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Four Argonne accomplishments have been named among the 100 "best scientific and technological accomplishments" of the Department of Energy during the 20th Century. DOE developed the list to "demonstrate [its] commitment to save consumers money and improve [their] quality of life."
The four Argonne accomplishments are the development fo the 308 nm excimer laser for surgery, the development of green solvents, the decontamination and decommissioning of Chicago Pile 5, and the process to recover and clean flexible polyurethane foam from automobile shredder residue.
Argonne's green solvents technology was also chosen for an "Energy@23" award and a "Bright Light" award.
The Energy@23 awards -- the name recognizes that DOE is 23 years old -- were chosen from the original list of 100 by a panel of citizen judges "for their top-flight contribution to American consumers." The Bright Light awards are based on the same criteria as the Energy@23 awards, but specifically honor five of DOE's "most recent consumer-oriented innovations … hatched between 1999 and 2000."
The full list of 100 winners is on the Web at http://www. ma.doe.gov/energy100/list.html.
In 1986, Dieter Gruen, Mike Pellin and the
late Charles Young (all CHM/MSD) recognized that
the near-ultraviolet radiation of the 308 nm excimer
laser could be transmitted with little energy loss through
a quartz fiber-optic catheter
This combination made it possible to use laser surgery to treat cardiovascular disease. Laser light of this particular energy "cuts" bonds between biological tissues without burning or charring, providing a safer mechanism for laser surgery.
Jim Frank, Rathin Datta, Paula Moon, Mike Henry, Tony Fracaro,
Yuval Halpern and Shih-Perng Tsai (all ES) developed a
technology to produce non-toxic, environmentally
friendly "green solvents" from renewable carbohydrate
feedstocks, such as cornstarch.
Argonne's discovery has the potential to replace about 80 percent of petroleum-derived cleaners, degreasers and other toxic and hazardous solvents. The process makes low-cost, high-purity ester-based solvents using advanced fermentation, membrane separation and chemical conversion technologies.
Argonne's green solvents technology has also won several other national awards, including the President's Green Chemistry Challenge, the Discover Magazine Award for Technology Innovation, the DOE/OIT Technology of the Year (finalist), and a Federal Laboratory Consortium Technology Transfer Award.
The decontamination and decommissioning
(D&D) of the Chicago Pile 5 Reactor, led by Argonne's
Technology Development Division, (Sam Bhattacharyya, Tom
Yule, Ralph Ditch, Ed Collins and Rob Rose) provided an
excellent opportunity for the application of a new way
for government and industry to collaborate in the D&D
of nuclear facilities. The project, overseen by the
DOE Chicago Operations Office, refined and demonstrated
a number of new methods and technologies that are
already being applied at other D&D project sites.
Argonne researchers Ed Daniels, Sam Jody and Joe Libera (all ES)
developed a process to separate flexible polyurethane foam
(FPUF) from automobile-shredder residue and clean it to
produce high-quality foam that can be used to make
new products.
The FPUF, which makes up more than 30 percent of the residue volume, contains automotive fluids, iron oxides, glass, dirt and some metals. Argonne's technology provides an efficient, economical process to separate and clean the foam so it can be recycled.
David E. Moncton, Associate Laboratory Director for the Advanced Photon Source (APS), has agreed to accept an appointment as senior scientist and advisor to the laboratory director.
Moncton will lead the research effort for Argonne's Fourth-Generation Initiative, which may lead to a light source many times more powerful than even the APS.
Fourth-generation synchrotron radiation X-ray sources will be based on free-electron lasers capable of producing hard X-rays -- those with the highest energy and most penetrating power--with a peak brilliance billions of times greater than currently available anywhere in the world. The APS accelerator research program achieved a crucial experimental milestone toward realization of an X-ray laser facility earlier this year.
"The diligence, intelligence, and focus of Dr. Moncton and his staff at the APS combined to create a facility that has greatly exceeded expectations," said Argonne Director Hermann Grunder. "Dr. Moncton has the ability, experience and scientific preeminence to lead the laboratory's research effort in this exciting new area, while also resuming his own X-ray research program."
In addition to his duties as associate laboratory director at Argonne, Moncton recently completed a two-year assignment as executive director of the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Moncton began dividing his time between Oak Ridge and Argonne in February 1999 with a mandate to prepare the $1.4 billion SNS project for construction. Moncton assembled a management team, established a technical baseline for the project and guided the six-laboratory partnership to put the SNS project on track to open on time and on budget. In December 2000, workers began foundation work for the project's facilities.
Moncton will retain his current position until a search committee can identify a successor.
Habitat restoration will continue at Argonne-East during 2001 with a series of prescribed burns in several areas of the site:
The path between Outer Circle and Lodging
A small area on the southeast side of
Building 201
The wetland south of the Advanced Photon
Source (APS)
The open field northwest of APS
An area east of the North Gate entrance
Depending on weather, the Land Management and Habitat Restoration Committee may also call for burns in additional areas. Employees should obey warning barriers and avoid these areas during prescribed burning.
