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Devin Sapsford

Professor Devin Sapsford

Professor

School of Engineering

Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

I am a Professor in Geoenvironmental Engineering and lead Geoenvironmental Research within the School of Engineering, Cardiff University.

I currently lead two large multi-institution/multi-partner research projects: the EPSRC funded ASPIRE project (Accelerated Supergene Processes in Repository Engineering, £1.5M, EP/T031018/1); and the WEFO funded METAL-SoLVER (Mine Effluent Treatment At Low-cost using Sustainable Vertical Flow Reactors, £2M). I previously led the INSPIRE consortium grant (NERC, NE/L013908/1, £1.3M, 2014-2018) as part of NERC’s flagship “Resource Recovery from Waste Programme”.

I am interested in industry-focussed interdisciplinary research in geoenvironmental engineering that draws on, and coordinates research across engineering, earth sciences, biosciences and chemistry to tackle grand-challenges in geoenvironmental engineering, particularly in relation to:

  • Mine water and mine waste management
  • Resource recovery from industrial wastes
  • Geoenvironmental  Engineering in the Circular Economy
  • Engineering applications of iron biogeochemistry
  • Engineering of nature-based treatment technologies

    I have been Principal Investigator for 50 research projects of total value £5.9M and am author of 87 publications, with an h-index of 23. I was co-editor and contributing author to the book (RSC, 2020) “Resource Recovery from Wastes: Towards a Circular Economy”. I was a UK Finalist – “Best of the Best”  Knowledge Transfer Partnership in 2014 for work on effluent treatment and Cardiff University Innovation Award winner (2011) with the Coal Authority for work on passive mine water treatment.

    Recently, work resulting from my mine water treatment research with Natural Resources Wales and WSP Ltd https://www.wsp.com/en-GB/projects/abbey-consols-mine-remediation has been recognised at the 2021 Wales STEM Awards - Finalist Environmental Initiative of the Year and the 2021 Brownfield Briefing - Finalist Best Scientific Technical Advance, Digital and Innovation https://www.brownfield-awards.environment-analyst.com/wsp2. Following on from this, construction of Wales' flagship mine water demonstration project begins later this year at Abbey Consols. Further full scale implementation of mine water treatment based on collaborative research in the last decade is proceeding in England https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coombe-mine-water-treatment-scheme and in New Zealand: https://oceanagold.com/operation/closure/reefton-restoration-project/

    Publication

    2023

    2022

    2020

    2019

    2018

    2017

    2016

    2015

    2013

    2012

    2011

    2010

    • Jaafar, I., Griffiths, A. J., Hopkins, A., Hutton-Ashkenny, M., Steer, J. M., Griffiths, M. H. and Sapsford, D. J. 2010. Chloride roasting for the removal of zinc from steelmaking dusts. Presented at: Processing of Zinc Ores and Concentrates: 2nd International Symposium (Zinc Processing '10), Cape Town, South Africa, 10-13 November 2010.
    • Suvio, P., Sapsford, D. J., Griffiths, A. J., Williams, K. P., Davies, J. D. and Maynard, S. 2010. High-density sludge process applied to metal-containing effluent. Presented at: Tenth International Conference on Modelling, Monitoring and Management of Water Pollution, Bucharest, Romania, 9-11 June 2010 Presented at Brebbia, C. A. and Marinov, A. M. eds.Water Pollution X. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment Vol. 135. Southampton: WIT Press pp. 289-299.
    • Jaafar, I. et al. 2010. Chloride roasting for the recovery of zinc from steelmaking dusts. Presented at: 2nd International Symposium on the Processing of Zinc Ores and Concentrates 2010 (Zinc Processing '10), Cape Town, South Africa, 13 November 2010Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on the Processing of Zinc Ores and Concentrates 2010. Red Hook, NY: Curran Associates pp. 47-63.

