PhD in Geographical & Earth Sciences: CO2 capture at heritage industrial sites – a new way to mitigate anthropogenic climate change?

Anthropogenically-induced climate change is one of the grand challenges facing humanity. Mitigating the effects of this challenge could take many forms including carbon capture and storage as highlighted by the recent IPCC report. One recently explored avenue involves utilising the residues from various essential industrial processes to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Iron and steel slag – the by-product of steelmaking – has been the main focus of this line of research to date. Weathering of unstable calcium silicate minerals in the slag causes the calcium to react with atmospheric CO2 to form solid calcium carbonate (calcite). Weathering of a slag heap from a former steelworks at Consett in County Durham has resulted in precipitation of an alkaline carbonate leachate, with estimated precipitation rates of up to 259 g/m2 per day – a significant volume of atmospheric CO2 can therefore be captured.

Various other industrial residues, e.g. from papermaking and lime manufacture (Fig. 1), also have the potential to capture atmospheric CO2 as, like steel slag, they are also composed of minerals which are unstable at earth surface conditions and react with atmospheric CO2 to achieve a more stable form. As well as modern production, these materials have been generated for many decades and, prior to the introduction of environmental regulations, the residues were typically dumped in the landscape surrounding the factories and mills. As a result, these legacy/heritage post-industrial sites are not only static industrial archaeology that should be preserved but also have the potential to add value through carbon capture.

The processes of carbon capture by alkaline residues at heritage industrial sites are not currently well known. However, if this knowledge gap is bridged then such heritage sites could potentially be harnessed in the fight against anthropogenically-induced climate change.

The aim of this PhD project is to characterise the chemical and physical properties of alkaline residues at heritage industrial sites so as to understand the process(es) and rates of CO2 capture and to allow quantification of the potential of heritage industrial sites for CO2 capture.

As highlighted by the recent IPCC report, we need all means necessary to mitigate climate change and this project feeds into the agenda of keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 °C.

Find out more at http://www.iapetus.ac.uk/iap2-18-30-co2-capture-at-heritage-industrial-sites-a-new-way-to-mitigate-anthropogenic-climate-change/

Eligibility & Requirements: All applicants need to meet NERC’s eligibility criteria to be considered for an IAPETUS studentship and these are detailed in NERC’s current studentship handbook.

IAPETUS is only able to consider applications from Home/European Union candidates. International candidates are not eligible to be considered and where an candidate from another EU country has not been resident in the UK for 3 years or more prior to the commencement of their studies with IAPETUS, they will only be eligible for a fees-only studentship.

IAPETUS is looking for candidates with the following qualities and backgrounds:
- A first or 2:1 undergraduate degree, or have relevant comparable experience;
- In addition, candidates may also hold or be completing a Masters degree in their area of proposed study or a related discipline; &
- An outstanding academic pedigree and research potential, such as evidenced through the publication of articles, participation in academic conferences and other similar activities.