for which there is no currently accepted treatment route.
Planned Impact
We have identified four groups of beneficiaries who will gain from the proposed research
1. Public and private sector organisations engaged in nuclear decommissioning, will benefit directly from the knowledge and understanding generated by the research, which will assist in reducing the overall cost and hazard of radioactive waste management in future and legacy programmes.
2. The public will benefit from reduced hazard, cost and timescale of nuclear decommissioning and improved environmental outcomes as a result of more robust radioactive waste management processes.
3. Policy makers will benefit from improved scientific underpinning of radioactive waste management
strategies, which will assist in reducing uncertainties, leading to more accurate economic assessments.
4. Academia will benefit from new scientific discoveries through dissemination in peer-reviewed journals and at national and international conferences.
1. Public and private sector organisations engaged in nuclear decommissioning, will benefit directly from the knowledge and understanding generated by the research, which will assist in reducing the overall cost and hazard of radioactive waste management in future and legacy programmes.
2. The public will benefit from reduced hazard, cost and timescale of nuclear decommissioning and improved environmental outcomes as a result of more robust radioactive waste management processes.
3. Policy makers will benefit from improved scientific underpinning of radioactive waste management
strategies, which will assist in reducing uncertainties, leading to more accurate economic assessments.
4. Academia will benefit from new scientific discoveries through dissemination in peer-reviewed journals and at national and international conferences.
Organisations
- University of Sheffield (Lead Research Organisation)
- Kyushu University (Collaboration)
- Washington State University (Collaboration)
- Technical University of Dortmund (Collaboration)
- British Embassy Tokyo (Collaboration)
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (Collaboration)
- Tohoku University (Collaboration)
- High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) (Collaboration)
Publications
Blackburn L
(2021)
Synthesis, structure, and characterization of the thorium zirconolite CaZr 1-x Th x Ti 2 O 7 system
in Journal of the American Ceramic Society
Gardner L
(2021)
Early age hydration and application of blended magnesium potassium phosphate cements for reduced corrosion of reactive metals
in Cement and Concrete Research
Gardner L
(2018)
Response to the discussion by Hongyan Ma and Ying Li of the paper "Characterization of magnesium potassium phosphate cement blended with fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag"
in Cement and Concrete Research
Gardner L
(2021)
Temperature transformation of blended magnesium potassium phosphate cement binders
in Cement and Concrete Research
Gardner LJ
(2021)
Thermal treatment of Cs-exchanged chabazite by hot isostatic pressing to support decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
in Journal of hazardous materials
Gardner LJ
(2021)
Characterization of and Structural Insight into Struvite-K, MgKPO4·6H2O, an Analogue of Struvite.
in Inorganic chemistry
Harnett L
(2019)
Reactive spark plasma sintering of Cs-exchanged chabazite: characterisation and durability assessment for Fukushima Daiichi NPP clean-up
in Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology
Hyatt N
(2020)
The HADES Facility for High Activity Decommissioning Engineering & Science: part of the UK National Nuclear User Facility
in IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering
Hyatt N
(2018)
Nuclear Waste Management
Hyatt NC
(2017)
JUNO: A Network for Japan - UK Nuclear Opportunities
| Description | This project was focused primarily on development of hot isosatic pressing as a technology for treatment of high dose adsorbent (HDSA) materials on the Fukushima site. The project has concluded and made substantial progress has been made toward achieving its objectives. The project was supported by several bi-lateral visits in 2016-17. The project also featured in several broadcast interviews and features. The first phase of our research investigated the high temperature conditioning of commercial ion exchange materials, loaded with stable-isotope fission and activation products, as glass-ceramic material by hot isostatic pressing. A comprehensive investigation of the potential processing envelope was completed to achieve production of acceptable and optimised wasteform materials. A key outcome of this research was to demonstrate the processing of materials without additives, achieving the maximum possible waste incorporation rate and minimum packaged volume, which is essential for industrial application. The results of this research were presented by invitation at the Atomic Energy Society of Japan Spring Meeting 2016 and by contribution at the MRS Fall Meeting 2016 (runner up for best poster prize). The second phase of our research involved assessment of the disposability of the glass-ceramic wasteforms, using a suite of dissolution methodologies. Our results demonstrated that these materials perform as well as, or better than, high level waste glasses intended for disposal in a UK geological disposal facility, tested under similar conditions. The research outcomes were accepted for several publications, most notably, J. Hazard Mater., 413 (2021) 125250 and J. Hazard Mater., 401 (2021) 123764. Additionally, we investigated the encapsulation of simulant high dose spent adsorbents and determined the adsorbent material to be compatible with the encapsulation matrix, providing an alternative viable pathway for immediate treatment of these high hazard materials. This strand of research supported several peer reviewed publications on the development of phosphate cements and alternative encapsulants, including Cem. Conr. Res., 141 (2021) 106332, Cem. Concr. Res., 142 (2021) 106375, and Inorg. Chem., 60 (2021) 195. Further peer reviewed publications to disseminate these research