Role of Microenvironments and Transition Zones in Field scale microbial ecology and biogeochemistry
EMSL Project ID
42318
Abstract
This is a renewal proposal for a previous collaborative effort between the PNNL Scientific Focus Area (SFA) and EMSL. The research proposed will resolve critical Hanford and basic subsurface science issues through integrated, multi-disciplinary, science-theme focused research on the role of microenvironments and transition zones in the reactive transport of technetium (Tc), uranium (U), and plutonium (Pu). The overall ten-year goals of the SFA are to develop: i.) an integrated conceptual model for microbial ecology in the Hanford subsurface and its influence on contaminant migration, ii.) a fundamental understanding of chemical reaction, biotransformation, and physical transport processes in microenvironments and transition zones, and iii.) quantitative biogeochemical reactive transport models for Tc, U, and Pu that integrate multi-process coupling at different spatial scales for field-scale application. Targeted contaminant chemical reaction and biotransformation processes include heterogeneous/biologic electron transfer, precipitation and dissolution, and surface complexation. The EMSL component of this research will be laboratory experiments and measurements to further the understanding of field-scale phenomena. We will use sediments and microbial isolates from various Hanford settings to explore molecular, microscopic, and macroscopic processes underlying field-scale contaminant migration. The SFA will partner with the PNNL Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) to develop molecular understandings of key processes, and the Hanford Integrated Field Challenge (IFC) for access to, and samples from subsurface environments where these zones exist and are important.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2010-11-01
End Date
2011-11-06
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members