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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Hydrophobic amine-based binary mixtures of active pharmaceutical and food grade ingredients: characterization and application in indium extraction from aqueous hydrochloric acid media

The wide spread use of hazardous and expensive solvents for the liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) of critical metals has been a growing source of waste in the metal refinement industry. We have developed and characterized room temperature liquid hydrophobic binary mixtures based on common pharmaceutical and food grade compounds as sustainable, cost effective alternatives to both ionic liquids and conventional solvents. Additionally, we introduce liquid mixtures with Proton Sponge® (1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene), one of the strongest known organic bases. These mixtures have been applied to the LLE of indium(III) ions from hydrochloric acid solutions, displaying an extraction efficiency greater than 99% in some systems. Here, a systematic approach to identifying the underlying mechanism of extraction, in particular relating to the charge, solubility, and complexation of the indium species in the organic phase has been developed.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2018

Main components of PM10 in an area influenced by a cement plant in Catalonia, Spain: Seasonal and daily variations

Highlights: • Constituents and main components of airborne PM{sub 10} near a cement plant were studied. • A clear seasonality was found, with higher levels in winter. • A daily pattern was not observed, when comparing weekdays and weekends. • Road traffic had a significant contribution to PM{sub 10} levels. Particulate matter (PM) composition has a key role in a wide range of health outcomes, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and death, among others. Montcada i Reixac, a municipality located in the Barcelona metropolitan area (Catalonia, Spain), for its location and orography, is an interesting case- study to investigate air pollution. The area is also characterized by the presence of different industrial emission sources, including a cement factory and a large waste management plant, as well as an intense traffic. In this study, PM{sub 10} levels, trace elements, ions, and carbonaceous particles were determined for a long time period (2013–2016) in this highly polluted area. PM{sub 10} samples were collected during six consecutive days in two campaigns (cold and warm) per year. A number of elements (As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, Fe, Ga, Gd, Ge, Hf, Hg, Ho, K, La, Li, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Nb, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pr, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sn, Sr, Tb, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Yb, and Zr), ions (Cl{sup -}, SO{sub 4}{sup 2-}, NO{sub 3}{sup -}, and NH{sub 4}{sup +}), and carbonaceous content (total carbon, organic plus elemental carbon, and CO{sub 3}{sup 2-}), were analysed. These data were used to identify the PM{sub 10} main components: mineral matter, sea spray, secondary inorganic aerosols, organic matter plus elemental carbon, trace elements or indeterminate fraction. Although a clear seasonality (cold vs. warm periods) was found, there were no differences between working days and weekends. Obviously, the cement plant influences the surrounding environment. However, no differences in trace elements related with the cement plant activity (Al, Ca, Ni and V) between weekdays and weekends were noted. However, some traffic-related elements (i.e., Co, Cr, Mn, and Sb) showed significantly higher concentrations in weekdays.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Application of a Geochemically Informed Leak Detection (GILD) Model to CO 2 Injection Sites on the United States Gulf Coast

The Gulf Coast region possesses great potential for CO 2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and CO 2 storage. A geochemically informed leak detection (GILD) model has been applied to CO 2 injection sites on the Gulf Coast with considerations of measurement variability. The Jasper aquifer in Montgomery County, Texas, was chosen to demonstrate the method. Based on background data from wells in the area, combinations of mineral and fluid compositions were used to create 23 scenarios for the geochemical model. The output from the geochemical model was used to identify sensitive monitoring species, and response functions were generated for these as a function of the CO 2 leakage concentration. The sources of measurement variability for background conditions were characterized from the Jasper aquifer background data, and then normalized using the coefficient of variation of each species across the monitoring wells. Bayesian belief network (BBN) models were constructed, and measurement variability of different levels were added to compare leak detection probabilities. Increasing measurement variability decreased the power to detect a leak of a given size. For a moderately high CO 2 concentration of 0.2 mol/kg, the probability of detecting this leakage effect using pH as the monitoring variable in an aquifer with calcite decreases from 98% (no measurement variability) to 61% (medium variability) to 33% (high variability). The loss in power of the sampling protocol with increasing measurement variability is similar in magnitude when Ca 2+ or HCO 3 - is used as the monitoring parameter, but only for aquifers with calcite.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Upgrade of the CAESium-iodide scintillator ARray (CAESAR) electronics and data acquisition system for optimized performance at FRIB