    2009

    2008

    2007

    2006

    2005

    2004

    2003

    2002

    Articles

    Book sections

    Conferences

    Monographs

    Websites

    Research

    Title

    People

    Sponsor

    Value

    Duration

    ASPIRE - Accelerated Supergene Processes in Repository Engineering

    Sapsford, D

    Cleall, P

    Harbottle M

    Owen N

    Weightman A

    EPSRC

    592,345

    01/03/21 - 29/02/24

    Mine water treatment test bed and Mine Water Analysis Hub

    Sapsford, D

    Welsh Government

    486,000

    10/02/21 -31/03/21

    METAL-SoLVER (Mine Effluent Treatment At Low-cost using Sustainable Low-footprint VERtical flow reactors)

    Sapsford D

    Welsh European Funding Office

    578,791

    01/09/20 - 31/08/22

    In situ recovery of resources from waste repositories

    Sapsford D, Harbottle M, Cleall P, Mahdi T, Weightman A (BIOSI)

    NERC

    671,454

    02/06/2014 - 01/06/2017

    In Situ Recovery of Resources from Waste Repositories

    Sapsford D, Griffiths A, Harbottle M, Mahdi T, Cleall P

    NERC

    56,803

    01/04/2013 - 30/09/2013

    Vertical flow reactors for mine water treatment

    Sapsford D

    EPSRC

    20,000

    01/11/20 - 31/03/21

    Ynysarwed mine water treatability assessment

    Sapsford D

    Coal Authority

    15,655

    01/11/18 - 30/06/20

    Utilising Welsh mining legacy for predicting the environmental impacts of future global mining

    Sapsford D, Harbottle M

    Welsh European Funding Office, Geochemic Ltd

    60,373

    01/10/18  - 01/10/21

    Comparative microbial community analysis of anaerobic digestion (AD) plants

    Weightman A (BIOSCI), Sapsford D

    Qila Energy

    12,000

    07/5/18 - 06/11/18

    Complex value optimisation for resource recovery from waste

    Sapsford D

    NERC (via University of Leeds)

    4,995

    01/01/15 - 30/09/19

    Resource recovery from Parys Mountain, past, present and future: Communicating the multifaceted value of mine sites

    Crane R, Sapsford D

    NERC (via University of Leeds)

    5,850

    01/02/17 - 30/11/17

    Development of a passive mine water treatment tool

    Sapsford D

    Coal Authority

    8,333

    01/07/17 - 30/11/17

    Remediation feasibility study for the treatment of Coombe discharge Gwindra

    Sapsford D

    Mahdi T

    Mouchel

    13,853

    02/11/16 - 31/07/17

    New technologies for the removal of phosphates form wastewater

    Sapsford D

    Mahdi T

    Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, ARM Ltd

    46,500

    01/10/15 -  31/03/19

    Manipulation of iron geochemistry for the remediation of metal mine drainage

    Sapsford D

    Natural Resources Wales

    20,786

    26/01/15 - 31/07/15

    Manganese mitigation strategy for Bangladesh

    Sapsford D

    Royal Academy of Engineering

    20,000

    30/03/17 - 30/11/17

    New technology for mine water treatment

    Sapsford D

    Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

    39,229

    01/10/14 -  30/09/15

    Investigation into the feasibility of using seawater to treat acid mine drainage

    Sapsford D

    Natural Resources Wales

    4,220

    01/06/14 - 31/10/14

    Characterisation of ARDML potential of mine wastes

    Sapsford D

    SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd

    47,466

    SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd

    Accelerated weathering of mine wastes

    Sapsford D

    Mahdi T

    SRK Consulting

    10,500

    01/02/15 - 30/09/15

    Field testing of a novel phosphate removal technology

    Sapsford D

    Mahdi T

    Dwr Cymru Welsh Water

    20,000

    24/08/12 -  23/09/13

    Piloting of a novel chemical-based sulphate removal process

    Sapsford D

    Siltbuster Ltd

    6,330

    01/06/13 -30/11/13

    Investigation into tar contamination in the Blaenavon mine water treatment scheme

    Sapsford D

    Harbottle M

    Coal Authority

    2,090

    01/03/11 -31/12/11

    Characterisation of potentially problematic soil samples

    Sapsford D

    Arup

    754

    01/08/10

    31/08/10

    To develop Ford's capacity in resource efficiency and environmental performance through improvements in waste management and effluent treatment

    Sapsford D

    Harbottle M

    KTP, Ford Motor Company Ltd

    125,710

    01/09/10 -  31/08/12

    Passive treatment of mine water

    Sapsford D

    Coal Authority

    30,000

    01/09/08 - 30/11/11

    Corrosion scales in water distribution network

    Sapsford D Mahdi T Wilson, C

    Dwr Cymru Welsh Water

    4,994

    12/04/13 -  11/04/14

    Research into parameters that influence the performance of passive mine water treatment schemes

