Eugene Ilton | Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Developing an Automated Smart Method for Searching the Configurational Space of Micronutrients in Host Minerals, Proteins, and Soils

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

In prior EMSL supported work we developed an ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) approach to interpret the EXAFS signal of impurities/micronutrients in the structure of Fe(oxyhydroxide) host minerals…

The Role of Interfacial Processes on Mineral Transformations in Wet Supercritical CO2

Lead Institution

Washington State University

Principal Investigator

Andrew Felmy

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

We propose a comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigation of the role of interfacial water and CO2 on the energies, mechanisms, and rates of reactivity of a series of orthosilicate and…

CAT - Nuclear Processing Science Initiative

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sue Clark

The Nuclear Process Science Initiative (NPSI) is an internal, Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program investment in support of the nuclear science and technology research…

The Influence of Reaction Pathways on the Reduction of U(VI) to U(IV): The Role of the Intermediate U(V) Species

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

This proposal is focused on the interfacial oxidation/reduction mechanisms of polyvalent metal ions important in subsurface systems. The current research is targeted at unraveling the reaction…

An In-situ Investigation of a-AlOOH Dissolution under High pH Conditions

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Edgar Buck

The dissolution and precipitation of gibbsite [a-Al(OH)3] and boehmite [a-AlOOH] is of prime importance to the final disposition of high-level nuclear waste (HLW) stored at the Hanford Site. The high…

Multiscale Processes of Heteroepitaxial Nucleation and Growth at Mineral-Water Interfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sebastien Kerisit

Project type

Exploratory Research

The goal of the proposed research is to elucidate the mechanisms and quantify the rates of heteroepitaxial nucleation and growth at mineral-water interfaces. Despite several examples of heteroepitaxy…

Nuclear Processing
Science Initiative

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sue Clark

The Nuclear Process Science Initiative (NPSI) is an internal, Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program investment in support of the nuclear science and technology research…

Interactions Between Fe(III) - Reducing Bacteria and Fe Oxides: Microbial and Geochemical Dissolution Controls (Zachara BES-oxide), PNNL Scope #28036)

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

John Zachara

Project type

Exploratory Research

Investigate electron transfer mechanisms involved in bacterial Fe(III) oxide reduction. Work authorization text added 08/11/05: Fe(III) oxides poise the oxidation/reduction potential of…

Heteroepitaxial nucleation and growth of complex coatings at mineral/water interfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sebastien Kerisit

All realistic mineral surfaces in natural waters can be expected to be coated, and their reactive properties influenced by the presence of coatings. Heteroepitaxial growth is the templated growth of…

Reactions and Transport of Toxic Metals in Rock Forming Silicates at 25C. (Ilton BES-Silicates, PNNL Scope #44552)

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Project type

Exploratory Research

Exploration of the mechanisms of oxidation-reduction reactions at the mineral fluid interface and transport of reactive components along the grain boundary interface in rocks. Work authorization…

Understanding the effect of etching medium in tuning the surface polarity of silica nanoparticles for tuning the loading and release of anticancer drugs

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Mark Engelhard

Silica nanoparticles have traditionally been used in drug delivery owing to their easy synthesis, nearly inert behaviour and ability to tune its surfaces for attaching targeting moieties. Recently…

Multiscale processes of heteroepitaxial nucleation and growth at mineral-water interfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sebastien Kerisit

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The goal of the proposed research is to elucidate the mechanisms and quantify the rates of heteroepitaxial nucleation and growth at mineral-water interfaces. Despite several examples of heteroepitaxy…

Can Mineral Growth by Oriented Attachment Lead to Incorporation of Uranium into the Structure of Fe(oxyhydr)oxides?

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Previous laboratory work has shown that uranium can be incorporated into the structure of hematite and goethite during co-precipitation and redox transformation of ferrihydrite, respectively. However…

Couple proton-electon dynamics in iron-containing phyllosilicates: annite, KFe3AlSi2O10(OH)2 - Mössbauer determination of Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio (N.Hess LDRD, PNNL SCOPE # 90001)

Lead Institution

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Nancy Hess

Project type

Exploratory Research

The focus of this investigation is coupled proton-electron dynamics in geochemical systems, specifically the redox reactions in annite, an iron-rich hydrous phyllosilicate. This topic is of…

Directed Mesoscale Synthesis of Tunnel Structured Materials for Energy Applications

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Many materials for energy applications function by reversibly absorbing and releasing charge carriers. Conventional synthesis of these materials typically results in complex aggregates of nano-scale…

Growth of and contaminant incorporation in complex carbonate coatings at mineral/water interfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sebastien Kerisit

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

All realistic mineral surfaces in natural waters can be expected to be coated, and their reactive properties influenced by the presence of coatings. It is a common but challenging interfacial process…

Characterization of Synthetic Mixed Valence U Compounds

Lead Institution

The George Washington University

Principal Investigator

Christopher Cahill

Project type

Exploratory Research

The efforts proposed herein will explore the synthetic reaction conditions necessary to produce and stabilize pentavalent uranium oxide species under hydrothermal conditions. U(V) is a fleeting…

The Role of Interfacial Water on Mineral Transformations in Wet Supercritical CO2

Lead Institution

Washington State University

Principal Investigator

Andrew Felmy

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

We propose a comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigation of the molecular mechanisms governing the role of interfacial water in the reactivity of mineral phases in supercritical carbon…

Contaminant immobilization through heterogeneous carbonate growth at mineral/water and mineral/microbe interfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sebastien Kerisit

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The presence of mineral surfaces and of microorganisms significantly impacts the nature and composition of mineral phases formed in biogeochemical systems. Despite the importance of these…