Here, we report on the upgrade of the electronics and data acquisition (DAQ) of the high-efficiency CAESium-iodide scintillator ARray (CAESAR) at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). With the on-going capability ramp-up of FRIB, CAESAR is expected to continue to be an in-demand -ray spectrometer owing to its high detection efficiency, compactness, and modularity, enabling easy integration with additional detection and DAQ systems. Within this context, the CAESAR electronics and DAQ were upgraded to remove obsolete modules, enhance the ease of integration with external instruments, and optimize the DAQ live time. We present the comprehensive results from offline (γ-ray sources) and online (in-beam experiment) commissioning, characterizing the performance of CAESAR’s new electronics and DAQ.

CsI(Na) scintillator array↗
DOE OSTI2019

Free energy of metal-organic framework self-assembly

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) represent an important class of materials. Careful selection of building blocks allows for tailoring of the properties of the resulting framework. The self-assembly process, however, is not understood, and without detailed knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanism, it is difficult to anticipate whether a particular design can be realized, or whether the material adopts a metastable, kinetically arrested state. We present a detailed examination of early-stage self-assembly pathways of the MOF-5. Enhanced sampling techniques are used to model a self-assembly in an explicit solvent (dimethylformamide, DMF). We identify several free energy barriers encountered during the assembly of the final MOF, which arise from structural rearrangements preceding MOF formation and from disrupted MOF-solvent interactions as formation proceeds. In all cases considered here, MOFs exhibit favorable entropic gains during the assembly. More generally, the strategy presented provides a step toward the experimental design characterizing the formation of ordered frameworks and possible sources of polymorphism.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Ablation loading of barium ions into a surface-electrode trap

Trapped-ion quantum information processing may benefit from qubits encoded in isotopes that are practically available in only small quantities, e.g., due to low natural abundance or radioactivity. Laser ablation provides a method of controllably liberating neutral atoms or ions from low-volume targets, but energetic ablation products can be difficult to confine in the small ion-electrode distance, micron-scale microfabricated traps amenable to high-speed, high-fidelity manipulation of ion arrays. Here, we investigate ablation-based ion loading into surface-electrode traps of different sizes to test a model describing ion loading probability as a function of effective trap volume and other trap parameters. We characterize loading of ablated barium from a metallic source in two cryogenic surface-electrode traps with 730 and 50 μm ion-electrode distances. Furthermore, our loading rate agrees with a predictive analytical model, providing insight for the confinement of limited-quantity species of interest for quantum computing, simulation, and sensing.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

QUBIC II: Spectral polarimetry with bolometric interferometry

Bolometric interferometry is a novel technique that has the ability to perform spectral imaging. A bolometric interferometer observes the sky in a wide frequency band and can reconstruct sky maps in several sub-bands within the physical band in post-processing of the data. This provides a powerful spectral method to discriminate between the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and astrophysical foregrounds. In this paper, the methodology is illustrated with examples based on the Q & U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology (QUBIC) which is a ground-based instrument designed to measure the B-mode polarization of the sky at millimeter wavelengths. We consider the specific cases of point source reconstruction and Galactic dust mapping and we characterize the point spread function as a function of frequency. We study the noise properties of spectral imaging, especially the correlations between sub-bands, using end-to-end simulations together with a fast noise simulator. Finally, we conclude showing that spectral imaging performance are nearly optimal up to five sub-bands in the case of QUBIC.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

A glimpse into the fungal metabolomic abyss: Novel network analysis reveals relationships between exogenous compounds and their outputs

Fungal specialized metabolites are a major source of beneficial compounds that are routinely isolated, characterized, and manufactured as pharmaceuticals, agrochemical agents, and industrial chemicals. The production of these metabolites is encoded by biosynthetic gene clusters that are often silent under standard growth conditions. There are limited resources for characterizing the direct link between abiotic stimuli and metabolite production. Herein, we introduce a network analysis-based, data-driven algorithm comprising two routes to characterize the production of specialized fungal metabolites triggered by different exogenous compounds: the direct route and the auxiliary route. Both routes elucidate the influence of treatments on the production of specialized metabolites from experimental data. The direct route determines known and putative metabolites induced by treatments and provides additional insight over traditional comparison methods. The auxiliary route is specific for discovering unknown analytes, and further identification can be curated through online bioinformatic resources. We validated our algorithm by applying chitooligosaccharides and lipids at two different temperatures to the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. After liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry quantification of significantly produced analytes, we used network centrality measures to rank the treatments’ ability to elucidate these analytes and confirmed their identity through fragmentation patterns or in silico spiking with commercially available standards. Later, we examined the transcriptional regulation of these metabolites through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Our data-driven techniques can complement existing metabolomic network analysis by providing an approach to track the influence of any exogenous stimuli on metabolite production. Our experimental-based algorithm can overcome the bottlenecks in elucidating novel fungal compounds used in drug discovery.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Hydroxyl radical mediated damage of proteins in low oxygen solution investigated using X-ray footprinting mass spectrometry

