RAdioactive waste Disposal and Environmental Remediation (RADER)

Facility/equipment: Facility

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    The RAdioactive waste Disposal and Environmental Remediation (RADER) National Nuclear User Facility, supports research into characterising and understanding the behaviour of radionuclides in engineered and natural environments. This research underpins large parts of the UK’s >100 year, >£150 billion nuclear decommissioning, clean-up and radioactive waste management programmes.

    NNUF RADER offers dedicated laboratories enabling users to undertake radiometric analyses, biogeochemical characterisation of solids and aqueous solutions, radiometric separations for nuclear forensics, and sample preparation supported by academic and Senior Technical Specialist expertise. These integrated state-of-the-art facilities enable microbiological, mineralogical and molecular-scale environmental research and low-level separations development with a wide range of relevant radionuclides.

    RADER includes several laboratories designed for research into molecular scale understanding of the behaviour of radionuclides in natural and engineered environments. Facilities include:

         1. Wet chemistry laboratories, which include anaerobic glove cabinets, carbon dioxide free glove cabinets, chemostat controlled condition reaction vessels, multi-channel peristaltic isocratic & reciprocating pumps, incubators & ovens, plant/algae growth cabinets, and ultra-low temperature freezers.

         2. A sample preparation laboratory for cutting, polishing and handling dusty solids; dedicated analytical instrument and radiometric laboratories.

         3. A dedicated thorium, natural/depleted uranium lab.

         4. A dedicated laboratory for longer-term experiments, such as flow through columns.

    Current research within RADER includes radioactive waste disposal, decontamination, land management, effluent treatment, bio-engineering and radionuclide transport in the biosphere, where radioactive sample handling and characterisation are required.

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