The basic science goal in this project identifies structure/affinity relationships for selected radionuclides and existing sorbents. The task will apply this knowledge to the design and synthesis of new sorbents that will exhibit increased cesium, strontium and actinide removal. The target problem focuses on the treatment of high-level nuclear wastes. The general approach can likewise be applied to non-radioactive separations.

This report describes the characterization of GaAs1-xNx and GaP1-xNx alloys using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and ballistic electron emission microscopy (BEEM). One objective was to understand the origins of the giant bandgap bowing of these compound semiconductor alloys as a function of nitrogen concentration. The STM and BEEM have been used to characterize GaNxAs1-x and GaNxP1-x as a function of composition. The reduction in bandgap has been measured. Detailed studies of the band structure as a function of N composition has led to a basic understanding of the materials system. The major results of this work include: (i) determination of relative contributions of the G- and L-like bands of GaNxAs1-x to the BEEM spectra; (ii) determination of the composition dependence of the Au/ G- and L-like bands of GaNxAs1-x Schottky barrier height; (iii) development of a model to describe the BEEM results at nonepitaxial metal/semiconductor interfaces; and (iv) ballistic electron emission spectroscopy studies of GaNxP1-x samples that demonstrated possible splitting in the degeneracy of the X valley due to the nitrogen. The data were qualitatively described by the recent perturbed host states model of Kent and Zunger.

Our multifaceted research program is aimed at the fundamental and practical development of hybrid micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) that integrates several elements of chemical selectivity and sensor function. We are developing MEMS sensors that combine chemimechanical transduction, and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and radiation detection. One of our goals is to develop highly effective methods of immobilizing a wide variety of molecular and ionic recognition phases onto micromechanical surfaces. We have introduced fundamentally new modes of adsorbate-induced surface stress through nano-structuring of microcantilever surfaces; the responsivity for has increased by over two-orders of magnitude over previously existing technological approaches. Noble metal nanostructures similar to those that enhance chemi-mechanical transduction exhibit substantial Raman enhancement factors.

This final report describes the objectives, technical approach, results and conclusions for a project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to test a hybrid sulfur recovery process for natural gas upgrading. The process concept is a configuration of CrystaTech, Inc.'s CrystaSulf{reg_sign} process which utilizes a direct oxidation catalyst upstream of the absorber tower to oxidize a portion of the inlet hydrogen sulfide (H{sub 2}S) to sulfur dioxide (SO{sub 2}) and elemental sulfur. This hybrid configuration of CrystaSulf has been named CrystaSulf-DO and represents a low-cost option for direct treatment of natural gas streams to remove H{sub 2}S in quantities equivalent to 0.2-25 metric tons (LT) of sulfur per day and more. This hybrid process is projected to have lower capital and operating costs than the competing technologies, amine/aqueous iron liquid redox and amine/Claus/tail gas treating, and have a smaller plant footprint, making it well suited to both onshore and offshore applications. CrystaSulf is a nonaqueous sulfur recovery process that removes H{sub 2}S from gas streams and converts it to elemental sulfur. In CrystaSulf, H{sub 2}S in the inlet gas is reacted with SO{sub 2} to make elemental sulfur according to the liquid phase Claus reaction: 2H{sub 2}S + SO{sub …

Hydrologic information is essential for environmental efforts at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Testing at new characterization wells being drilled to the regional aquifer (''R wells'') to improve the conceptual hydrogeologic model of the Pajarito Plateau is providing such information. Field tests were conducted on various zones of saturation penetrated by the R wells to collect data needed for determining hydraulic properties. This document provides details of the design and execution of testing as well as an analysis of data for five new wells: R-9i, R-13, R-19, R-22, and R-31. One well (R-13) was evaluated by a pumping test and the rest (R-9i, R-19, R-22, and R-31) were evaluated by injection tests. Characterization well R-9i is located in Los Alamos Canyon approximately 0.3 mi west of the Route 4/Route 502 intersection. It was completed at a depth of 322 ft below ground surface (bgs) in March 2000. This well was constructed with two screens positioned below the regional water table. Both screens were tested. Screen 1 is completed at about 189-200 ft bgs in fractured basalt, and screen 2 is completed at about 270-280 ft bgs in massive basalt. Specific capacity analysis of the screen 1 data suggests that the fractured …