In the method of X-ray footprinting mass spectrometry (XFMS), proteins at micromolar concentration in solution are irradiated with a broadband X-ray source, and the resulting hydroxyl radical modifications are characterized using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to determine sites of solvent accessibility. These data are used to infer structural changes in proteins upon interaction with other proteins, folding, or ligand binding. XFMS is typically performed under aerobic conditions; dissolved molecular oxygen in solution is necessary in many, if not all, the hydroxyl radical modifications that are generally reported. In this study we investigated the result of X-ray induced modifications to three different proteins under aerobic versus low oxygen conditions, and correlated the extent of damage with dose calculations. We observed a concentration-dependent protecting effect at higher protein concentration for a given X-ray dose. For the typical doses used in XFMS experiments there was minimal X-ray induced aggregation and fragmentation, but for higher doses we observed formation of covalent higher molecular weight oligomers, as well as fragmentation, which was affected by the amount of dissolved oxygen in solution. The higher molecular weight products in the form of dimers, trimers, and tetramers were present in all sample preparations, and, upon X-ray irradiation, these oligomers became non-reducible as seen in SDS-PAGE. The results provide an important contribution to the large body of X-ray radiation damage literature in structural biology research, and will specifically help inform the future planning of XFMS, and well as X-ray crystallography and small-angle X-ray scattering experiments.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Weekly Update - LANSCE Neutron Spectrum Characterization

Preparations for characterizing the energy spectrum of the LANSCE neutron source have been made. The spallation neutron source at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) produces a white spectrum of neutrons with energies between about 100 keV to greater than 600 MeV. Recently, an effort to radiograph dense objects has been stood up at the Weapons Neutron Research (WNR) facility at LANSCE. However, the spallation process as well as some target-cooling techniques can create high gamma fluxes. The gamma- and neutron-energy spectrum of the source influence the quality of the radiographs that can be made with the source. Additionally, models of the source are essential to interpreting radiographs made with it, and experimental constraints on the gamma- and neutron-energy spectrum of the source will greatly increase the fidelity of these models. The gamma- and neutron-energy spectrum of the LANSCE source can be constrained in the ~10-MeV to ~100-MeV range through measurements of threshold reactions on bismuth foils. The decay of the activation products of the (n,Xn) and (γ,Xn) reactions can be measured, and, using the known cross sections for these reactions, the spectral content of the beam can be inferred. Many of these activation products decay via γ-ray emission, so measuring these decays requires High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Investigation of Superluminescent Diodes for Smart Lighting Systems. Final Report

