Sarah Wallace

Postgraduate Student

Telephone number: +44(0) 113 34 35605/ lab 33965
Email address: eeshw@leeds.ac.uk
Room: 10.128

Biography

My interest in radiochemistry was sparked by a taught module in radiochemical analysis that I undertook during my MSc at Loughborough University. I went on to complete my MSc research project entitled "An Environmental, Geochemical and Radiochemical Analysis of Sediments in the Clyde Estuary" in collaboration with the British Geological Survey (BGS). The project combined classic geochemical analyses with new imaging techniques using digital autoradiography on whole core samples, with the aim of assessing the suitability of this technique for direct application measuring the distribution of radionuclides in large geological samples. The success of the project, along with my new interest in environmental radiochemistry, inspired me to pursue a career in this area. After a year working in industry as a radiochemical bioassay analyst, I started my PhD at the University of Leeds.

Qualifications

2008 - Present: PhD Environmental Geochemistry, University of Leeds

2006 - 2007: MSc Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Science, Loughborough University

Memberships/Fellowships

Royal Society of Chemistry - Associate Member

Mineralogical Society - Member

Geochemical Society - Member

Teaching Interests

Demonstrator - SOEE 1131: Chemistry for Earth and Environmental Scientists

Project details

Project title

Investigation of strontium-90 behaviour in contaminated ground

Supervisors

Dr Ian Burke, Dr Sam Shaw, Prof. Kath Morris (University of Manchester) and Dr Joe Small (National Nuclear Laboratory)

Funding

EPSRC Industrial CASE studentship with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), administered by the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL)

Start date

September 2008

Project outline

My project is focussed on strontium-90 - an anthropogenic radionuclide present in waste from nuclear reactors. In particular, I am concerned with the geochemical processes in the sub-surface which promote or retard the transport of strontium-90 in contaminated ground at UK nuclear facilities. The project will combine geochemical experiments in the laboratory with X-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques and reactive transport modelling to ultimately try and predict the fate of strontium-90 in contaminated ground. It is hoped the outcome of the project will aid the decommissioning and restoration of former UK nuclear facilities that are contaminated with strontium-90.

Publications

 Journal articles

Wallace, S.H., Shaw, S., Morris, K., Small, J.S. and Burke, I.T. (2012). Alteration of chlorite containing sediments by hyperalkaline cement leachate: Implications for strontium incorporation. Environmental Science & Technology (In Preparation).

Wallace, S.H., Shaw, S., Morris, K., Small, J.S., Fuller, A.J. and Burke, I.T. (2012). Effect of groundwater pH and ionic strength on strontium sorption in aquifer sediments: Implications for ⁹⁰Sr mobility at contaminated nuclear sites. Journal of Applied Geochemistry (In Press). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2012.04.007

Conference proceedings

Wallace, S.H., Shaw, S., Morris, K., Small, J.S. and Burke, I.T. Incorporation of ⁹⁰Sr into alkaline altered sediments. Goldschmidt, Prague, Cz, 14-19 August 2011. Mineralogical Magazine, Vol. 75 (3), pp 2109, 2011.