The ANSTO nuclear chemist’s jam-packed three months in South America was focussed on learning from Argentina's experts about how they process their radioactive waste. Jessica also learnt methods used at CNEA for making novel materials for selective removal of rare earth elements from acidic solutions, which could potentially be used for processing of the radioactive waste.
This radioactive waste results from the operation of nuclear reactors, like the OPAL research reactor located at Lucas Heights in Sydney.
Now back home, Jessica shares her insights from the trip and the exciting research opportunities now available between CNEA and ANSTO.
Report from Argentina:
During my three months at the Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica (CNEA) I conducted research in collaboration with Dr Vittorio Luca and his colleagues from the National Program for Management of Radioactive Waste (Programa Nacional de Gestion de Residuos Radiactivos).
This research was to develop multi-scale porosity framework materials for separation of elements relevant to the nuclear fuel cycle.
More specifically, novel open framework zirconium-organophosphonate materials were synthesised via aqueous hydrothermal synthesis under varying conditions of composition, pH and temperature.
Seventy-six samples were generated and selected samples were characterised by XRD, porosimetry, XRF and SEM. Unfortunately, all the materials synthesised were amorphous and therefore further characterisation using solid-state 31P NMR and possibly EXAFS is required upon my return to Australia to gain a better understanding of the structure of these materials.
In order to determine the utility of these zirconium-organophosphonate materials as solid phase extractants, their lanthanide adsorption properties and selectivity under acidic conditions were also investigated.
Many of the materials synthesised adsorbed lanthanides quantitatively and selectively (over fission products Cs and Sr or activation product Co), and adsorption was observed to increase with the percentage of phosphonate added during synthesis.
Further characterisation of the kinetics and capacity of lanthanide adsorption for selected promising samples is still required. Upon completion of this body of work, it is expected publication will be possible.
My work at the CNEA over the last few months has shown this class of materials (open framework zirconium-organophosphonates) to be highly promising solid-phase extractants.
Therefore, it is expected that the collaboration between myself, my colleagues within the Institute of Materials Engineering and Dr Luca will continue beyond simply completing the work I began during my stay in Buenos Aires.
For example, we plan to synthesise similar materials using different organophosphonates and to continue to try to create crystalline materials.
It is also hoped that one of Dr Luca’s colleagues from the CNEA will come to work at ANSTO for several months at some stage later this year or next year. The people I met and worked with at the CNEA were all very welcoming and eager for the collaboration between ANSTO and CNEA to continue and grow into the future.
Working at the CNEA allowed me to further develop ANSTO’s collaboration with that organisation and to gain new ideas for research directions.
I also had the opportunity to see CNEA’s radioisotope production facility as one of the projects Dr Luca’s team are working on is synthesis of materials for removal of cesium from the waste generated by Mo-99 production. It was an interesting experience to work with a team of people who are working on solving waste disposal problems with direct and immediate applications within their organisation.
There was a greater focus on the practicality and simplicity of a solution rather than creating something complex and elegant.
This was ideal as it allowed me to take part in a project that had achievable outcomes in the short three month period I was there.
Overall my trip to Argentina was a great experience and I am so glad I took this opportunity. Although living and working in a foreign city was challenging at times, particularly with the language barrier, working through those challenges gave me confidence in my ability to overcome such obstacles.
I was also able to improve my skills in communication and working with people from different cultures.
Although I have travelled overseas many times, living and working in another country for an extended period of time was a completely different and extremely worthwhile experience.
About the United Uranium Scholarship
The United Uranium Trust Fund was established in 1966 for ‘the promotion and encouragement of scientific research and education in the field of atomic energy’. In accordance with the Deed, the United Uranium Scholarship is awarded to ‘promising young scientists’ from any Australian organisation or institution whose research or work is in the field of nuclear energy. Trust Company Ltd is the Trustee for the United Uranium Trust Fund.
The scholarship recognises outstanding ability and promise in the field of nuclear science and technology, specifically as it applies to nuclear energy. Successful applicants will demonstrate a history of interest in nuclear energy and a desire to continue this interest.
It is intended that the scholarship will be awarded annually.
Published: 16/07/2012