The solid-state lighting ecosystem has evolved very rapidly over the last few years, with significant improvements in the technical performance of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and the commoditization of LED-based lighting fixtures. As the performance of conventional lighting products begins to saturate, there is growing market interest in “Lighting as a Service” applications that will leverage advanced systems to impart new functionalities to lighting and improve energy efficiency, human health, and productivity. These “Smart Lighting” systems will include high-performance light sources, specialized sensors, and dynamic controls to deliver high quality, energy efficient, color tunable lighting with customized spatial light delivery and integrated visible light communication capability. To achieve these capabilities, smart lighting systems will place greater demands on the performance of light sources. Highly efficient sources with additional functionalities compared to conventional LEDs, such as small form factor, large modulation bandwidth, and spatially coherent output beams, will be required. While laser diodes have been proposed as potential sources for smart lighting systems, they also exhibit several properties that pose challenges, such as temporal coherence, extremely high spatial coherence, and ultra-narrow linewidths. To address these issues, we propose an investigation of an alternative device architecture known as a superluminescent diode (SLD). SLDs are similar in form to ridge laser diodes and share many of the same characteristics, such as stimulated emission operation, spatially coherent output, small form factor, and the potential for large modulation bandwidth. However, the operating principle for SLDs is distinct from laser diodes in that SLDs lack a strong cavity feedback mechanism, resulting in spatially coherent but temporally incoherent light output. Thus, SLDs may address the issues with laser diodes for lighting, while simultaneously maintaining some of the desirable characteristics of both laser diodes and LEDs. The objectives of this proposal are to design, grow, and fabricate blue (450 nm) SLDs on polar c-plane and nonpolar m-plane free-standing GaN substrates, and to evaluate their potential as sources in smart lighting systems through basic device characterization and detailed investigations of their efficiency droop and modulation bandwidth. The primary scientific aims of this work are to understand the fundamental role of optical gain in the superluminescent (non-lasing) regime on efficiency droop and modulation bandwidth in III-nitride emitters and to understand the effects of higher optical gain on SLD performance by comparing polar c-plane and nonpolar m-plane SLDs. The University of New Mexico (UNM) will collaborate with Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies to design, fabricate, grow, and characterize the SLDs. UNM will perform the design and epitaxial growth, while SNL will focus on the fabrication and device characterization. The novelty of the proposed work includes the first comprehensive theoretical and experimental investigations of efficiency droop and the first investigation of modulation bandwidth in GaN-based emitters operating in the superluminescent regime. Moreover, the comparison of c-plane and m-plane SLDs will enable the first analysis of the effects of higher optical gain on the device performance. The development of high-performance GaN-based SLDs may enable efficiency gains and improved functionality in next-generation smart lighting systems.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2020

Sedimentary Geothermal Resources in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and Texas

The objectives of this project were to (1) perform a literature review of sedimentary geothermal resources, (2) identify data sources and develop data-collection methodologies that characterize selected resources, (3) screen sedimentary basins and formations for sedimentary geothermal potential, and (4) evaluate the technical feasibility of one or more selected locations. Numerous publications have characterized geothermal resources within sedimentary basins. A literature search reviewed publications describing resources located in Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. The most attractive resources have high temperature gradients, low drilling costs, and reservoir permeabilities greater than 10 millidarcies (mD). Prospects in Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Utah exhibit attractive characteristics and were chosen for further analysis. Sedimentary resources in Nevada and Utah are most attractive, followed by tested resources in Texas and untested resources in Colorado. The identified resources in Wyoming and Louisiana had lower geothermal gradients and were not evaluated. Reservoir modeling and techno-economic analysis were performed at Marys River Basin–North in Nevada. Geothermal energy production at this location is expected to have a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) ranging between 10 and 20 cents/kWh. Additional work may result in lower LCOE estimates at this location and at other attractive prospects in these three regions. The Great Basin carbonate and alluvial aquifer system of eastern Nevada and western Utah includes a lower carbonate aquifer unit, which has the potential for hosting both conduction- and convection-dominated geothermal systems. Mapping has identified lateral thickness variability expressed as a roughly 120–150-km-wide central corridor, which hosts the thickest and most continuous formations and extends from near Las Vegas north to the Idaho border. Purchase and analysis of privately held legacy seismic data could potentially compensate for the lack of sufficient data documenting measured depth to the lower carbonate aquifer unit. Multiple orogenies, extension episodes, and intrusive events have deformed and displaced the target formations of the lower carbonate aquifer unit. This structural complexity and potential for dipping reservoirs emphasizes the need for detailed geological, geophysical, and reservoir modeling. Heat flow within three Colorado sedimentary basins reviewed as part of this study was calculated in targeted studies by the Colorado Geologic Survey and Colorado School of Mines. These calculations are based on bottom-hole temperature data sets with significant limitations and some variability but produce values consistently higher than the global continental average of 65 mW/m2 for all three basins. Heat flow in the Raton Basin is the highest; however, permeability measurements from specific sedimentary formations with high heat flow have not been obtained. Promising formations for sedimentary geothermal systems were found in all three regions studied—Nevada-Utah, Colorado, and Texas. The next steps for developing sedimentary geothermal resources vary due to differences in available data and resource uncertainties. Additional scopes of work are recommended for identified basins in these three regions.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

CO 2 and Renewable Electricity into Chemicals: Formic Acid Production from Coal Flue Gas