There is significant motivation to provide robotic systems with improved autonomy as a means to significantly accelerate deactivation and decommissioning (D&D) operations while also reducing the associated costs, removing human operators from hazardous environments, and reducing the required burden and skill of human operators. To achieve improved autonomy, this project focused on the basic science challenges leading to the development of visual servo controllers. The challenge in developing these controllers is that a camera provides 2-dimensional image information about the 3-dimensional Euclidean-space through a perspective (range dependent) projection that can be corrupted by uncertainty in the camera calibration matrix and by disturbances such as nonlinear radial distortion. Disturbances in this relationship (i.e., corruption in the sensor information) propagate erroneous information to the feedback controller of the robot, leading to potentially unpredictable task execution. This research project focused on the development of a visual servo control methodology that targets compensating for disturbances in the camera model (i.e., camera calibration and the recovery of range information) as a means to achieve predictable response by the robotic system operating in unstructured environments. The fundamental idea is to use nonlinear Lyapunov-based techniques along with photogrammetry methods to overcome the complex control issues and alleviate …

Soils used in the present DOE project were obtained from the Field Research Center (FRC) through correspondence with FRC Manager David Watson. We obtained a total of six soils sampled at different distances from the surface: (A) Non-contaminated surface soil from Hinds Creek Floodplain (0 mbs (meter below surface)). (B) Mercury-contaminated surface soil from Lower East Fork Poplar Creek Floodplain (0 mbs). (C) Mercury-contaminated subsurface soil from Lower East Fork Poplar Creek Floodplain (0.5 mbs). (D) Mercury-contaminated subsurface soil from Lower East Fork Poplar Creek Floodplain (1.0 mbs). (E) Non-contaminated surface soil from Ish Creek Floodplain (0 mbs). (F) Non-contaminated surface soil from Ish Creek Floodplain (0.5 mbs).

This report documents the second year's effort towards a 3-year program to develop micropilot ignition systems for existing pipeline compressor engines. In essence, all Phase II goals and objectives were met. We intend to proceed with the Phase III research plan, as set forth by the applicable Research Management Plan. The objective for Phase II was to further develop and optimize the micropilot ignition system for large bore, slow speed engines operating at low compression ratios. The primary elements of Micropilot Phase II were to evaluate the results for the 4-cylinder system prototype developed for Phase I, then optimize this system to demonstrate the technology's readiness for the field demonstration phase. In all, there were twelve (12) tasks defined and executed to support objectives in a stepwise fashion. Task-specific approaches and results are documented in this report. Research activities for Micropilot Phase II were conducted with the understanding that the efforts are expected to result in a commercial product to capture and disseminate the efficiency and environmental benefits of this new technology. Commercially-available fuel injection products were identified and applied to the program where appropriate. Modifications to existing engine components were kept to a minimum. This approach will minimize the …

The major objectives of the University of Alabama component of this project are to (1) characterize the chemical composition (mainly iron and uranium abundance and redox speciation) of FRC Area 2 sediments; (2) assess the potential for stimulation of microbial Fe(III) and U(VI) reduction in slurries of Area 2 sediments; and (3) analyze the response of microbial community structure to biostimulation, specifically with regard to the abundance and diversity of dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterial (DMRB) populations. As an inclusive working hypothesis, we anticipate that it will be possible to stimulate microbial metal reduction in Area 2 sediment depth strata containing substantial quantities of Fe(III) oxides and U(VI), and that a major enrichment in known DMRB (e.g. Geobacteraceae and related organisms) will take place in response to biostimulation. Information on rates of microbial metabolism, patterns of Fe/U biotransformation, and microbial community response obtained in the slurry experiments will be used to constrain preliminary numerical simulations of the field-scale biostimulation experiment, and to provide molecular (e.g. 16S rRNA/rDNA) targets for assessing the response of DMRB activity to in situ biostimulation. Our progress to date on the above objectives is summarized.

