PhD Studentship: Non-contact Electrochemical Decontamination of Legacy Pond Furniture

Title: Non-contact Electrochemical Decontamination of Legacy Pond Furniture
Application deadline: 15/12/2025
Research theme: Metallurgy & Corrosion

How to apply: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

UK only

This 3.5-year PhD studentship is open to Home (UK) applicants. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26; subject to annual uplift), plus a top up form industry and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year.

This exciting 3.5 years PhD project aims to develop a non-contact electrochemical surface decontamination technique for legacy pond furniture (mainly steels and stainless steels). To achieve key objectives, 3 overarching goals have been set out, focusing on (i) development of a non-contact electrochemical decontamination procedure to be able to carry out controlled surface decontamination treatments, (ii) optimisation of the decontamination efficiency using COMSOL finite element simulations, and (iii) benchmarking of a contamination process using non-active methods, for simulating exposure to their radioactive counterparts.

Electrochemical polarisation as decontamination tool will be explored, using a novel bipolar electrochemical test method. This high-throughput set-up allows to assess the effect of applied potential and/or current gradients on the dissolution of surface passive films. The key idea here is to allow optimising of the decontamination process with respect to the severity of surface contamination. The electrochemical decontamination process will also be compared to existing decontamination treatments. COMSOL finite element modelling software will be used to optimise and tailor the application of electrochemical gradients at engineering surfaces, representative of pond furniture. This allows simulation of the effect of solution conductivity, chemistry and electrochemical potential on the decontamination efficiency. This will provide insight into current-potential distributions at the component surface, surface cleaning, passive film removal and deep clean decontamination (near surface material removal).

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

To apply, please contact the supervisors; Prof Dirk Engelberg - dirk.engelberg@manchester.ac.uk and Dr Stevens - nicholas.stevens@manchester.ac.uk. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

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