|
|
|
Molecular Environmental SciencesThe Molecular Environmental Science Research Group is conducting research to increase the fundamental molecular-level understanding of mechanisms of contaminant transformation, sequestration and fate in subsurface environments, (i.e., sub soils, groundwater, and wastes) and in remediated sites still containing low levels of contaminants. Particular emphasis is placed on the exploitation of natural attenuation processes and long-term behavior of contaminants in the environment. The contaminants of interests include actinides, radionuclides, and toxic metals. Research focuses on molecular characterizations of simple to complex mixtures of contaminants including organic inorganic complexes of radiounuclides and metals using the state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques. This is a multidisciplinary research group involving chemists, physicists, geochemists, microbiologists, biochemists, biogeochemists, and material scientists. Research involves (i) characterization of radionuclides and toxic metals in contaminated soils materials, sediments (ii) understanding the basic biochemical mechanisms involved in the microbial transformations of organic ligands complexed with actinides and microbial interactions that alter speciation and mobility of toxic metals and radionuclides; (iii) Gas generation due to microbial degradation of organic constituents in transuranic wastes disposed of at the DOE Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, NM; (iv) treatment of cost-effective treatment of contaminated dredge spoils from the Port of New York/New Jersey. Researchers are using state-of-the-art techniques at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) to examine interactions between contaminants, soil, and plants. The NSLS is also being used to develop computer microtomography techniques to investigate the structure of geological materials to better understand parameters that impact fluid and contaminant transport.
Last Modified: January 31, 2008 |
|
|