The research activities of this EMSP project at the U. S. Department of Energy Savannah River Site (SRS) are developed for the site-specific needs in the area of high level nuclear waste tanks. Traditional and advanced fracture methodologies are assessed, the crack growth resistance properties for the material of construction (A285 carbon steel) are measured in terms of crack tip constraint, crack growth criteria based on crack opening displacement (CTOD) or angle (CTOA) are developed, and the relationship between stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and the weld residual stress is investigated. All these activities lead to the development of predictive tools for the structural integrity of the SRS waste tanks. The methodologies can be extended to commercial applications.

This study describes the results of a low-cost approach used to measure reported load reductions from a residential electric water heater (EWH) load control program operated as part of PJM Interconnection's Demand Response small customer pilot program. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) conducted this independent review of the engineering estimates for EWH load control reported by a Curtailment Service Provider (CSP) at PJM's request. LBNL employed low-cost measurement and verification (M&V) approaches that utilized existing interval metering equipment to monitor results for a series of load control tests. The CSP collected hourly load data for two substations and several hundred households over a six-week period in October and November 2003. During this time period, the CSP operated its electric water heater load control program during pre-specified test periods in the morning, afternoon and early evening. LBNL then analyzed substation and premise-level data from these tests in order to verify the diversified demand reductions claimed by the CSP for customers participating in the EWH load control program. We found that the observed load reductions for the premise-level data aggregated over all households in the two participating electric cooperatives were, respectively, 40 percent-60 percent less and 3 percent less-10 percent higher than …

Demonstration of thermonuclear ignition and gain on a laboratory scale is one of science's grand challenges. The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is committed to achieving inertial confinement fusion (ICF) by 2010. Success in this endeavor depends on four elements: the laser driver performance, target design, experimental diagnostics performance, and target fabrication and target materials performance. This article discusses the current state of target fabrication and target materials performance. The first three elements will only be discussed insofar as they relate to target fabrication specifications and target materials performance. Excellent reviews of the physics of ICF are given by Lindl [Lindl 1998] and Lindl et al. [Lindl 2004]. To achieve conditions under which inertial confinement is sufficient to achieve thermonuclear burn, an imploded fuel capsule is compressed to conditions of high density and temperature. In the laboratory a driver is required to impart energy to the capsule to effect an implosion. There are three drivers currently being considered for ICF in the laboratory: high-powered lasers, accelerated heavy ions, and x rays resulting from pulsed power machines. Of these, high-powered lasers are the most developed, provide the most symmetric drive, and provide the most energy. Laser drive operates in two configurations. The …

Collection of all papers presented and submitted at the IFSA2003 conference. Topics included target design and performance, fast ignition, plasma instabilities, laser technology, fusion reactor technology

The overall goal of this proposed research is to develop more effective and innovative methods for solving corrosion problems in waste storage tanks. We will accomplish this goal by establishing a science base for understanding the influence of irradiation and solution chemistry on metastable pit initiation and stabilization. This base will allow the formulation of more effective corrosion mitigation strategies in current tanks, the development of materials selection criteria for the deployment of future remediation technologies, and broaden the understanding of data currently being collected by in-tank corrosion probes currently in use at the sites.

The research in FY04 was focused in five specific topics: (1) U(VI) sorption on microbially and abiotically reduced sediments, (2) oxidation of biogenic U(IV) in presence of Fe(II), (3) U(VI) reduction by reduced sediments, (4) kinetics of U(VI) sorption on natural sediments under conditions of flow, and (5) NMR imaging of S. onidensis biofilms in porous media. Two manuscripts are currently in review, and another five (or four?) manuscripts are currently in preparation for submission.