outcomes are in development. Research outcomes were presented at several international conferences in keynote presentations, including the MRS Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management Symposium 2019, PACRIM-13 in 2019, and the Spring Meeting of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan in 2018. The project also succeeded in meeting a stretch objective to investigate the potential of Spark Plasma Sintering of HDSAs to afford a passively safe glass-composite material. This proved a remarkably effective, and potentially disruptive, approach to conditioning of HDSAs, achieving partitioning of Cs (the key radionuclide of concern) into a durable crystalline feldspar phase, encapsulated in an aluminosilicate glass matrix. This research was invited, and accepted, for publication in a special issue of Journal of Nuclear Science & Technology (J. Nucl. Sci. Technol., 56 (2019) 891). Research supported by this grant has also contributed to several other peer reviewed publications, which have utilised knowledge, techniques and materials developed in the project. |
| Exploitation Route | When matured, research could be taken up by industrial organisations in designing and implementing flow sheets for immobilisation of ion exchange materials on the Fukushima and Sellafield sites. |
| Sectors | Energy Environment Government Democracy and Justice |
| Description | A key outcome of this research is an understanding of how thermal treatment processes can be exploited to condition radioactive wastes and produce passively safe products suitable for interim storage and disposal. A landmark research outcome from this project was the first successful demonstration of hot isostatic pressing applied to a simulant ion exchange materials utilised at the Fukushima Dai-ici site, producing a highly durable wasteform, with no additives, in a single step (see Gardner et al., J. Haz. Mat., 2021, 423, 125250). This outcome has attracted commercial interest with two contracts awarded for application and maturation of general and specific concepts developed in this project. The research outcomes developed in this project also attracted European interest, leading to two EC Horizon 2020 grant awards to further develop and optimise the approach to problematic reactive wastes generated at sites across Europe. More widely, this research has further developed our understanding of how advanced waste treatment technologies can radically change the risk posed by the inventory of radioactive waste consigned to geological disposal, by eliminating waste reactivity, achieving effective immobilisation of long lived radionuclides, with substantial reduction in waste volume. This evidence was provided to the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee on the Draft National Policy Statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure. The evidence was cited as the key basis for Recommendation 2 in the Committee report, "We recommend that the Government clarifies in the NPS the level of uncertainty regarding the inventory and explains to prospective host communities how this will affect their right to reject the GDI at any point during the siting process" - as set out at paragraph 34 in the body of the report. HM Government accepted this recommendation and the National Policy Statement was amended to reference to new paragraphs within the 'Implementing Geological Disposal - Working with Communities' white paper published in 2018. The research undertaken in this project has attracted national and international media attention, leading to ca. 10 television and radio interviews on our research findings and their potential application at the Fukushima and Sellafield sites, including BBC News, Channel News Asia, and Singapore Today. These broadcasts have enabled development of public understanding of the radioactive waste management challenges on the Fukushima site and the contribution of our research to developing safe and acceptable waste treatment options. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | (PREDIS) - PRE-DISposal management of radioactive waste |
| Amount | € 23,773,743 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 945098 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 08/2024 |
| Description | A new precision cutting saw for radiological materials science |
| Amount | £10,990 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | CHaracterisation, Imaging and MaPping of fuel debris for safe retrieval (CHIMP) |
| Amount | £253,279 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/R01924X/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2017 |
| End | 09/2019 |
| Description | DECC - MIDAS capital grant |
| Amount | £800,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department of Energy and Climate Change |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2015 |
| End | 03/2016 |
| Description | DISCO - Horizon 2020 |
| Amount | £3,450,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 05/2017 |
| End | 05/2021 |
| Description | ERDF: Royce Translational Centre |
| Amount | £4,005,654 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Department | European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 02/2018 |
| End | 03/2019 |
| Description | ICARUS: Improving Chernobyl by Assistive Research at the University of Sheffield |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2016 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | Isolation of 14C species from spent ion exchange resins and their stabilisation |
| Amount | £386,163 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/S032959/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2019 |
| End | 08/2022 |
| Description | MIDAS Collaboratory |
| Amount | £800,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department of Energy and Climate Change |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2015 |
| End | 03/2016 |
| Description | NDA - Plutonium Disposition / IAA match |