    Sapsford D

    Coal Authority

    8,500

    24/07/09 -31/12/09

    Sulphide Sulphur in Fluorpar

    Sapsford D

    Mahdi T

    British Fluorspar Ltd

    16,655

    21/02/14 - 31/05/16

    Pollution prevention guide for land owners and users of metal mines

    Sapsford D

    Brabham P

    Jones,T

    Environment Agency Wales

    3,260

    07/02/11 -

    06/08/11

    SEREN

    Thomas HR, Williams KP, Sapsford D, Tripathy S, Griffiths AJ

    Welsh European Funding Office, British Geological Survey

    5,576,619

    01/03/10 - 30/06/15

    Optimisation of hydrometallurgical extraction of uranium from low grade ores

    Sapsford D

    SRK (UK) Consulting Ltd

    10,000

    01/07/09 - 31/12/10

    Laboratory simulation and optimisation of underground uranium bioleaching

    Sapsford D

    SRK (UK) Consulting Ltd

    10,000

    01/02/10 -

    31/01/11

    Potentially problematic element (PPE) release from gold mine tailings in a tropical environment

    Sapsford D

    SRK (UK) Consulting Ltd

    20,000

    01/08/09 - 31/07/10

    Hydroventuri Device: Assessment, development and demonstration of its gas exchange and hydropower technology and development of associated know-how and commercialisation support tools.

    O'Doherty DM, O'Doherty T, Sapsford D

    Hydroventuri Ltd

    60,000

    01/10/10 - 30/09/13

    Biological reactors as replacement to activated carbon filters for the treatment of contaminated groundwater

    Harbottle M, Sapsford D, Mahdi T

    Celtic Technologies

    25,000

    01/11/10 - 31/10/11

    Modelling the occurrence of scale precipitation in waste water treatment works

    Sapsford D

    Imtech Process Ltd

    5,377

    01/08/09 - 31/07/10

    Supervised Postgraduate Research Students

    Title

    Student

    Status

    Degree

    Carbonation of Mine Waste: Practical Laboratory Testing Methods To Assess The Dual Opportunity For Carbon Capture And AMD Mitigation

    Rhys Savage

    Current

    PhD

    Passive Mine Water Treatment

    Nik Azhar

    Current

    PhD

    In Situ Processes in Resource Extraction from Waste Repositories

    PEPPICELLI Claudia

    Current

    PhD

    Assessment of performance of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in improving water quality

    Nailah Altuwairgi

    Current

    PhD

    Methodologies for the prediction and evaluation of potential resources within landfills

    WARWICK Steven John

    Current

    PhD

    Precipitation of Heavy Metals and Radionuclides with Calcium Carbonate in Aqueous Solutions and Particulate Media

    MUGWAR Ahmed

    Graduate

    PhD

    Development of a Methodology for the physiochemical characterisation of a cutting fluid based sludge

    SUTTON Alex

    Graduate

    MPhil

    Development of Bespoke Design Criteria for Mine Water Treatment

    SUTTON Alex

    Graduate

    PhD

    New Technologies for the Removal of Phosphates from Wastewater

    ALKHAZRAJI Ban

    Graduate

    PhD

    The Transport Behaviour of Coal Tar & Creosote in Severn Estuary Alluvium

    EMANUEL David

    Graduate

    MPhil

    An Investigation into Parameters Affecting the Production Of UCG Gas

    KONSTANTINOU Eleni

    Graduate

    PhD

    Rates And Mechanisms Of Chemical Processes Affecting The Treatment Of Ferruginous Mine Water

    GERONI Jennifer

    Graduate

    PhD

    Mechanisms of the Removal of Metals from Acid and Neutral Mine Water under varying Redox Systems

    FLORENCE Kay

    Graduate

    PhD

    The Optimisation of Stope Leaching: A Laboratory Investigation Into The Extraction Of Uranium From A Low-Grade Ore

    PENMAN Kristina

    Graduate

    MPhil

    In-Situ Microbial Dissolution of Iron Mineral-Bearing Wastes for Metal Recovery

    ROBERTS Mark Thomas

    Graduate

    PhD

    Structural and Geoenvironmental Applications of Waste Quarry Dust

    PILEGIS Martins

    Graduate

    PhD

    From Threat to Asset: Water In Sdteelworks How Modern Steelworks Can Improve Water Related Performance Via Benchmarking And development Of High Density Sludge (HDS) Process

