American Nuclear Society president Jim Tulenko (right) and CMT Division Director David Lewis unveil a plaque designating Building 205 a nuclear historic landmark.

Building 205 named nuclear historic landmark

By Elizabeth Quill

The American Nuclear Society named Argonne-East's Building 205, home to the Chemical Engineering Division, a Nuclear Historic Landmark at a courtyard ceremony Monday, July 19.

The award, presented by ANS President Jim Tulenko, recognizes sites and facilities that have significantly contributed to the development, implementation and peaceful use of nuclear technology.

"Nuclear energy for the power industry started here at Argonne," said David Lewis, director of the Chemical Engineering Division. "We're part of that."

In the 1960s, Building 205's Laboratory J134 was the site for the development of the processes and equipment used in Experimental Breeder Reactor-II. The facility demonstrated the melt refining process developed as part of closed fuel cycling. More than five metric tons of metal fuel were reprocessed and recycled to the reactor before 1969. Fewer than 20 years later, just down the hall in Room J118, the electrorefining process was invented for the Integral Fast Reactor.

Lewis said techniques developed in Building 205 are still used in Europe and Japan to separate spent fuel and make fresh fuel. However, the United States stopped using Argonne's procedures during the Carter Administration.

The award may recognize the building, he said, but it's these techniques that transformed nuclear technology.

"This is not a spectacular building," Lewis said. "It's bricks. It's mortar. It isn't even particularly efficient. But the people who worked here for the last 50 some years have been brilliant. It's a 'who's who' of chemical engineering applied to the nuclear industry."

Bill Miller (CMT) has worked at Argonne since 1959. Two years before his arrival, Argonne began the EBR-II project to build a fast reactor fuel-cycle facility. The purpose: to clean the fuel so that it could be reused.

"The fuel was made here," Miller said, "the process to reprocess it was developed here, and a lot of the components of the cell — the manipulator, the shielding windows — were put together and developed here."

Lewis said the nuclear industry would not be the same if it weren't for Argonne's accomplishments. The division continues to conduct spent-fuel analysis in addition to working to close the fuel cycle for the Generation IV reactors.

"This is the mothership for nuclear energy," Lewis said. "It is a big part of who we are, who we've been, and who we'll continue to be."

Building 205 is the eighth Argonne facility to be named a Nuclear Historic Landmark. The others are Chicago Pile-1 and -5, Experimental Breeder Reactor-I and _II, Experimental Boiling Water Reactor, the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source and the Materials Testing Reactor.

Recycling leadership earns award

By Dinesh Ramde

In 1993, Argonne-East disposed of almost 3,700 metric tons of sanitary waste. In 2003, because of recycling and reuse efforts, that amount was down to just 36 metric tons. In recognition of this and other effective pollution controls, Argonne-East was presented the 2004 state award for "Outstanding Government Leadership" in recycling.

The award was sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, in conjunction with the Illinois Recycling Association.

Pollution Prevention Coordinator Barbara Markwenas (PFS) said the award was well-deserved.

"We've dramatically decreased the amount of waste we have to get rid of," she said. "Since the initiatives began in 1996, we've saved about $12 million — we don't have to pay as much to send trash to landfills, and by reusing materials we buy less."

The strongest impetus for Argonne's recycling efforts was a 1996 government mandate that each U.S. Department of Energy facility reduce its regulated waste streams.  For example, the government called for a 50 percent reduction in sanitary (non-hazardous) waste by 2005.

"We've already surpassed that — we're at 77 percent," said Markwenas. Sanitary waste includes paper, toner cartridges, scrap metal and even asphalt and concrete. She said Argonne not only reduces, recycles and reuses, but also resells items such as metal and rubber for added revenue.

Michael Mitchell, executive director of the Illinois Recycling Association, said Argonne's 77 percent reduction in sanitary waste was remarkable. "State regulations dictate 33 percent recycling or better. Anything over 50 percent is extremely impressive."

