Faculty and Student Teams Program

Project Descriptions

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Applied Geology and Geochemistry Group

Requesting applications from science or engineering faculty members at institutions serving students underrepresented in science, engineering, mathematics and technology.

Project Description

The interactions of actinides with mineral surfaces will be studied. Actual U contaminated soil samples will be examined to determine which soil components are contaminated and to assess the chemical state of U on/in these components. The binding strength of U at the surface will be assessed. Vacuum based surface science techniques, such as Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) and Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) will be used. The interaction of uranium with the cleaved surface of single crystal calcite will also be studied using the same techniques. Calcite is a signficant Hanford soil component and is expected to interact strongly with uranium. The cleaved surface of single crystal calcite has been extensively studied. There have been some studies of the interaction of U with this surface, but to date little progress has been made. The U will be deposited from solution onto the surface. Use of this surface will minimize the parameters that affect the U-surface interaction, such as surface defects, crystal contaminants, etc. If time permits other surfaces will be substituted for cleaved calcite. Other surfaces may include stepped calcite surfaces or the surfaces of other relevant minerals such as iron oxides/oxyhydroxides, aluminum oxides/oxyhydroxides, silicates, aluminosilicates, etc.

Applicants Responsibilities and Relationship to Project

Applicants will receive support under the Department of Energy Faculty Student Team Research Program (FaST) to work collaboratively with the project research team at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for up to 10 weeks during the year, starting in June 2006. Summer and academic year visits to PNNL will be scheduled by mutual agreement between the Radiochemical Science and Engineering Group and the successful applicant. Ideally, faculty will work at PNNL on the project for 10 weeks during the summer in the first year. Faculty will be expected to identify students from their campus to participate in the Undergraduate Research Participation programs offered by the Department of Energy at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Faculty will provide mentorship and/or advising support to students during the summer research activities. It is expected that the faculty member will become an integral part of the research team working on this project and will support the project through the academic year on her or his campus.

Qualifications of Ideal Candidate

Support and Financial Commitments

See Financial Information.

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