LBBC has been delighted to welcome Chemistry student Abi to the business this summer as part of her industrial placement experience.
During her internship, Abi has been supporting a project focused on developing experiments that will provide data for a proposed model to predict ceramic core leaching rates. Her work has involved investigating different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) to better understand and optimise the leaching process.
Working within the laboratory team, Abi has gained hands-on experience preparing standard solutions, analysing post-leach solutions through titrations, and developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and risk assessments for new processes.
Alongside her laboratory work, Abi has also applied her digital and analytical skills by using Python to model existing data and developing a relational database application. The tool enables trial and process data, including temperatures, pressures and core compositions, to be recorded, filtered and cross-referenced in a single location, helping to improve accessibility and analysis of information.
Reflecting on her experience, Abi said:
“The internship has allowed me to apply my knowledge of chemistry to industry and develop many skills that I can carry through into my final year of university and beyond, such as research, presentation and communication skills.
I’ve had an excellent summer with LBBC. Everyone has been so welcoming. Thank you to everyone who has supported me during my internship!”
The placement has provided Abi with valuable experience of applying academic knowledge within a manufacturing and engineering environment while developing practical skills that will support her future career.
Everyone at LBBC would like to thank Abi for her hard work and contribution over the summer and wishes her every success in her final year at university and beyond.