Several laboratories through ORNL are dedicated to specific separations technologies, including solvent extraction, ion exchange, bioprocessing, and electromagnetic and plasma separations. Many laboratories are equipped and permitted to handle extremely hazardous or radioactive chemicals. Open bay areas are also available (with the necessary support infrastructure) for pilot-scale chemical processing and controls/instrumentation studies. Laboratories also house unique analytical measurement equipment.

Other laboratories are dedicated to computer modeling with workstations and Intel Paragon computers. Collaborative research programs provide access to unique computers throughout the DOE complex.

User facilities. Fifteen of the ORNL experimental facilities are officially designated "user facilities." This designation facilitates use by researchers from universities, industries, and other government laboratories. The Office of Science and Technology Partnership coordinates access to the user facilities. ORNL has two user facilities that provide specialized capabilities that directly involve separations and chemical processing: the Bioprocessing Research Facility and the Physical Properties Research Facility. ORNL has two other user facilities that have enabling capabilities relevant to separations and chemical processing: the Computational Center for Industrial Innovation and the High-Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR).

The Bioprocessing Facility focuses on the application of biological systems to the solution of real-world energy and environmental problems. Major areas of research include the application of photosynthesis to the production of renewable fuels and chemicals, biomolecular electronics, enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic material for the production of fermentable sugars, and application of bacterial systems to the removal of heavy metal contaminants and microbial degradation of pollutants.

The Physical Properties Research Facility focuses on obtaining unique physiochemical properties data for liquids and gases over a wide range of temperatures and pressures (up to 700 K and 10⁶ mm Hg). These include vapor pressures, heat capacities, enthalpies of formation and combustion densities, vapor liquid equilibrium, virial coefficients, and diffusion coefficients.

The Computation Center provides access to high-performance parallel computers to allow users to solve challenging, industrially relevant problems. Examples include determining the properties of chemicals based on their molecular structure.

Neutron science at the HFIR Facility is used in separations to study the fundamental physics of separations through measurements of molecular interactions. Examples include small-angle scattering studies to determine critical points of fluids.