Argonne-SRNL agreement supports critical DOE, national priorities

Actinide chemistry involves the study of radioactive heavy metals, such as uranium, neptunium, and plutonium, that are indigenous to nuclear energy processes. Maintenance of a core competency associated with actinide science is critical in order to sustain continued growth of nuclear programs in the U.S. and to effectively treat legacy nuclear materials. Argonne’s actinide experience dates back to the earliest days of the Manhattan Project and is focused on basic scientific understanding and knowledge. SRNL’s experience, which dates back to the early 1950s, has been generally focused on production-scale deployment, including the design and development of specialized technologies for the safe characterization, purification, stabilization, and disposition of these materials.

Separations science involves the design, study, and application of processes for separating mixtures of compounds into their component substances. The two laboratories have made significant contributions to the field over their histories. These contributions date to the earliest years of the U.S. nuclear enterprise and continue to support such national initiatives as GNEP. The labs will develop a joint plan for advancing separations science and technology programs to meet the current and future needs of DOE with a focus on the DOE Offices of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) and Environmental Management (DOE-EM).

Argonne National Laboratory brings the world's brightest scientists and engineers together to find exciting and creative new solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

SRNL, located in Aiken, S.C., puts science to work to provide applied R&D solutions in the areas of national and homeland security, energy security, and environmental management. It serves as the corporate laboratory for DOE’s Office of Environmental Management and is managed for DOE by Washington Savannah River Company, a subsidiary or the Washington Division of URS Corp.