A nonhazardous INTEC tank farm sludge surrogate that incorporated metathesis reactions to generate solids from solutions of known elements present in the radioactive INTEC tank farm sodium-bearing waste sludges was formulated. Elemental analyses, physical property analyses, and filtration testing were performed on waste surrogate and tank farm waste samples, and the results were compared. For testing physical systems associated with moving the tank farm solids, the surrogate described in this report is the best currently available choice. No other available surrogate exhibits the noted similarities in behavior to the sludges. The chemical morphology, particle size distribution, and settling and flow characteristics of the surrogate were similar to those exhibited by the waste sludges. Nonetheless, there is a difference in chemical makeup of the surrogate and the tank farm waste. If a chemical treatment process were to be evaluated for final treatment and disposition of the waste sludges, the surrogate synthesis process would likely require modification to yield a surrogate with a closer matching chemical composition.

The screening of different genera of bacteria for production of soluble Cr(III) complexes has been completed. A total of eight organisms were screened for production of soluble Cr(III); three were Gram positive and five were Gram negative. The Gram positive bacteria were Cellulomonas sp. ES 6, Rhodococcus sp., and Leafsonia sp., while Shewanella. oneidensis MR 1, Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G20, D. vulgaris Hildenborough, Pseudomonas putida MK 1 and Ps. aeruginosa PAO 1 were Gram negative. S. oneidensis MR 1 and Cellulomonas sp ES 6 were grown in minimal media, GWM (Ground Water Medium with lactate/fumarate) and SGM (Simulated Groundwater Medium with sucrose), respectively. Other bacteria were screened under non-growth conditions with sucrose, lactate, or glycerol as electron donor. All experiments were carried out for a period of 15-30 days, with different organisms reaching a maximum soluble Cr(III) concentrations at different times: S. oneidensis, 2d; Cellulomonas sp., 8d; Leafsonia, 6d; Rhodococcus, 9d; Ps. putida MK 1, 6d, Ps. aeruginosa PAO 1, 3d; D. vulgaris Hildenborough, 3d; and D. desulfuricans G20, 21d. Initial characterization indicates that the soluble Cr(III) fraction produced by both S. oneidensis MR 1 and Cellulomonas sp. ES 6 passes through a 1-Kd cut off filter.

The objective of this report is to assess in women whether exercise affects the estimated age-related increase in adiposity, and contrariwise, whether age affects the estimated exercise-related decrease in adiposity. Cross-sectional analyses of 64,911 female runners who provided data on their body mass index (97.6 percent), waist (91.1percent), and chest circumferences (77.9 percent). Age affected the relationships between vigorous exercise and adiposity. The decline in BMI per km/wk run was linear in 18-25 year olds (-0.023+-0.002 kg/m2 perkm run) and became increasingly nonlinear (convex or upwardly concave) with age. The waist, hip and chest circumferences declined significantly with running distance across all age groups, but the declines were 52-58 percent greater in older than younger women (P<10-5). The relationships between body circumferences and running distance became increasingly convexity (upward concavity) in older women. Conversely, vigorous exercise diminished the apparent increase in adiposity with age. The rise in average BMI with age was greatest in women who ran less than 8 km/week (0.065+-0.005 kg/m2 per y), intermediate of women who ran 8-16km/wk (0.025+-0.004kg/m2 per y) or 16-32 km/wk (0.022+-0.003 kg/m2 pery), and least in those who averaged over 32 km/wk (0.017+-0.001 kg/m2 pery). Before age 45, waist circumference rose 0.055+-0.026 cm …

