Development of a novel analytical platform combining laser-based techniques and multivariate data analysis for the characterisation of radioactive waste disposal materials

The aim of this project is the development of an analytical platform based on the combination of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) with multivariate data analysis, for the rapid, cost-effective and waste-free characterisation of solid materials relevant to the nuclear industry and radioactive waste disposal.

The combined use of LA-ICP-MS and LIBS can provide advantages beyond the complementary information that the two techniques can offer. While LIBS gives quantitative and distribution information of light and bulk components, LA-ICP-MS can detect isotope concentrations at ultra-trace levels. However, successful quantification relies heavily on reference materials, and suffers from precision limitations due the heterogeneity of the solid samples. This project proposes to apply multivariate data strategies that use emission from the solid matrix components for standardisation of data and correlation to the volume of ablated material, to improve the accuracy and precision of quantification.

The developed techniques will enable the chemical fingerprinting and spatial distribution of radionuclides species in soils, rocks and mineral phases to investigate the mechanisms of migration of these radioisotopes.

All students funded through the RAPTOR DFA network will be required to undertake 60 credits of training modules as part of the PhD, which will be carried out during the first 3 months of the PhD. Upon completion of the training modules you will receive a Postgraduate Certificate in Nuclear Skills awarded by the University of Liverpool, in addition to your PhD. During the period October – December 2026 you will be required to spend 1 week at each of our partner DFA Universities at Liverpool, Manchester and Suffolk to attend some of these training lectures. All costs for these visits will be covered by the DFA, and more information about this training will be provided when you apply for the PhD.

Open to candidates who pay UK/home rate fees. See UKCISA for further information.

You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements for our PhD programme.