Michael Kaminski (CMT) shows the gel he and his colleagues are developing to clean buildings that have been exposed to radioactive material. Photo by George Joch.

Nanoparticles, super-absorbent gel clean radioactivity from porous structures

By Margret Chang

Porous structures, such as brick and concrete, are notoriously hard to clean when contaminated with certain types of radioactive materials. Now, thanks to researchers in Argonne's Chemical Engineering Division, a new technique is being developed that can effectively decontaminate these structures in the event of exposure to radioactive elements.

Researchers are using engineered nanoparticles and a super-absorbent gel to design a clean-up system for buildings and monuments exposed to radioactive materials. Having this system available will allow the nation to be more prepared in case of a terrorist attack with a "dirty bomb" or other radioactive dispersal device.

"If a radioactive device were activated in public, the primary concern would be widespread contamination," said Michael Kaminski, lead scientist of the project. "This contamination is particularly hard to remove in buildings made from brick or concrete, where the pores, or holes, in those materials make it easy for radioactive materials to become trapped."

Enter Kaminski and his team of Argonne scientists, whose decontamination system could safely capture and dispose of radioactive elements in porous structures in an outdoor environment. Using a simple, three-step procedure, the system operates much like an automated car wash, where remote spray washers apply a wetting agent and a super-absorbent gel onto the contaminated surface. The wetting agent causes the bound radioactivity to resuspend in the pores.

The super-absorbent polymer gel then draws the radioactivity out of the pores, and fixes it in the engineered nanoparticles that sit in the gel. Finally, the gel is vacuumed and recycled, leaving only a small amount of radioactive waste.

"The polymer gel we use to absorb the radioactivity is similar to the absorbent material that's found in disposable diapers," Kaminski explained.

"When exposed to a wetting agent, the polymers start to cross-link, forming something like a structural scaffold that allows the gel to absorb an incredible amount of liquid."

The Argonne technique would overcome many of the shortcomings of current radioactive decontamination operations.

"Right now, it is common practice to demolish the contaminated materials in hopes of getting rid of the radioactivity. Our technique would allow surfaces to be preserved, which means that we wouldn't have to deface monuments or buildings just to remove the radiation," said Kaminski.

The group has 18 months to complete development of the decontamination method. The project will culminate in a prototype demonstration of the technology using real contaminated concrete samples. This work is being done as part of an interagency Technical Support Working Group project selected from more than 3,000 submitted in May 2003 and funded by the Department of Homeland Security.

Kaminski's group is also developing other technologies for biomedical and military applications, using magnetic nanoparticles. Experience in that work, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, led to the super-absorbent gel project and other work for defense and homeland security applications.

"Within our group, we are combining our experience from the past several years in areas of nuclear power plant decontamination, engineered nanoparticles and polymer gels to develop this new decontamination technology," Kaminski says. "It has provided a potential solution to one of the key challenges in counter-terrorism."

Crafty connections save $130 K in engineering, maintenance costs

By Dave Jacqué

A project that reroutes water used to cool experiments and equipment is saving the laboratory up to $130,000 in electrical and maintenance costs each year, while improving reliability.

Vital to the success of the project was cooperation between engineering and maintenance employees, including maintenance mechanic John Jurca (PFS-BM), maintenance foreman Gerald Mallizzio (PFS-BM) and Argonne energy coordinator Nick Malik (PFS-FEC).

With support of FEC and PFS divisional office management, the three developed a plan to interconnect a heat exchanger in Building 371D, which cools 200-Area buildings in winter, to both the back cooling tower as well as to the front tower.

Along with variable-speed drives and direct digital controls, the setup allows either the back tower or the front tower to provide 200-Area cooling, depending on the season.

The interconnection allows the back tower to be used during the winter months, which also reduces icing. The front tower can be shut off and drained throughout the winter, saving pump energy and reducing maintenance costs.

"This is a great example of maintenance and engineering working shoulder to shoulder and producing an innovative solution that returns dollars back to the laboratory," said Gwendolyn Morrison, PFS division director.

The Process Cooling Efficiency Improvement project has been submitted for a Federal Energy Management Program award.

The program's goal is to reduce the cost and environmental impact of the federal government by advancing energy efficiency and water conservation, promoting the use of distributed and renewable energy and improving utility management decisions at federal sites.

Great mentors recognized

By Dinesh Ramde

The DOE Office of Science recognized three Argonne-East employees whose mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students in the past year was particularly noteworthy. George Fenske (ET), Julie Jastrow (ER) and Guy Savard (PHY) received plaques at an awards ceremony May 20.