| Amount | £214,712 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Nuclear Decommissioning Authority NDA |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2018 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | NDA Bursary Scheme - damaged fuels |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Nuclear Decommissioning Authority NDA |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2017 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Description | Pyrochemical Waste Treatment - Advanced Fuel Cycle Programme |
| Amount | £120,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2020 |
| End | 06/2021 |
| Description | Simulated Used Nuclear Fuel Dissolution as a Function of Fuel Chemistry and Near Field Conditions |
| Amount | £338,984 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/R006075/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 04/2021 |
| Description | Sir Henry Royce Institute - Sheffield Build |
| Amount | £8,770,885 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/P025285/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 03/2019 |
| Description | Sir Henry Royce Institute -Sheffield Equipment |
| Amount | £15,229,114 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/P02470X/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | THERAMIN |
| Amount | € 3,972,539 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 755480 |
| Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 05/2017 |
| End | 05/2020 |
| Description | Thermal Treatment of Spent Ion Exchange Resins |
| Amount | £25,010 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Award value is confidential |
| Organisation | Ministry of Defence (MOD) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2018 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | UoS & Suppliers - MIDAS equipment match |
| Amount | £335,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2015 |
| End | 03/2016 |
| Description | Collaboration with ESRF XMAS and DUBBLE beamlines |
| Organisation | European Synchrotron Radiation Facility |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Extended application focus of beamline techniques to XAS data acquistion in the hard X-ray regime. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Beamline optimisation to acquire XAS data from glass and ceramic materials in support of plutonium disposition. |
| Impact | See publications section. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Collaboration with Kyushu University |
| Organisation | Kyushu University |
| Department | Department of Applied Quantum Physics and Nuclear Engineering |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Glass formulation design and characterisation for conditioning of high dose spent adsorbents at the Fukushima site. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Formulation and characterisation of hot isostatically pressed ceramic wasteforms for high dose spent adsorbents at the Fukushima site. |
| Impact | See research publications. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Collaboration with Tohoku University |
| Organisation | Tohoku University |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Glass formulation design and characterisation for conditioning of high dose spent adsorbents at the Fukushima site. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Formulation and characterisation of hot isostatically pressed ceramic wasteforms for high dose spent adsorbents at the Fukushima site. |
| Impact | See publications section. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | DELTA (Dortmunder ELekTronenspeicherring-Anlage) |
| Organisation | Technical University of Dortmund |
| Department | Dortmund Electron Storage Ring System (DELTA) |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Development of beamline XAS applications to low concentration detection in disordered systems and expansion of international user programme. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Acquisition of XAS data in hard X-ray regime. |
| Impact | See publications section. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Photon Factory KEK Hard X-ray Beamline BL9 |
| Organisation | High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Application of total electron yield detection to characterisation of ion beam amorphised surface layers on ceramic wasteforms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to and training on Photon Factory BL9. |
| Impact | See publication section. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | UK Embassy in Japan |
| Organisation | British Embassy Tokyo |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We have worked closely with the British Embassy in Japan to organise events and visits of the JUNO network in Japan, including joint sessions at the Atomic Energy Society of Japan spring meetings, site visits (e.g. to Fukushima Dai-ici), networking meetings to bring together research leaders from the UK and Japan, collaboration forming meetings with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, and engagement with the intergovernmental UK / Japan Nuclear Dialogue. We have also worked closely in selecting the key research leaders to participate in these events. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners in the British Embassy in Japan have supported the activities of the network through matched financial and in kind support (to deliver in country networking events and scientific meetings) and access to the science and innovation network to connect with key stakeholders in Japan with whom we need to engage. |
| Impact | Key outcomes include: * Joint sessions in the Atomic Energy Society of Japan spring meetings to showcase joint UK / Japan research; * Networking workshops to stimulate and nurture new bilateral collaborations; * Research visits to the Fukushima Dai-ici and JAEA Tokai sites to facilitate knowledge transfer; * Participation in the intergovernmental UK / Japan Nuclear Dialogue - to communicate network activities and outcomes. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Washington State University at Pullman |
