EnviroCAT

EnviroCAT will provide the dedicated state-of-the-art synchrotron radiation research facilities that are critically needed for research on a broad range of environmental science problems. The focus will be on developing a multifaceted microanalysis facility at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory. Research will involve a wide range of issues of central importance for worldwide human welfare, spanning problems in both pure and applied science and engineering. 

Advanced Photon Source
Argonne National Laboratory

Who are the leading institutions and individuals of EnviroCAT?

The founding institutions are University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, University of Illinois–Chicago, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and University of Notre Dame.  Stephen Sutton (University Of Chicago) is Acting Director and Ken Kemner and Paul Fenter (Argonne National Laboratory) are Associate Directors. 

What are some of the scientific problems to be addressed?

Scientists from around the world will use the EnviroCAT facilities to study the following (examples):

• Behavior of toxic and radioactive species in the environment, including sorption and reactions on mineral and biological surfaces, migration through the biosphere and crust, stabilization mechanisms, and remediation processes
• Development and evaluation of waste encapsulation systems
• Preventive measures for fungal attack on agricultural crops
• Improvements in field tests for soil nutrients aimed at enhanced agricultural production
• Dynamics of fluid transport through Earth’s crust, relevant to groundwater contamination
• Bioavailability of toxic species in the environment
• Investigations of carbon sequestration within soil aggregates

What facilities will be available? The instrumentation planned for EnviroCAT is driven by the demands of the principal scientific problems: Microbeam applications of x-ray fluorescence analysis, elemental mapping, and x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy Surface diffraction, spectroscopy and x-ray standing waves Microtomography Microcrystallography X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy

How will beam time be allocated?

Beam time will be divided into the following categories:

1. Core research projects conducted by EnviroCAT member institutions
2. Research projects conducted as collaborations between EnviroCAT members and investigators from other institutions
3. Research projects conducted independently by non-EnviroCAT investigators
4. Educational and training sessions

Class A will be divided amongst the members based on contributions to the project.  Classes B and C will be allocated through a proposal based system.  Class D will be assigned at the direction of the Steering Committee. 

How can I gain access to the equipment? An investigator can perform an experiment either as part of the core research program or the proposal-based system.  A web-based application system will be adopted.   Will EnviroCAT provide technical assistance and training sessions? Yes, EnviroCAT staff will be “onsite” to assist and participate in experiments.  Workshops will be conducted to provide instruction in the use of the equipment and techniques. What funding sources are being pursued? EnviroCAT is pursuing funding from multiple sources including founding member institutions, private foundations and federal agencies.

How will EnviroCAT be managed? The project will have a Director, Associate Directors and a Project Manager who will be advised by four committees: (1) Steering Committee composed of representatives from the EnviroCAT member institutions and user groups, (2) Technical Committee will oversee the construction and optimization of the beamlines, (3) Coordinating Committee will organize  daily operations and (4) Safety Committee.

EnviroCAT Milestones

• Letter of Intent to APS (approved March 2001)
• Progress Report to APS PEB (February 2002)
• Scientific Proposal to APS Scientific Advisory Committee (being prepared for submission in Jan. 2003)

EnviroCAT Techniques X-ray Microprobe <1 mm  undulator beam achieved for high sensitivity chemical analyses High-resolution fluorescence detection Micro x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) Compositions of buried components Compositional mapping Microtomography CAT scans with mm resolution Elemental specificity using fluorescence and edge tomography Near real time visualization Dynamic studies of fluids in soil X-ray Diffraction and Scattering Microcrystal diffraction Surface scattering Standing waves Identification of minerals in complex  materials Diffraction from interfaces Chemical speciation of atoms in specific lattice sites

For more information, please contact:

Stephen R. Sutton
Argonne National Laboratory
Environmental Research Division
9700 South Cass Ave., ER203
Argonne, IL 60439
sutton@anl.gov
630-252-0426