Prescribed burns help control weedy plants and encourage the growth of the desirable plants. In some of the areas, the Land Management and Habitat Restoration Committee or PFS Grounds may add seed or plants of additional desirable plant species.
After the burns, there will be a blackened area with some heavy tree material that will not burn.
"Employees shouldn't be alarmed by the appearance of the newly burned areas," said Environmental Scientist Mark Kamiya (ESH). "That's normal. In a few weeks, the area will green up and start to rejuvenate itself."
In the summer some areas will be cleared of brush and non-native trees, such as buckthorn, and non-native shrubs.
An Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to noon at Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria.
The hunt will be held outdoors if the weather permits, so egg hunters should dress accordingly. The Easter Bunny will be there rain or shine.
Children will be able to hunt for eggs in two age groups: four and under and five to 10. Tickets are $2 and will be on sale the week of March 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the cafeteria lobby. Sodexho Marriott will have a buffet breakfast available for purchase.
Teams of young engineers are needed to participate in the 11th Annual Chicago Junior Solar Sprint contest to be held Saturday, May 12.
Seventh and eighth grade science classes throughout the state of Illinois are invited to design, build, and race their solar-powered model cars in the contest sponsored by Argonne, the U.S. Department of Energy and Case New Holland Technology Center, Burr Ridge. The race will be held at the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute, 6201 W. 115th St. in Alsip, Ill.
The Junior Solar Sprint is a national program developed to generate enthusiasm for renewable energy; to improve students' knowledge of these concepts and energy issues; and to encourage young people to consider technical careers.
Prizes will be awarded for performance and design.
To register for the contest or for more information, fax the school name, contact person, address and phone number to Christine McGhee at (630) 252-3443. McGhee can also be reached via e-mail at cmcghee@anl.gov or by phone at (630) 252-3175.
Patent law offices, biotechnology firms and consulting companies are among the organizations that will scout the University of Chicago, Northwestern University and other Chicagoland institutions for prospective high-tech and biotech employees in the 2nd Annual Chicago Science Career Forum from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, March 29, and Friday, March 30.
The event will take place at the Norris University Center, 1999 S. Campus Drive in Evanston on the Northwestern campus March 29, and at Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th St. on the University of Chicago campus March 30. Open to all Chicagoland Ph.D. candidates and postdoctoral fellows in the sciences, the forum is sponsored by the University of Chicago, Northwestern and Science magazine.
Nineteen employers have signed up so far to participate in this year's events.
To help graduate students and postdocs prepare for the event, a session on "How to Work the Science Career Forum" is scheduled at 4 p.m. Monday, March 26, at Ida Noyes Hall, West Lounge. A resume workshop is scheduled at 4 p.m., Wednesday, March 28, same location.
Participants actively seeking employment should bring copies of their curriculum vitae to the March 29 and 30 events. No registration is required. Recommended attire is business casual.
For more information, call Malaina Brown at the University of Chicago at (773) 834-1033, or Emily Murphy at Northwestern at (847) 491-2568.
Social Security representative George Cutwright will be available to assist Argonne-East employees Wednesday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to noon in the Human Resources office in Building 201.
Cutwright can perform Social Security enrollments; take applications for new social security cards, whether they are original cards for newborns, corrected cards due to marriage, or replacement cards; help with earnings posting problems or answer general questions about social security.
To schedule a meeting with the social security representative, call Fran Perri (HR) at ext. 2-2989.
Charles H. Batson, (TD-DES), retired Feb. 9 with 30 years of service.
William Comerford, (OCF-PRO), retired Feb. 8 with 34 years of service.
Caroline L. Herzenberg, (DIS), retired Feb. 12 with 26 years of service.
Robert Smejkal, (PFS), retired Feb. 2 with 44 years of service.
Richard W. Swanson, (ED), retired Jan. 31 with 32 years of service.
Ben D. Holt, a retired chemist with 42 years of service in the Chemical Technology Division, died Jan. 29. His wife, Louise, survives him.
Marion Jordon, a retired machine shop assistant with 18 years of service in Central Shops, died Jan. 3. His wife, Ardith, survives him.
Lubomir J. Nowicki, a technician senior with 42 years of service in the Energy Technology Division, died Jan. 13. His sons, Brian, Keith and Scott, survive him.
Henry H. Thompson, a retired labor group leader with 11 years of service in the Plant Operations Division, died Nov. 28. His son, Robert, survives him.
Lester J. Trater, a retired machine shop foreman with 39 years of service in Central Shops, died Jan. 26. His wife, Elizabeth, survives him.
William H. Welke, a retired security specialist with 40 years of service in Security, died January 14. His daughter, Mary, survives him.