| Organisation | Washington State University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Investigation and understanding of phase separation and crystallisation in glass-ceramics for immobilisation of high level radioactive waste from future fuel cycles. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Investigation and understanding of phase separation and crystallisation in glass-ceramics for immobilisation of high level radioactive waste from future fuel cycles. |
| Impact | See publications section. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | 3rd UK - Japan Nuclear Forum, UK Embassy, Tokyo, Japan. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Neil Hyatt was invited to attend the 3rd UK - Japan Nuclear Forum at the UK Embassy, Tokyo, on 5 February 2019, as the lead of the JUNO network and a joint research project funded under the UK - Japan EPSRC / MEXT civil nuclear programme. The event provided an opportunity to disseminate (by poster, literature and face to face discussion) the activities and outcomes of the network and project to industry leaders, policy makers, and senior academics in Japan, and promote wider UK - Japan collaboration in nuclear energy and decommissioning. Several follow up requests for further information were received following the event and three new collaborations are under development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | A long term solution |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Claire Corkhill was invited by RWM Ltd to present a short video explaining the benefits of geological disposal of radiaoctive wastes, in recognition of her expertise developed through several EPSRC research projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoPSaWV-tQU |
| Description | Can Japan's 'Recovery Olympics' heal Fukushima's nuclear scars? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Media interview on Fukushima recovery operations informed by project related UK - Japan engagement and research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/can-japan-s-recovery-olympics-heal-fukushima-s-nuclear-scars-n111... |
| Description | Chernobyl's nuclear fuel is smoldering. To prevent another accident, researchers are studying the site's radioactive lava. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Prof Neil Hyatt and Prof. Claire Corkhill were interviewed by Business Insider on the potential resurgence of nuclear fission within the fuel debris of the Chernobyl reactor and discussed ongoing research to understand the formation and behaviour of corium materials at Chernobyl and Fukushima Dai-ici, and management of radioactive wastes more broadly. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.businessinsider.com/chernobyl-radioactive-lava-prevent-nuclear-accident-2021-5?r=US&IR=T |
| Description | Chernobyl: uncovering the mystery |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Public talk on the cause of the Chernobyl and Fukshima melt downs and the role of our EPSRC sponsored research in supporting the clean up. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Co-ordinated Research Project on Management Degraded Nuclear Fuel and Corium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Collaborative integrated knowledge exchange project to share understanding of degraded fuel and corium characterisation and treatment. Research outcomes will form an IAEA technical document. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Collaboration building meeting with Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 30 March 2018. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A bilateral meeting was organised with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency to showcase joint UK / Japan research in civil nuclear energy and potential opportunities for future collaboration. The meeting highlighted characterisation and retrieval of corium material at Fukushima as a topic of particular interest, which seeded a successful grant application under the phase four of the UK EPSRC / Japan MEXT civil nuclear energy collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Collaboration building seminar on thermal treatment of radioactive wastes with leading researchers from Japan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research seminar involving ca. 30 leading researchers from Japan and University of Sheffield to explore opportunities for collaboration in thermal treatment of radioactive wastes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Feature article on Fukushima and Chernobyl related research sponsored by EPSRC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Feature interview in Sheffield Star and Sheffield Telegraph on radioactive waste management research, with particular focus on applications at Chernobyl and Fukushima. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/star-interview-with-richard-blackledge-how-sheffield-expert... |
| Description | GDF Conference 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Neil Hyatt was invited as the facilitator and panel chair for the Geological Disposal Facility Conference 2021, delivered by Radioactive Waste Management, in recognition of his international standing in the field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/news/geological-disposal-programme-now-under-way |
| Description | IAEA Summer School on Radiation Effects on Radioactive Wasteforms |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organised Joint ICTP-IAEA Workshop on Radiation Effects in Nuclear Waste Forms and their Consequences for Storage and Disposal, 12-16 September 2016, with engagement of over 30 international researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://indico.ictp.it/event/7633/ |
| Description | Joint ICTP-IAEA Workshop on Radiation Effects in Nuclear Waste Forms and their Consequences for Storage and Disposal |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Workshop aimed to gain awareness on the most recent findings of research into radiation effects in nuclear waste forms and their role for waste storage and disposal. It specifically aimed to contribute to the transfer of specific knowledge to Member States towards their capacity building efforts and competence in nuclear waste immobilisation and disposal. The workshop was attended by 35 participants from 18 nation states, including experienced and early career researchers from universities, industry and government laboratories. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://indico.ictp.it/event/7633/overview |
