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Dr Alex Lockwood, AMRSC, AMIChemE

Dr Alex Lockwood, AMRSC, AMIChemE

Profile

I am currently working with the Sludge Centre of Expertise at Sellafield Ltd. on Radwaste decommissioning projects. My primary focus has been utilising commercial and novel polymers to flocculate Mg(OH)2 suspensions (radwaste analogues) to improve sedimentation behaviour. Additionally, I have also investigated flotation as a possible low residence time alternative to thickening, using anionic surfactants and amphiphilic block copolymers to flocculate and hydrophobize Mg(OH)2 suspensions. I previously undertook my bachelors of engineering (BEng) degree at the University of Leeds in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering with a 12 month industrial placement at Sellafield Ltd. and summer placement with Jacobs. 

Publications

Lockwood, A, P, G. Kok Shun, P. Peakall, J. Warren, N, J. Barber, T. Basharat, N. Randall, G. Barnes, M, G. Harbottle, D. Hunter, T, N. Flotation using sodium dodecyl sulphate and sodium lauroyl isethionate for rapid dewatering of Mg(OH)2 radwaste suspensions. RSC Advances. 24 May 2021. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA01222C

Lockwood, A, P, G.  Peakall, J. Warren, N. Hussain, S. Randall, G. Barnes, M, G. Harbottle, D. Hunter, T, N. A Comparison of the Sedimentation Dynamics of Statistical and Diblock Copolymer Flocculation Aids in Radwaste Dewatering. Waste Management Symposium. Online, 08-12 Mar 2021, Online.

 

Lockwood, A, P, G. Peakall, J. Warren, N, J. Randall, G. Barnes, M, G. Harbottle, D. Hunter, T, N. Structure and sedimentation characterization of sheared Mg(OH)2 suspensions flocculated with anionic polymers. Journal of Chemical Engineering Science. 8 November 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2020.116274

Lockwood, A, P, G. Wadsley, G. Warren, N, J. Peakall, J. Randall, G. Barnes, M, G. Harbottle, D. Hunter, T, N. Amphiphilic copolymer flocculation and hydrophobization of legacy waste suspensions in flotation driven dewatering operations. Waste Management Symposium 2020, 8-12 March 2020, Phoenix Arizona USA.

 Lockwood, A P G. Kok Shun, P. Peakall, J. Warren, N, J. Randall, G. Barnes, M, G. Harbottle, D. Hunter, T, N. Dissolved air flotation for rapid dewatering and separation of legacy sludge wastes. Waste Management Symposium 2019, 3-7 March 2019, Phoenix Arizona, USA.

Conferences 

A Comparison of the Sedimentation Dynamics of Statistical and Diblock Copolymer Flocculation Aids in Radwaste Dewatering. Waste Management Symposium. Online, 08-12 Mar 2021, Online.

The Impact of Amphiphilic Block Copolymers on Combined Flocculation-Flotation Driven Dewatering of Legacy Nuclear Fuel Pond Sludges. Sydney Surfaces and Soft Stuff meeting 2020. Oral presentation video conference. 11 June 2020. [online].

Amphiphilic Copolymer Flocculation and Hydrophobization of Legacy Waste Suspensions in Flotation Driven Dewatering Operations. Oral Presentation, Waste Management Symposium 2020, 8-12 March 2020, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

The Role of Relative Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Chain Lengths of Diblock Copolymer Collectors, on the Surface Tension Modification, Flocculation and Flotation of Nuclear Waste Suspensions. Oral Presentation, Australian Colloid and Surface Science Student Conference, 28-31 January 2020, Gippsland, Australia.

Use of Novel Block Copolymers for Flotation of Colloidal Fines in Nuclear Decommissioning Operations. Oral Presentation, Okinawa Colloids Conference, 3-8 November 2019, Okinawa, Japan.

Challenges to Nuclear Energy as Part of Britain's Carbon Reduction Strategy. Oral Presentation, Harnessing the Earth: Pint of Science, 11-13 May 2019, Glasgow, UK.

Decommissioning of Spent Nuclear Fuel Ponds. Oral and Poster Presentation, The University of Leeds Student Sustainability Research Conference, 29th March 2019, Leeds, UK.

Dissolved Air Flotation for Rapid Dewatering and Separation of Legacy Sludge Wastes. Oral and Poster Presentation, Waste Management Symposium 2019, 3-7 March 2019, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Structural Characterisation, Growth Kinetics and Sedimentation Dynamics of Polymer-Mg/Al Hydroxide Flocculant Systems in the Nuclear Industry. Oral Presentation, 8th World Congress on Particle Technology (WCPT8), 22-26 April 2018, Orlando, Florida, USA.

Research interests

Chemcial and Nuclear Engineering 

Colloid and polymer science

Nuclear waste managment 

Water treatment

Sludges and slurries

Multiphase processes

Sedimentation

Flotation

Static light scattering

Adsorption

 

Qualifications

  • PhD, Chemical Engineering
  • PGDip, Chemical Engineering
  • BEng. Chemical and Nuclear Engineering (Ind.)