Science Highlights
EMSL’s Chinook provides a new angle for validating pore-scale flow simulations
Go with the flow
Released: May 16, 2013
Scientifically, simply “going with the flow” can have great implications. In natural porous media, such as soils, subsoil vadose zones, and aquifer systems, accurately simulating detailed flow velocity fields can elucidate a multitude of macroscopic phenomena.
Micromodels redefine how bubbles characterize CO2 gas flow
Breaking down the bubbly
Released: March 20, 2013
EMSL's Microfabrication and Subsurface Flow and Transport capabilities helped scientists model how mobile bubbles in reservoir storage conditions create a flow barrier from exsolved carbon dioxide, which shows promise for future geological sequestration.
New finding shows a research area to expand in EMSL Radiochemistry Annex
Promising Science for Plutonium Cleanup
Released: July 07, 2011
Scientists from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Rai Enviro-Chem, LLC, recently published first-ever results that illustrate the importance of certain hard-to-find reaction products related to plutonium reduction in contaminated sediments. This finding reveals an area for expansion in EMSL's new Radiochemistry Annex.
Shewanella proteins could be used to generate energy or immobilize contaminants
Wired Microbe Conducts Electricity
Released: June 10, 2011
Researchers have determined, for the first time, the molecular structure of the proteins that enable the bacterium Shewanella oneidensis to transfer an electrical charge. This new information is useful for the development of microbe-based agents that can be used to clean up legacy radioactive waste.
New geometric method developed for evaluating metal nanoparticles on tubular structures
Viewing the Tube in 3D
Released: May 24, 2011
Researchers used EMSL's scanning transmission electron microscope and tomography capabilities to test a new geometric method to extract three-dimensional information about the size and location of small catalytic particles supported on tubular structures. Understanding these new details can critically influence catalytic systems in technologies for water purification and emissions control.
Atomic force microscope enables in situ imaging of mineral-fluid interfaces in supercritical carbon dioxide
New Views of High-pressure Meetings
Released: April 29, 2011
EMSL scientists and collaborators have developed a high-pressure atomic force microscope to enable unprecedented in-situ, atomic-scale measurements of the topography of solid surface interfaces with supercritical carbon dioxide fluids. This new capability supports scientists and engineers who are developing new solutions in carbon sequestration.
Scientists build realistic simulations for studying subsurface pollutants
Modeling the Micro Scale
Released: July 21, 2010
Recently, scientists working to understand the microbes received a boost from two studies done with a new integrated microfluidics capability at EMSL.
Assessment of biostimulation processes offers a new look at uranium reduction
Dirt Dynamics
Released: July 20, 2010
Analyzing soil and aqueous samples from a laboratory column study, scientists assessed how small amounts of nanoparticulate goethite in sediment affect biostimulation processes, which may enhance future bioremediation efforts.