| Description | Joint Workshop for the UK-Japan Civil Research Programme: Nuclear Decommissioning |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The JUNO Network co-organised, with the Nuclear Safety Research Association (Japan), a workshop from 6 - 7 February to develop UK - Japan collaboration in nuclear decommissioning. An open process was managed to select a UK team of 25 senior and early career research leaders, to attend a two day workshop in Kyoto, with counterparts in Japan, with the aim of defining common research challenges in UK - Japan nuclear decommissioning to inform future funding calls to the joint civil nuclear research programme. Delegates worked through a series of facilitated sessions to capture and prioritise research challenges, methodologies, and facility requirements. Participant feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive, with ca. 95% of participants indicating that the event had met or exceed their expectations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Jointly organised a session at the Atomic Energy Society of Japan Spring Meeting, to showcase outcomes of joint UK EPSRC / Japan MEXT projects, Tokai, Japan, 29 March 2017. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A session was organised at the Atomic Energy Society of Japan Spring Meeting in Tokai, which took place on 29 March 2017, to showcase joint UK / Japan research in the civil nuclear energy programme. The session attracted ca. 50 participants and elicited discussion both on the technical aspects of the research and the opportunities and benefits of UK / Japan collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Letter to the Guardian: Strategies for nuclear weapons and waste |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Neil Hyatt published a letter in The Guardian newspaper in response to an earlier article on radioactive waste, highlighting the need for a sustainable and definite end solution, informed by EPSRC sponsored research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/07/strategies-for-nuclear-weapons-and-waste |
| Description | MRS Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XL |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organised flagship 40th anniversary MRS symposium on scientific basis for nuclear waste management, showcasing research in multiple EPSRC sponsored projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Media and public engagement workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a media and public engagement skills summer school for postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers in DISTINCTIVE consortium, which was open to attendance to EPSRC sponsored researchers in nuclear energy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Organised: MRS Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management Symposium, 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organised the MRS Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management Symposium, 2018, which attracted more than 100 experts from around the world for a 4 day symposium on state of the art research outcomes in the field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Participation in International Glass Working Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Participation in International Glass Working Group - dissemination of research outcomes from multiple EPSRC sponsored projects with the aim of developing a state of the art unified model for glass corrosion, relevant to radioactive waste disposal; participation in expert group designing collaborative international experiments using International Standard Glass. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Participation in Seventh UK / Japan Nuclear Dialogue, London, 24-25 October 2018. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The JUNO network was invited to present its mission and activities supporting joint UK / Japan research in civil nuclear energy at the 7th UK - Japan Nuclear Dialogue, which took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tokyo, Japan, co-chaired by Prof Robin Grimes (Chief Scientific Adviser, FCO, UK) and Mr Kawasaki,(Deputy Director-General, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department, MOFA, Japan). The meeting was attended by senior policy makers in civil nuclear energy in the UK and Japan (including representatives of BEIS and MEXT). Participants from Japan requested further information on the network and its activities to disseminate to key research leaders. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/seventh-annual-uk-japan-nuclear-dialogue |
| Description | Participation in expert panel on decommissioning Fukushima Dai-ici at ICONE 26 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Participation in expert panel on decommissioning Fukushima Dai-ici at ICONE 26, London, UK, and contribution of UK research groups. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Presentation at UK - Japan Technology Showcase, Tokyo, 26 March 2017. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to audience at joint UK / Japan networking and collaboration building workshop, to disseminate the role and opportunities of the JUNO network in supporting bilateral collaboration in civil nuclear energy. The presentation elicited interest from new members to join the network and participate in its activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://junouk.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/juno-jst-workshop-2017.pdf |
