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

新技术的实施将为英国清理核遗产的国家使命做出重要贡献。包括玻璃化在内的热处理过程是这项工作的重要组成部分；成功实施玻璃化过程需要对熔化过程中挥发性物质的去向有很好的科学了解。这需要对熔化过程中产生的动力学有利物种进行现场分析，并对产生的玻璃进行详细分析。该项目将侧重于发展我们对在一些不同玻璃化学制品中的钚污染物质和钚残留物的玻璃化过程中形成哪些挥发性物种以及在什么条件下形成，以及它们是否涉及令人关注的元素的理解。该项目将包括玻璃熔化和现场尾气分析；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。尽管大部分工作将涉及非活性模拟材料的使用，但仍有可能进行涉及活性材料的有限数量的小规模熔化。作为对主要项目的补充，还将利用商业技术对不活跃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尾气和材料分析方面发展一套重要的技能。

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.