The UK has launched a GBP1m (US$1.3m) research partnership to explore the use of limestone calcined clay cements in nuclear waste encapsulation.
The University of Sheffield, Sellafield Ltd, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority NDA) and the UK National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) will study how characteristics and amounts of calcined clays can produce cement encapsulants that support safe and reliable nuclear waste conditioning and disposal at Sellafield.
“This partnership will enhance our overall programme of work focussed on development of new cement technologies for the nuclear sector and will enable our cross-sector team based at both the University of Sheffield and Sellafield to further strengthen its position as a global leader in cement science and engineering, said Brant Walkley, senior lecturer and head of the sustainable materials at Sheffield research team.
Dr Walkley said: “The researchers at Sheffield are experts in cement chemistry and engineering as relevant to the nuclear sector, while the Centre of Expertise for Cement and Process, led by Dr Stephen Farris at Sellafield Ltd, are experts in industrially-focused research, development, and implementation of cement encapsulants to condition complex waste streams.”
Legacy, current and planned UK nuclear facilities are expected to generated 450,000m3 of radioactive waste by the end of the century. Most radioactive waste is encapsulated in cement at present.