| Description | Radiation affected robots in decommissioning the Fukushima Dai-ici site |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A recorded interview with the PI was broadcast on Sputnik Radio - World in Focus, 6 March 2017, giving an up to date assessment of the situation at Fukushima Dai-ici and the problematic effects of radiation fields on the performance and failure of robots used in the decommissioning process; the broadcast elicited direct contact from members of the public interested in finding out more about our research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Radio Interview: Fukushima - Japan begins removal of nuclear fuel from reactor site |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Claire Corkhill was invited to discuss the challenges of Fukushima clean up and the role of UK - Japan collaborative research, highlighting examples on treatment of fuel debris and spent high dose adsorbents, on the radio station BBC Newshour. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Radio interview on Fukushima decommissioning and our related research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Radio interview on Fukushima decommissioning and our related EPSRC sponsored research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://sputniknews.com/radio_world_in_focus/201703061051319142-hollande-le-pen-turkey-syrian-kurds-... |
| Description | Royal Society Workshop on Nuclear Co-Generation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Neil Hyatt was invited to participate in the Royal Society meeting on Nuclear Co-generation in recognition of his expertise in radioactive waste management developed through several EPSRC research projects, outcomes from which were highlighted in discussion contribution. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | SMEA Lecture: Putting the Mission into UK Nuclear Decommissioning |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | New research collaborations identified with attending industrial companies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Sheffield scientists pioneer new method for managing radioactive waste |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Television interview as part of World Science day, discussing radioactive waste management research associated with EPSRC sponsored projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://vimeo.com/191056195 |
| Description | Singapore Today - radio interview on UK - Japan collaborative research to support Fukushima clean up |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Neil Hyatt was invited to discuss the challenges of Fukushima clean up and the role of UK - Japan collaborative research, highlighting examples on treatment of fuel debris and spent high dose adsorbents, on the radio station Singapore Today. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | TUC Congress: Panel Debate on Nuclear Decommissioning |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Claire Corkhill was invited to participate in an Expert Panel Debate on Nuclear Decommissioning at the TUC Congress, in recognition of her expertise developed through several EPSRC research projects, outcomes of which were highlighted in the opening remarks and panel debate. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | TV interview with Channel News Asia: treatment of contaminated water at Fukushima |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Neil Hyatt was invited to discuss the challenges posed by contaminated water treatment on the Fukushima site and the role of UK - Japan collaborative research, highlighting examples on treatment of fuel debris and spent high dose adsorbents, on the TV station Channel News Asia. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | The nuclear dilemma |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof Claire Corkhill was featured in the BBC short "The nuclear dilemma", explaining the nature, management and disposal of radioactive wastes in the context of nuclear power generation to address climate change and the Fukushima dai-ici accident. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/ideas/videos/the-nuclear-dilemma/p09rsq3p |
| Description | UK - Japan Collaborative Research Showcase in Nuclear Decommissioning at Spring Meeting of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan, 27 March 2018. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In partnership with the UK Embassy in Japan, a UK - Japan Collaborative Research Showcase in Nuclear Decommissioning was organised at Spring Meeting of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan, on 27 March 2018. The JUNO network supported attendance by 15 UK delegates from universities and research organisations. The UK and Japan PIs (or their delegates) of joint UK - Japan EPSRC / MEXT research projects presented the key outcomes of their research in Phase 1-3 projects to an audience of ca. 100 conference delegates. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | UK - Ukraine workshop on Chernobyl Decommissioning |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organised a bilateral workshop to develop UK - Ukraine collaboration in decommissioning of Chernobyl Unit 4 in association with EPSRC sponsored research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | UK / Japan Technology Showcase, 26 March 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A networking event organised to bring together research leaders in civil nuclear energy in Japan and UK. Approximately 40 participants co-created a set of research challenges around themes in nuclear decommissioning, waste management, environmental remediation and reactor technology to identify and prioritise UK - Japan collaboration. The networking was successful in developing new collaborations which were successful in grant application for the fourth phase of the UK EPSRC / Japan MEXT collaboration in civil nuclear energy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | UK researchers simulate nuclear lava to help manage Chernobyl fallout |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Media coverage of grant produced research which developed public understanding of the management of degraded and damaged nuclear fuels at Fukushima and Chernobyl sites, based on media and public feedback |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.theweek.in/news/sci-tech/2020/01/30/uk-researchers-simulate-nuclear-lava-to-help-manage-... |