Formic acid (FA) is an industrial chemical. It is used as a preservative for silage, as a digestive aid for animals, as a fluid for fracking, as a pharmaceutical intermediate and in leather tanning. The global formic acid market is valued at 777.4 million USD in 2020 and is expected to reach 851.8 million USD by the end of 2026. A new major formic acid application is the use of formic acid as a key feedstock for the bioprocessing industry. It has the potential to grow tremendously if we can lower the cost of formic acid production compared with the current fossil-fuel one. Recently, Dioxide Materials has developed a technology that can directly convert CO 2 to pure formic acid with a three-compartment CO 2 electrolyzer. However, the electrolyzer performance needs further improvement for the technology to be commercially viable. The major objective of this project is to develop the electrolyzer technology to enable formic acid as a feedstock for the bioprocessing industry to be economically manufactured from flue gas from a coal fired pilot plant. In particular, the project is to understand how to run the electrolyzer for the conversion of CO 2 into formic acid using flue gas from a coal fired power plant as a source of CO 2 . The work will include characterizing how the performance of the electrolyzer changes with low CO 2 concentration and impurities, developing new cell designs that can still operate with feedstocks with low CO 2 concentrations, testing simulated flue gas in the electrolyzer system and developing filters to remove any impurities that arise.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2023

Data Summary Report for Soil and Slab Sampling at Former Building 175

Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are in the process of returning the area where Building 175 existed to beneficial use for future site development. The completed assessment will help LLNS and DOE to outline project scope and costs associated with the removal, characterization, and disposal of materials generated when the concrete slab for the former building and any associated remaining subsurface structures are demolished. Slab removal under the Transition & Disposition process requires full screening for potential site contamination to determine appropriate future land use. Borehole locations and depths were designed to correctly assess DOE’s future liability for characterizing residual vadose zone contamination. If a residual source area is identified at depth, DOE will need to evaluate the additional cost of future subsurface cleanup (with limited access) due to planned development. This is necessary to leave the location in a “ready-to-build” status. As a result, Phase II sampling requirements may in some cases extend beyond the construction zone required for slab removal to ensure the necessary due diligence. To avoid the potential spread of contamination and/or the creation of an environmental release by impacting the integrity of known contamination areas (e.g., pit within room 102 and the east to west boundary seam), these locations were not sampled for this project. During demolition of the slab, these locations and their underlying soils should be further evaluated. The assessment was conducted in accord with the May 2022 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Former Building 175 Assessment Soil Sampling and Analysis Plan / Quality Assurance Plan. Thirty-six, direct-push borings were advanced, along with collecting concrete (where present) and soil samples for laboratory analyses. Thirty-two of the borings were advanced to a depth of 25 feet below ground (bgs), and four borings were advanced to a depth of 55 feet bgs. The concrete slab for former Building 175 ranged from approximately 8 inches to over two feet in thickness. Soils encountered during the investigation consisted primarily of clayey silt, with interbeds of sandy gravel and silty sand to the total depth explored of 55 feet bgs. Field photoionization detector readings – checking for volatile organic compound (VOC) vapors in soils, ranged from zero (0) to a peak of 33 parts per million at 25 feet bgs in boring PC-B175- 028. The cause for the peak reading is unknown, however, no visually discolored or odorous soils were encountered during the assessment and all VOC results were below Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL’s) Soil Screening and Management Plan (SSMP) soil screening levels (SSL). Groundwater was not encountered during the assessment and is expected to occur at roughly 65 feet bgs in the project area. No metals were detected at concentrations of concern in the concrete core samples collected and analyzed. Low gross alpha and beta activity concentrations were detected in the concrete core samples collected and analyzed. The detected activity concentrations would appear to be from naturally occurring radioactive isotopes, i.e., potassium 40, present in the raw materials used to make concrete and not artificially added. Tritium was not detected above the testing laboratory's Method Detection Limit (MDL) in any of the concrete core samples collected and analyzed. The radioactive isotopes - actinium 228, bismuth 214, lead 212, lead 214, potassium 40, radium 226, radium 228, and thallium 208, were detected at low activity concentrations in the concrete core samples analyzed. Based on the detected activity concentrations, the isotopes would appear to be naturally occurring in the raw materials used to make concrete and not artificially added. Acetone – a common laboratory contaminant, was detected in nine of the soil samples collected and analyzed. Concentrations of two other volatile organic compounds (benzene and tetrachloroethene) were detected in five of the soil samples analyzed. All concentrations were below SSLs. Total petroleum hydrocarbons as diesel range organics were detected at 43.9 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) in the 20-foot bgs duplicate sample from boring PC-B175-007. Total petroleum hydrocarbons as motor oil were detected at 7.20 mg/kg in the 15-foot bgs routine sample from boring PC-B175-001, and at 20.7 mg/kg in the 20-foot bgs duplicate sample from boring PC-B175-007. The SSL for diesel-range TPHs is 260 mg/kg. LLNL does not have an SSL for motor oil range TPHs. No indications of a release, e.g., visibly stained, or odorous soil, were present at the boring locations. No samples collected contained polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in concentrations above the laboratory reporting limit. Arsenic was detected above its SSL of 8.51 mg/kg in the 25-foot bgs routine sample collected from boring PC-B175-023. Nickel was detected above its SSL of 86.0 mg/kg in the 10-foot bgs routine sample from boing PC-B175-005, the 20-foot bgs routine sample from boring PC-B175-025, and the 25-foot bgs routine sample from boring PC-B175-034. The detected concentrations, however, were well below ten times (10x) their respective STLCs. Gross alpha and/or gross beta were detected above their respective SSL activity concentrations in three routine soil samples. Retesting (two per sample) of the samples showed that the initial reported activity concentrations were anomalous. Tritium was not detected in any of the routine or duplicate soil samples collected and analyzed during the investigation. The radioactive isotopes - actinium 228, bismuth 212 and 214, lead 212 and 214, potassium 40, radium 224, 226 and 228, thallium 208, thorium 234 and uranium, were detected at low activity concentrations in the soil samples analyzed for radioactive constituents. The detected isotopes and their associated activity concentrations are typical of those naturally occurring in the marine-type sedimentary deposits underlying the Livermore Valley. No radiological controls are necessary for the soil evaluated.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Williston Basin Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Program

