Technology Critical Metal Recycling using ultrasonics and Catalytic Etchants

Aseptium is a company that specialises in technologies for cleaning of complex surgical instruments. One of the core technologies used in Aseptium's machines is ultrasonic cleaning. In this process Instruments are submerged in a liquid and energy is delivered to the surfaces of the instrument in the form of ultrasonic waves that create cavitation bubbles within the liquid volume. When these bubbles collapse shockwaves are generated that remove contamination from adjacent surfaces. Effectiveness of ultrasonic cleaning depends on the uniformity of bubble formation within the entire volume of the cleaning tank, the energy released during bubble collapse as well as bubbles ability to penetrate into intricate details of the surgical instruments. This project: A proposed study would investigate Aseptium's current ultrasonic cleaning system from several perspectives. 1. Measuring ultrasonic activity within the volume and potentially providing feedback to the control system or ultrasonic generator. 2. Create a three dimensional map of cavitation activity in the cleaning tank and identify potential lower activity area, their size and potential impact on cleaning ability. 3. Analyse the nature of the bubble formation and shockwaves within the tank and their ability to remove contamination from instruments. 4.Investigate penetration capability of ultrasonic bubbles into the difficult to clean elements (crevices, holes, joints, channels etc). The project will be undertaken in collaboration with the Cavitation Research Laboratory, Medical and Industrial Ultrasonics, School of Engineering UoG. Research infrastructure includes state-of-the-art high speed cameras, for imaging rapid acoustic cavitation bubble dynamics, and characterising the interaction with instrumentation. Novel in-house developed acoustic detection devices will be adapted and utilised for monitoring, quantification and mapping capabilities. The researcher, under Aseptium's guidance, would gain thorough understanding on cleaning processes and its criticality to healthcare delivery, as well as the key variables for industrial ultrasonic cleaning systems, including through fundamental research into the subject. Aseptium will provide the ultrasonic system and tests to measure cleaning ability as well as all necessary working knowledge to perform the experiments.

FUSE has been designed to maximise impact in partnership with industry, international academics, and other organisations such as NPL and the NHS. It includes funded mechanisms to deal with opportunities in equality, diversity and integration (EDI) and in realisation of impactful outcomes.

EDI is aimed at realising the full potential of the talented individuals that join FUSE. Funding mechanisms include support for ten undergraduate internships to prime the pipeline into FUSE research studentships; part-time studentships reserved for people with specific needs to access this route; and talent scholarships for people from Widening Participation backgrounds. Additionally, cultural issues will be addressed through funded support for work life-balance activities and for workshops exploring the enhancement of research creativity and inventiveness through diversity.

People: As a community, FUSE will contribute to impact principally through its excellent training of outstanding people. At least 54 EngD and PhD graduates will emerge with very high value skills from the experience FUSE will provide in ultrasonics and through highly relevant professional skills. This will position them perfectly as future leaders in ultrasonics in the types of organisation represented by the partners.

Knowledge: FUSE will also create significant knowledge which will be captured in many different forms including industrial know-how, patents and processes, designs, and academic papers. Management of this knowledge will be integrated into the students' training, including data management and archival, and will be communicated effectively to those in positions to exploit it.

Economic Gain: In turn, the people and knowledge will lead to the economic impact that FUSE is ultimately designed to generate. The close interaction between the FUSE academics, its research students and industry partners will make it particularly efficient and, since FUSE includes both suppliers and customers, the transition from knowledge creation to exploitation will be accelerated.

Societal Benefit: FUSE is well placed to deliver a number of societal benefits which will reinforce our researcher training and external partner impacts. This activity encompasses new consumer products; improved public safety through advanced inspection across many industrial sectors; and new modalities for medical surgery and therapy. In addition, FUSE will provide engaging demonstrators to promote education in science, technology, engineering and maths, helping replenish the FUSE pipeline and supporting growth of the FUSE community far beyond its immediate members.

Impactful outcomes will gain from several specific funding mechanisms: horizon scanning workshops will focus on specific ultrasonic engineering application areas with industrial and other external participation; all FUSE students will have external partners and both industrial and international academic secondments will be arranged, as well as EngD studentships primarily in industry; and industry case studies will be considered. There will also be STEM promotion activity, funding ultrasonic technology demonstrators to support school outreach and public science and engineering events.