Shape controlled thorium dioxide precipitation routes

15 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

KU Leuven

Research Field

Chemistry

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Belgium

Application Deadline

20 Mar 2024 - 00:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

38 hours/week

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Reference Number

BAP-2024-80

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Context: The increasing interest of thorium in the recent years is due to its promising application in several fields including nuclear fuel, catalyst, nuclear medicine, optical coatings, etc., but also because of the existence of large stockpiles of thorium nitrate, generated as a side product of increased rare earth metal mining that will have to be considered as costly radioactive waste without proper valorisation. The most stable form of thorium, thorium(IV)oxide or thoria (ThO2), has been considered worldwide as a potential nuclear fuel since many decades due to its high abundance in the earth crust and a lower generation of transuranium elements in the thorium fuel cycle compared to its uranium analogue. Thoria is also used in the fabrication of thorium-based spallation targets for accelerator-production of isotopes, and as ThO2-based catalysts for the oxidative coupling of methane with molecular oxygen to produce higher hydrocarbons. Recent work, both internationally and at SCK CEN, focused on ThO2 powder production routes to improve its sintering potential. Oxalate conversion is the most well-known manufacturing method for ThO2 powder production. This route converts aqueous thorium nitrate solutions to solid ThO2 powders by means of precipitation-filtration and calcination. Research at SCK CEN on the impact of process variables on powder properties successfully resulted in optimized oxalate production processes. A fundamental drawback of the oxalate process, however, remains the 228Ra in the liquid process waste. We recently developed a new two-steps precipitation process in which 228Ra is removed from the liquid waste. Process variation effects and scalability of the novel precipitation route remain to be studied.
Research Project: A comprehensive, systematic study about the influence of the variables in each step of the new process is required, as well as the identification of the final properties of thoria powder for the intended applications. Additionally, the scrap recycling route for out-of-spec thoria is compulsory to make a larger scale production process practical.The PhD thesis will focus on the development of a flexible process in which it will be possible to tune the parameters towards end product characteristics, but also concerning minimisation of nuclear liquid waste generation. The PhD student will modify the conditions of the precipitation and calcination steps in the new two-steps precipitation conversion approach and study the effect on the ThO2 powder obtained. The characteristics of the powders will be analysed by means of advanced characterization techniques available at SCK CEN such as high-resolution thermal analysis equipment coupled with a mass spectrometer (TGA-MS), dilatometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy ... For more information see https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/jobs/60306640

Requirements

Research Field

Chemistry

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Engineering

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Good

Languages

DUTCH

Level

Good

Additional Information
Benefits

Ph.D. fellowship for the duration of a maximum of 4 years. The candidate will obtain the degree of Doctor of Engineering Science (PhD): Materials Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering Science (https://eng.kuleuven.be/en ) of KU Leuven (http://www.kuleuven.be/kuleuven/ ).

The candidate will have to pass the selection campaign of the Scientific Council of SCK CEN, by an oral defense of the research theme in May 2024. Before applying, please consult the guidelines for application. The full procedure is explained at: https://www.sckcen.be/en/sck-cen-academy/phd-theses-post-docs/phd-theses

  

Deadline for application: March 21, 2024

Oral presentation: May 2024

Standard starting date of the PhD research: October 1, 2024 (earliest)

 

Eligibility criteria

Master of Sciences, Master of Sciences in Engineering, Master in Nuclear Engineering, Master in Materials Engineering, or an equivalent master degree in Chemistry, Material Science or Chemical Engineering. The candidate preferably has a background in Inorganic Chemistry , Material Science or Chemical Engineering

Selection process

SCK CEN Mentor Dr. Beatriz Acevedo Muñoz, [email protected] , SCK CEN Co-mentor Dr. Marc Verwerft, [email protected] ,University promotor Prof. dr. ir. Jozef Vleugels, [email protected]
You can apply for this job no later than 20/03/2024 via the online application tool

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

KU Leuven

Country

Belgium

State/Province

Vlaams Brabant

City

Leuven

Postal Code

3000

Street

Leuven

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://easyapply.jobs/r/IjCls1I21luQXImsEGT

Contact

State/Province

Leuven

City

Vlaams Brabant

Street

Leuven

Postal Code

3000

STATUS: EXPIRED