Fenske, a materials engineer in the Energy Technology Division's Tribology Section, has come full-circle in the mentorship process. "I went through the same program as a research aide in the summer of 1973," he said. "I worked for a few summers and thought highly of the program. I hope students coming through now think highly of it too." Fenske noted that four members of his section — Ali Erdemir, Layo Ajayi, Bob Erck and John Woodford — work closely with the students.

Jastrow is a terrestrial ecologist who conservatively estimates that she and her colleague, Senior Ecologist Michael Miller, have mentored at least 125 people in her almost 29 years here. "Our students provide us the hands we need to do our research. In return, we give them a feeling for what's involved in research, as well as a big picture understanding of how science works," she said.

Savard, a senior scientist in the physics division, has been at Argonne for seven years and has mentored four to five students every year. His goal is to give students individual assignments that tie in to the larger research experience.

"They participate in the broader experiments," he said, "but I also give them small projects they can see through from beginning to end. By mentoring students, we're promoting the next generation of scientists."

Frank Vivio, assistant director of the Division of Educational Programs, said the mentorship awards program was started in 2002 to reflect Argonne's commitment to the development of young minds. "We want to recognize those mentors whose leadership and mentorship provide an exceptionally positive experience for their students," he said.

DEP Director Harold Myron agreed that this program provides valuable learning and teaching experiences. "You can't learn science just from a textbook — someone has to show you the ropes," he said. "That's why it's so significant that our researchers are willing to bring students into the lab, to perpetuate knowledge. This program, and our mentors, do a tremendous service to the community."

Richard Ivins, first director of tech transfer

Richard Ivins, Argonne's first director of Technology Transfer, died June 11, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville of leukemia. He was 69.

Ivins worked at Argonne for 30 years. As group leader of Reactor Safety Programs and later as project and section manager, he led research groups establishing the need for emergency core cooling systems in nuclear power reactors. As manager of Commercialization Energy Storage Technologies, he led the effort to promote technology use in the private sector for advanced batteries. Ivins was deputy and acting director of Coal Technology, and increased industrial involvement in the laboratory's fossil energy program. He was the first director of Technology Transfer, where he promoted cooperative programs with industry and privatization of laboratory technology.

After retiring from Argonne, he founded a consulting firm focusing on materials and process problems for manufacturing firms.

A memorial service is also being planned for Aug. 4, at 1 p.m. in Glen Ellyn, at Lake Ellyn. For more information, contact dickivins2004 @yahoo.com.

The family requests contributions to T-BART, c/o Paul Smith, Treasurer, 110 Walela Lane, Loudon, TN 37774, in lieu of flowers.

Lab honored by Community Health Charities for ACA contributions

By Elizabeth Quill

Community Health Charities presented Argonne with the Best New Campaign — Highest Payroll Deduction Participation award for 2003 at its recent annual meeting in Chicago.

During the annual Argonne Combined Appeal pledge drive, employees can choose to give to more than 20 different organizations. This was the first year ACA listed Community Health Charities as a donation option.

The agency is dedicated solely to health causes — the Muscular Dystrophy Association and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital are among them.

Carol Ann Quinn (HR) and Cheryl Drugan (IPD), 2004 Argonne Combined Appeal co-chairs, said the agency approached the committee last year and asked to be included in the appeal.

"The organization brings together a number of agencies under one name," Quinn said. "It gives employees more choices."

The award recognized Argonne for the large percentage of employees that donated through the payroll deduction method.

Employees can give in three ways. They can write a check, donate cash or have the money taken directly out of their paychecks. Of the employees who gave to Community Health Charities, 49 percent used payroll deduction.

"We are so pleased with the success of the Argonne campaign's first year," said Gael Mennecke, executive director of Community Health Charities. "We know that this campaign will continue to grow and become even more successful."

Drugan said Argonne encouraged payroll deduction during the 2003 campaign with the slogan "A day's pay goes a long way." When employees use this method, their donations add up to more and as their salaries increase, so do their gifts.

She said 8.5 percent of the employees who participated in the Argonne Combined Appeal gave to Community Health Charities. They donated a total of $14,263.

The introduction of the new agency did not take support away from others. The agency has applied for participation again in the 2004 Argonne Combined Appeal Drive.

More information about Argonne Combined Appeal is online.

