Understanding and modelling the potential impacts of alternate land-use practices: CO2 sequestration and pollutant immobilisation in derelict and contaminated land sites

Large efforts by Scottish Government have gone into identifying, categorising and characterising vacant and derelict land across Scotland and have led to large datasets becoming available that integrate environmental data (chemicals, vegetation cover, land-use) with proximity to local districts where multiple deprivation is considered high and where environmental, social, health and economic benefits could potentially be realised through remediation

The focus of this project will be to develop a novel method for the immobilisation and stabilisation/solidification of heavy metal-contaminated soils and waste materials in VDL sites via carbonation. We will investigate the effect of two sources of carbonation (i) accelerated carbonation (via waste CO2 generated by local industry) and (ii) microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP, involving biostimulation and/or bioaugmentation). The combination of these techniques presents several environmental and economic advantages by enabling the permanent sequestration of waste CO2 in the form of stable carbonates in VDL sites, enhancing the removal of pollutants/heavy metals from contaminated soil samples, and facilitating the production of various products such as carbon captured aggregates or eco-paving blocks (i.e. to be used in the construction industry) and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) that can be used in the production of various materials.The work will investigate the benefit of carbonation for land remediation depending on contaminants concentrations. Using data available from Glasgow’s VDL,  the potential impacts of alternative land-use and remediation scenarios  to progress/deter outcomes for social and ecological change will be modelled, in line with the success indicators defined in the City Portrait. This project will help to understand and inform how these interventions contribute to the vision of a Glasgow as a Thriving City.

The successful candidate for this project will demonstrate interest and skills in working on carbonation of cementitious materials, MICP, and/or waste immobilisation and stabilisation. Further skills and a strong interest on working with large datasets, including proficiency in modelling and coding relevant to agent-based modelling to assess the social and ecological effects of different land-use choices for vacant and derelict land will be beneficial.

To be classed as a UK/Home applicant, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or

• Have settled status, or

• Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or

• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

All applicants must have or expect to obtain a first-class degree (2.1 or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. This may cover, but is not limited to, earth sciences, social science, mathematics, engineering, computing, physics, bio- and chemical sciences.

We champion Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, believing that this is the way to increase research productivity and quality and to enhance societal and economic impact. Likewise, the University of Glasgow and our external partners are fully committed to EDI principles.

We support applications from under-represented backgrounds, childcare support for conference attendance, flexible working for carers and promote a work-life balance.

For enquires related to EDI, please address to GALLANT EDI Champion, Dr Caroline Gauchotte-Lindsay via the GALLANT-phd mailbox.

How to Apply: Please refer to the following website for details on how to apply: https://www.gla.ac.uk/gallant. For studentship enquiries, please contact [Email Address Removed]