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Title #6
Geological Fate and Impact of Isosaccharinic acid (Geo-FISA)
Title: Geological Fate and Impact of Isosaccharinic acid (Geo-FISA)Description:
The nuclear fuel cycle has generated higher-level radioactive wastes that will be disposed of in a deep geological facility (GDF) that will provide multiple barriers to the migration of radionuclides to the surface over prolonged timescales (tens of thousands of years). Isosaccharinic acid (ISA) is an organic ligand that is produced from the abiotic hydrolysis of cellulosic material found in Low Heat Generating (Intermediate Level Radioactive) Wastes (LHGW) [1]. Our studies showed that microbes can degrade ISA under GDF-relevant conditions [2] and this process can lead to the precipitation of priority radionuclides [3].
This is an interdisciplinary research project combining geomicrobiology, microbial genomics, radiochemistry and mineralogy, and will study ISA degradation in dynamic flowthrough systems using state of the art techniques including shotgun metagenomics, XRF, XAS, confocal microscopy, ESEM, and TEM. The successful applicant will join a welcoming cohort of 40+ interdisciplinary researchers working in two recently refurbished and co-located centres in the Dept of Earth and Environmental Sciences, co-directed by the PI and co-supervisors (Lloyd, Morris and Shaw). The student will have access to a large suite of dedicated laboratories within the Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Sciences (WRC; directed by Lloyd), which houses state of the art equipment for molecular environmental studies and sits alongside the new £4M NNUF RADER labs (https://www.nnuf.ac.uk/rader) directed by Morris, offering unique complementary facilities for handling and analysing radionuclides in nuclear environmental systems.
Academic background of candidates
Applicants are expected to hold, or about to obtain, a minimum upper second class undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Geosciences, Microbiology or a closely related discipline. A Masters degree in a relevant subject is highly desirable and experience in handling and analysis of environmental samples is also desirable.
Application Enquiries
To apply please send a cover letter and CV to Jonathan Lloyd (Jon.lloyd@manchester.ac.uk), Naji Bassil (Naji.bassil@manchester.ac.uk)
To apply please visit: https://www.ees.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/how-to-apply/
Please search and select Environmental Science (academic programme) and PhD Environmental Science (academic plan)
Institution: University of Manchester
Supervisor(s): Jonathan Lloyd, Naji Bassil, Sam Shaw, Katherine Morris, Tom Neill
Sponsor(s): Nuclear Waste Services, GREEN CDT
1. Glaus MA, Van Loon, LR. 2008. Degradation of cellulose under alkaline conditions: New insights from a 12 years degradation study. Sci. Technol. 42:2906-2911
2. Bassil NM, Bryan N, Lloyd JR. 2014. Microbial degradation of isosaccharinic acid at high pH. ISME J. 9:310-320
3. Kuippers G, Morris K, Townsend LT, Bots P, Kvashnina K, Bryan ND, Lloyd JR. 2021. Biomineralization of uranium-phosphates fueled by microbial degradation of isosaccharinic acid (ISA). Sci. Technol. 55:4597-4606
