The evolution of volatile species during thermal treatment of PCM and plutonium residues

新技术的实施将为联合王国清理联合王国核遗产的国家使命作出重要贡献。包括玻璃化在内的热处理工艺是这项工作的重要组成部分;玻璃化工艺的成功实施需要对熔化过程中挥发性物质的命运有很好的科学了解。这需要在熔融过程中产生的动力学上有利的物质的原位分析，再加上对所产生的玻璃的详细分析。该项目将侧重于发展我们的理解，哪些挥发性物质的形成，在什么条件下，以及他们是否涉及关注的元素，在玻璃化过程中的钚污染的材料和钚残留物在一些不同的玻璃化学。该项目将涉及玻璃熔化和现场废气分析;然后使用一系列结构和化学分析技术对生产的玻璃进行详细分析。虽然大部分工作将涉及使用非活性模拟材料，但有可能进行数量有限的涉及活性材料的小规模熔化。作为对主要项目的补充，还将利用商业技术对不活动的大规模试验的样本进行分析。因此，成功的候选人将在玻璃生产以及废气和材料分析方面发展重要的技能。

The implementation of new technologies will make a vital contribution to the UK national mission to clean-up the UK's nuclear legacy. Thermal treatment processes, including vitrification, form an important part of this work; successful implementation of a vitrification process requires a good scientific understanding of the fate of volatile species during the melting process. This requires in-situ analysis of the kinetically favoured species produced during melting coupled with detailed analysis of the glasses produced. This project will focus on developing our understanding of which volatile species are formed and under what conditions, and whether they involve elements of concern, during the vitrification of plutonium contaminated materials and Pu residues in a number of different glass chemistries. The project will involve glass melting coupled with in-situ off gas analysis; followed by detailed analysis of the glasses produced using a range of structural and chemical analysis techniques. Although most of the work will involve the use of inactive simulant materials, there will be the potential to perform a limited number of small-scale melts involving active materials. As a supplement to the main project, analysis of samples from inactive large-scale trials using commercial technologies will also be undertaken. The successful candidate will therefore develop a significant skill set in glass production coupled with off-gas and materials analysis.