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Nonproliferation Policy sponsored an international biosecurity symposium at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). The event, entitled 'Securing High Consequence Pathogens and Toxins', took place from February 1 to February 6, 2004 and was hosted by Dr. Reynolds M. Salerno, Principal Member of the Technical Staff and Program Manager of the Biosecurity program at Sandia. Over 60 bioscience and policy experts from 14 countries gathered to discuss biosecurity, a strategy aimed at preventing the theft and sabotage of dangerous pathogens and toxins from bioscience facilities. Presentations delivered during the symposium were interspersed with targeted discussions that elucidated, among other things, the need for subsequent regional workshops on biosecurity, and a desire for additional work toward developing international biosecurity guidelines.

Obfuscation protects software by making the code more difficult to understand. We review a collection of obfuscation techniques. We then consider what would constitute a theory of obfuscation. Several possibilities that could lead to such a theory are explored.

The particle size of a slurry and the viscosity of a liquid or slurry are both difficult to measure on-line and in real time. The objectives of this research are to develop the following methods for such measurements: (1) ultrasonic diffraction grating spectroscopy (UDGS) to measure the particle size of a slurry, (2) UDGS to measure the velocity of sound in a slurry using reflection from a grating as opposed to ultrasound traveling through a possibly dense slurry, and (3) shear wave reflection techniques to measure the viscosity of a slurry.

The expected performance of an alternative ion exchange resin, i.e., Resorcinol-Formaldehyde for the removal of cesium from Hanford high level radioactive alkaline waste is discussed. The SuperLig(R) 644 resin is the current primary resin of choice. A consistent performance comparison between RF and SuperLig(R) 644 resins is also provided. This report represents an initial report on our ability and knowledge with regard to modeling the RF resin ion exchange system, i.e., RF in its spherical bead structure. Only the loading phase of the cycle process is addressed within this report. Pertinent bench-scale column tests and batch equilibrium experiments are addressed. The methodology employed and sensitivity analyses are also discussed, i.e., the existing methodology employed for SuperLig(R) 644 resin analyses is also employed for the RF resin analyses. Pilot-scale testing is not assessed since no pilot-scale testing was available or planned at the time of this report, i.e., only Stage 1 activities are covered. Column performance predictions are made considering three selected feed compositions under nominal operating conditions. The sensitivity analyses provided help to identify key parameters that aid in resin procurement acceptance criteria. The methodology and application presented within this report reflect the expected behavior of RF resin manufactured at …

The Sandia National Laboratories Nuclear Weapons Strategic Management Unit (NWSMU) is pursuing performance excellence, by focusing on compliance with the ISO 9001:2000 standard for quality management systems. The NWSMU also intends to achieve ISO Certification and eventually reach levels of performance excellence that are consistent with those of Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winners. In that context, this report documents a study undertaken to answer these questions: {sm_bullet} Would achieving ISO 9001:2000 compliance or certification help an organization prepare to achieve Baldrige-level performance excellence? {sm_bullet} Would pursuing Baldrige-based performance excellence help an organization achieve ISO certification? {sm_bullet} What are the areas where the Baldrige and ISO systems are most closely aligned? The study produced answers to those questions, as well as a number of comparisons and contrasts between the ISO standard and the Baldrige criteria.

The objective of this research is to develop and advance isotopic approaches for characterizing fluid flow and chemical transport through the vadose zone to groundwater. Previous research has been concentrated on developing and comparing different isotopic systems (e.g., hydrogen, oxygen and strontium isotopes) for determining fluid infiltration rates and pathways in the vadose zone (e.g., Maher et al., 2003; DePaolo et al., 2004; Singleton et al., in press). The results demonstrate the unique advantage of studies of multiple isotopic systems for distinguishing short-term versus long-term processes. The focus of our current efforts is on using the isotopic compositions of different chemical phases (e.g., uranium, nitrate) to track their movement through the vadose zone. Preliminary results indicate that this will be a powerful tool for assessing environmental risks associated with vadose zone contamination.