Development of Microscopically-Based Models for Prediction of the Impact of Surface Grain Coating on Mineral Dissolution and Leaching Rates

Lead Institution

Washington State University

Principal Investigator

Andrew Felmy

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Over the past two decades, molecular level information on the composition, structure, and nature of impurities in naturally occurring mineral phases and anthropogenic subsurface materials has become…

Towards a Predictive Thermodynamic Model for Oxidation States of Uranium Incorporated in Fe (hydr)oxides

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Bacterially facilitated and abiotic heterogeneous reduction of UVI to UIV has been intensively studied due to the vastly different solubility of hexavalent and tetravalent uranium, with ramifications…

The role of Fe(oxyhydr)oxides in regulating the biogeochemical cycling of Zinc; an essential micro-nutrient

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

We propose to study the influence of Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides on the biogeochemical cycling of Zn, an essential micronutrient. The work is specifically focused on incorporation of Zn into the…

The role of U(V) during heterogeneous reduction of aqueous U(VI) to U(IV).

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

This proposal is being submitted in response to the Science theme call: Biogeochemistry and Subsurface Science, understanding the chemistry of radionuclides in the subsurface. It directly relates to…

Directed Mesoscale Synthesis of Tunnel Structured Materials for Energy Applications

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Many materials for energy applications function by reversibly absorbing and releasing charge carriers. Conventional synthesis of these materials typically results in complex aggregates of nano-scale…

Contaminant immobilization through heterogeneous carbonate growth at mineral/water and mineral/microbe interfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sebastien Kerisit

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The presence of mineral surfaces and microorganisms significantly impacts the nature and composition of mineral phases formed in biogeochemical systems. Despite the importance of these heterogeneous…

Microscale and spectroscopic investigations in geochemical and microbiological systems

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

John Zachara

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Apply experimental manipulation and field investigations to understanding the behavior of selected chemical and microbial components in natural systems. The research is targeted towards compounds…

Molecular-scale controls on heteroepitaxy at mineral-water interfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sebastien Kerisit

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The objective of the proposed research is to elucidate and quantify the molecular-scale mechanisms of heteroepitaxial nucleation and growth at mineral-water interfaces. Despite several examples of…

The role of Fe(oxyhydr)oxides in regulating the biogeochemical cycling of the essential micronutrients zinc and copper

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Elements essential for plant growth and nutritious crops (e.g., Fe, Cu, and Zn) are often strongly associated with Fe (oxyhydr)oxides, particularly in more weathered terrains. For example, Zn…

Advances in Understanding Electron Transfer Kinetics at Environmental Interfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Kevin Rosso

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

This EMSL user proposal requests a continuation of EMSL access for a BER funded Environmental Molecular Sciences Institute (EMSI) project led by Dr. Rosso at PNNL. This project constitutes the PNNL…

Oxidative corrosion of uraninite (UO2) surfaces

Lead Institution

University of Chicago

Principal Investigator

Joanne Stubbs

Project type

Special Science

Uraninite (UO2) is the most abundant uranium ore mineral, its synthetic analog is the primary constituent of most nuclear fuels, it is the desired product of bioremediation strategies for uranium…

Linking Microscopic to Macroscopic Adsorption/Desorption Behavior for Uranium on Environmental Materials

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Kevin Rosso

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

This Science Theme proposal requests EMSL access for a subtask on an existing funded project at PNNL. The task is focused on determination of molecular-scale adsorption, desorption, and…

Elucidating the behavior of technetium in spinel ferrites and polyoxometalates, model systems for oxide waste forms and naturally occurring magnetite

Lead Institution

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Wayne Lukens

Project type

Special Science

Technetium (Tc-99, 211 ka half-life) is the most problematic long-lived fission product due largely to the high environmental mobility of pertechnetate, TcO4-, the most stable form in aerobic…

The Aqueous Thermodynamics and Complexation Reactions of Anionic Silica and Uranium Species to High Concentration. (Felmy ESMP-silicate, PNNL Scope #30944)

Lead Institution

Washington State University

Principal Investigator

Andrew Felmy

Project type

Exploratory Research

Highly basic tank wastes contain several important radionuclides, including 90Sr, 99Tc, and 60Co, as well as actinide elements (i.e., isotopes of U, Pu, and Am). These highly basic tank wastes are …

Understanding surface species and interactions between adsorbed chloride and water on stored PuO2

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Carolyn Pearce

Project type

Special Science

Radiation induced degradation of chlorinated polymers, such as poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), used historically in packaging of plutonium oxide (PuO2), has led to chloride-contaminated PuO2, which…

The Role of Interfacial Processes on Mineral Transformations in Wet Supercritical CO2

Lead Institution

Washington State University

Principal Investigator

Andrew Felmy

Project type

Exploratory Research

We propose a comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigation of the role of interfacial water and CO2 on the energies, mechanisms, and rates of reactivity of a series of orthosilicate and…

Proof-of-principle work using CeO2 as an analogue to understand surface species and interactions between adsorbed chloride and water on stored PuO2

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Carolyn Pearce

Project type

Limited Scope

Radiation induced degradation of chlorinated polymers, such as poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), used historically in packaging of plutonium oxide (PuO2), has led to chloride-contaminated PuO2, which…

The role of U(V) during heterogeneous reduction of aqueous U(VI) to U(IV).

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Project type

Exploratory Research

This proposal is being submitted in response to the Science theme call: Biogeochemistry and Subsurface Science, understanding the chemistry of radionuclides in the subsurface. It directly relates to…

Mineral Reactivity and Transformations in Adsorbed Water Films

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

John Loring

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Transformations of minerals covered in thin films of adsorbed H2O are ubiquitous in nature and occur under unique chemical and physical constraints. But in contrast to bulk aqueous systems,…

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