Ask the Directorate

Q: The Medical Department maintains emergency contact information for employees. This information was updated in the past when employees were seen in Medical for physical examinations. While certain employees older, or those exposed to radiation for example may still be providing updated information, there are many employees that have not been kept up-to-date with this critical information, such as younger employees who do not receive regular physicals. Human Resources does not maintain the data, nor do the divisions (at least any that I have been in). If this information is not going to be maintained by Medical, should the divisions be advised to maintain it? I am particularly aware of those identified as "essential" individuals for SECON activities.

A. Anyone on site with an Argonne password can enter and change their emergency notification information by visiting Medical Services online and clicking the Emergency Notification Database link near the bottom of the page. Those without computers can get the MD-33 Emergency Contact Information Form from their division offices to send to Medical. Division management should actively encourage employees to check and update their information every year on their birthday. Medical gives all new employees a copy of the form when they report for drug testing so they can bring it back when they have their placement examination. Plus Medical asks employees to update their information when they visit for medical surveillance.

Note that this information is solely for contacting an employee's relatives in case of a medical emergency and not for other management purposes. It is not a source of information on contacting employees, which is what is needed for SECON planning. SECON notification should be reviewed at least annually to assure accuracy.

"Ask the Directorate" gives employees an opportunity to ask senior Argonne management direct questions about the laboratory's operations, policy, strategy, mission, budget and goals. Job- or workplace-specific questions should be referred to immediate supervisors.

Employees may submit questions to askthedirectorate@anl.gov or fax them to ext. 2-5274. Only questions that include the name of the questioner and contact information, such as e-mail address, office extension or fax number, will be answered.

Details are online at www.anl.gov/news.html.

Human Resources offers July classes

A class enrollment form is online, or contact a Training Management System representative. For more information, call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410. Classes include:

"Russian Language" (HR164) — Thursday, July 8 - Sept. 9, in Building 208, Room E251. Beginning classes start at 9:30 a.m., intermediate classes at 11 a.m. and advanced instruction begins at 1:30 p.m.

"Facilitating Effective Meetings" (HR636) — Thursday, July 15, 1-5 p.m., Building 201, Room 190

"Brown Bag: Procurement" (HR361) — Thursday, July 22, 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m., Building 362, Room F108.

"How to Become a Better Communicator" (HR349) — Wednesday, July 28, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Building 212, Room A157.

"Managing Effective Teams" (HR359) — Wednesday, Aug. 11, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Building 212, Room A157

"Situational Leadership" (HR360) — Wednesday, Aug. 25, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Building 201, Room 190. Register by Monday, July 26.

Retirement vendors offer
one-on-one meetings

The laboratory's retire-ment vendors will meet with employees and answer questions at Argonne-East during July.

To schedule an appoint-ment, call the number listed.

Fidelity — Tuesday, July 13. Call (800) 642-7131.

TIAA-CREF — Tuesday, July 13, and Wednesday, July 14. Call (800) 842-2005 or visit www.tiaa-cref/moc.

Prudential — Wednesday July 21, until noon. Call (847) 619-3519.

Go on the run with Argonne Running Club

The Running Club plans two events in July.

The first is a four-mile run and a two-mile walk event that begins at the Waterfall Glen trailhead at Cass ave. and the at 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, July 13.

The second, the Director's Run, is a five-kilometer run and a two-mile walk event that starts from the APS Gallery at noon on Wednesday, July 14. All site employees and guests are welcome.

ACA raffle prizes include tickets for Cubs and travel

Employees who support the Argonne Combined Appeal (ACA) during this year's raffle have the chance to win a number of prizes while donating to a good cause.

One lucky winner will take home the grand prize — two United Airlines round-trip tickets to anywhere in the continental United States.

Hard-to-find Chicago Cubs tickets are also to be raffled.

Raffle tickets will be sold during lunch in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria Tuesday, July 6, through Friday, July 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets cost 50 cents each or $5 for 12 and can also be purchased from ACA steering committee members and ACA coordinators, or at the Argonne-East picnic.

The drawing will take place at the end of the picnic on Saturday, July 10. Winners do not need to be present to claim their prizes.

The raffle funds most of the cost to run the ACA campaign, so all the money employees donate goes directly to the more than 20 different ACA organizations including the American Cancer Society, United Way and Community Health Charities of Illinois.

Other prizes include a weekday four-some with carts at Gleneagles Country Club; a one-night stay at Hyatt Hotels and Resorts; a Family Fun Pack from Suburbanite Bowl Inc.; and gift certificates to The Club House Restaurant, Sure Fire Auto Parts and the Wellness and Massage Institute.

More information about the raffle and an updated prize list can be found on the ACA home page.