    SUVIO VIRTANEN Piia Katariina

    Graduate

    EngD

    Bioremediation of wastewaters utilising iron oxide-bearing wastes

    AL OBAIDI Safaa Abdalrasool Ali

    Graduate

    PhD

    Teaching

    I currently teach Environmental Engineering (2nd Year), Waste Management and Recycling (MSc), Soil and Groundwater Chemistry (MSc) and major projects (3rd year) and MSc dissertation projects

    Biography

    Career Overview:

    • Professor in the School of Engineering, Cardiff University (2022 - present)
    • Reader in the School of Engineering, Cardiff University (2017 - 2022)
    • Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering, Cardiff University (2013 - 2017)
    • Lecturer in the School of Engineering, Cardiff University (2009 - 2013)
    • Research Associate in Environmental Engineering, Cardiff University (2008 – 2009)
    • Technology Translator in the School of Engineering, Cardiff University (2007 - 2008)
    • Research Associate in Environmental Engineering, Cardiff University (2004 – 2007)

    Research Team @2023

    Postdoc Research Associates:

    Dr. Ilemona Okeme

    Dr. Pallavee Srivastrava

    Dr Ana Castro-Castellon

    PhD students:

    Rhys Savage

    Nik Azhar

    Holly-Anne Smith (co-supervisor)

    Nailah Altuwairgi (co-supervisor)

    Supervisions

    Title

    Student

    Status

    Degree

    Carbonation of Mine Waste: Practical Laboratory Testing Methods To Assess The Dual Opportunity For Carbon Capture And AMD Mitigation

    Rhys Savage

    Current

    PhD

    Passive Mine Water Treatment

    Nik Azhar

    Current

    PhD

    In Situ Processes in Resource Extraction from Waste Repositories

    PEPPICELLI Claudia

    Current

    PhD

    Assessment of performance of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in improving water quality

    Nailah Altuwairgi

    Current

    PhD

    Methodologies for the prediction and evaluation of potential resources within landfills

    WARWICK Steven John

    Current

    PhD

    Precipitation of Heavy Metals and Radionuclides with Calcium Carbonate in Aqueous Solutions and Particulate Media

    MUGWAR Ahmed

    Graduate

    PhD

    Development of a Methodology for the physiochemical characterisation of a cutting fluid based sludge

    SUTTON Alex

    Graduate

    MPhil

    Development of Bespoke Design Criteria for Mine Water Treatment

    SUTTON Alex

    Graduate

    PhD

    New Technologies for the Removal of Phosphates from Wastewater

    ALKHAZRAJI Ban

    Graduate

    PhD

    The Transport Behaviour of Coal Tar & Creosote in Severn Estuary Alluvium

    EMANUEL David

    Graduate

    MPhil

    An Investigation into Parameters Affecting the Production Of UCG Gas

    KONSTANTINOU Eleni

    Graduate

    PhD

    Rates And Mechanisms Of Chemical Processes Affecting The Treatment Of Ferruginous Mine Water

    GERONI Jennifer

    Graduate

    PhD

    Mechanisms of the Removal of Metals from Acid and Neutral Mine Water under varying Redox Systems

    FLORENCE Kay

    Graduate

    PhD

    The Optimisation of Stope Leaching: A Laboratory Investigation Into The Extraction Of Uranium From A Low-Grade Ore

    PENMAN Kristina

    Graduate

    MPhil

    In-Situ Microbial Dissolution of Iron Mineral-Bearing Wastes for Metal Recovery

    ROBERTS Mark Thomas

    Graduate

    PhD

    Structural and Geoenvironmental Applications of Waste Quarry Dust

    PILEGIS Martins

    Graduate

    PhD

    From Threat to Asset: Water In Sdteelworks How Modern Steelworks Can Improve Water Related Performance Via Benchmarking And development Of High Density Sludge (HDS) Process

    SUVIO VIRTANEN Piia Katariina

    Graduate

    EngD

    Bioremediation of wastewaters utilising iron oxide-bearing wastes

    AL OBAIDI Safaa Abdalrasool Ali

    Graduate

    PhD