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Fossil Energy awarded 13 Carbon Ore, Rare-Earth and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) programs as part of the CORE-CM Initiative, designed to develop the technology and upstream and midstream supply chains to extract rare-earth elements (REEs) and CMs from the nation’s coal supplies. The intent is to catalyze regional economic growth and job creation while strengthening the use of domestic resources. The Williston Basin CORE-CM Program aims to drive the expansion and transformation of coal and coal-based resource usage within the Williston Basin to produce REEs, CMs, and nonfuel carbon-based products (CBPs). The work constitutes Phase 1 of a long-term program. The objectives of Phase 1 are to identify the existing knowledge base and gaps and to develop a series of assessments/plans, including an initial basinal assessment; a characterization and data acquisition plan; a waste stream reuse plan; a basinal strategies assessment for infrastructure, industries, and business; a technology assessment, development, and field-testing plan; a technology innovation center plan(s); and a stakeholder outreach and education plan. Originally, the CORE-CM programs were to do little if any sample collection as part of the Phase 1 program. As part of the ongoing interactions with DOE regarding the progress of the 13 CORE-CM programs, DOE has decided to extend Phase 1 with additional funding to allow all of the Phase 1 CORE-CM programs to collect and characterize more samples that have potential to be sources of REEs and CMs. The goal of this project is to initiate the development of a new industry in the resource-rich Williston Basin that will generate economic growth and job creation through a coalition team of private industry; university; and state, local, and federal government entities. A coalition team of nearly 30 private industry; university; and state, local, and federal government partners was formed for this program. Partners include the University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center, Institute for Energy Studies, and Nistler College; North Dakota State University; Montana Tech University; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Critical Materials Institute; North Dakota Geological Survey; South Dakota Geological Survey; U.S. Geological Survey; North American Coal Corporation; BNI Energy; Basin Electric Power Cooperative; Minnkota Power Cooperative; and many more.

Kay, John P.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Emitted radiation characteristics of plutonium dioxide radioisotope thermoelectric generators

The nuclear and emitted radiation characteristics of the radioisotope elements and impurities in commercial grade plutonium dioxide are presented in detail. The development of the methods of analysis are presented. Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG) of 1575, 3468 and 5679 thermal watts are characterized with respect to neutron and gamma photon source strength as well as spatial and number flux distribution. The results are presented as a function of detector position and light element contamination concentration for fuel age ranging from 'fresh' to 18 years. The data may be used to obtain results for given O-18 and Pu-236 concentrations. The neutron and gamma photon flux and dose calculations compare favorably with reported experimental values for SNAP-27.

Gingo, P. J.↗