Markwenas suggested that Argonne's success was due to a culture of cooperation. Upper management provided immediate support, she said, and quarterly advisory meetings allowed the Pollution Prevention Program to get the word out.

She said it's not surprising that Argonne groups have been so receptive to the pollution prevention message.

"You're generating less waste, saving money on disposal, and helping the environment. Why wouldn't employees want to be on board?" she asked.

Argonne Named Fellowships boost promising careers

Four scientists have been awarded Argonne Named Postdoctoral Fellowships in recognition of their science expertise and research promise.

The fellowships are named in honor of scientific and technical luminaries associated with Argonne, its predecessors and the University of Chicago since the 1940s. Fellowships are awarded annually to outstanding doctoral scientists and graduate engineers who are at early points in promising careers. Fellows are competitively selected by a special committee and are given the freedom of working independently or associating with Argonne scientists in a research area of common interest.

Jeff Catalano, with a Ph.D. in geological and environmental sciences from Stanford University, is the Harold Urey postdoctoral fellow in Argonne's Environmental Research Division. Catalano's academic research focused on the chemistry of uranium in highly contaminated sites. Catalano will continue this research at Argonne, using advanced X-ray scattering and spectroscopic methods at the Advanced Photon Source. He will also study the role other factors such as carbon dioxide and dissolved salts may play in the interaction.

Mike Zach, whose Ph.D. is in chemistry from the University of California, Irvine, won the Glenn Seaborg Postdoctoral Fellowship. He will be in Argonne's Materials Science Division where he will continue his work on creating nanostructures that may ultimately be used in future fuel cell-powered vehicles. At UC Irvine, Zach used a laboratory method called electrodeposition to cause dissolved metal ions to form solid nanostructures on an electrode surface. His team used this method to create the palladium nanowires that are used in the world's fastest hydrogen sensors. At Argonne, Zach is already working on a system that would perform 64 electrodeposition experiments in the same time as it took his Irvine team to do one.

Jeffrey Guest is a Ph.D. in applied physics from the University of Michigan. Guest will serve as the Arthur Holly Compton postdoctoral fellow in Argonne's Physics Division.

Guest's research at Michigan focused on the quantum-mechanical properties of virtual particles called excitons in semiconductor nanostructures. In postdoctoral work, he used lasers and magnetic fields to cool particles to near absolute zero, slowing them enough to be trapped and studied. This research may have applications in quantum computing, and in understanding strongly coupled plasmas, a state of matter that may be found in the planet Jupiter's interior.

Jake Socha earned his Ph.D. in biomechanics from the University of Chicago. He is the Ugo Fano postdoctoral fellow and is currently in the Experimental Facilities Division at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne. Socha's main interest is learning how animals work mechanically, that is, how their structure relates to function. As a doctoral student, he studied a species of snake in Southeast Asia called the flying snake, hoping to understand how a cylindrical animal could glide through the air. Some of his results are posted online.

At Argonne, Socha is using X-rays to visualize the internal mechanics of beetles to better understand how they breathe. Such research may have potential in agricultural pest control.

William Magwood (center), director of DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, tours the Advanced Photon Source with Deputy Argonne Director Don Joyce (left), and the Associate Laboratory Director Murray Gibson.

Magwood visits ANL-E

William Magwood, director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, visited Argonne-East July 20.

Senior scientists at the laboratory provided Magwood detailed briefings in the areas of advanced chemical separations, the application of advanced computer simulations to advance the deployment of nuclear energy systems, advanced nuclear systems analysis, the laboratory's materials science program, the hydrogen research program, the advanced actinide research program and achievements made by the Decision and Information Sciences Division.

Magwood was a keynote speaker and panelist at the workshop, "Enabling Our Energy Security through the Nuclear Fuel Cycle" for graduate students from the nuclear engineering departments of Big Ten schools.

Reports of large animal under investigation

Argonne-East is a haven for wildlife, from the fallow deer to red-tailed hawks. But could there be a cougar on the Argonne-East site?

There have been five reports by Argonne-East employees who have seen a large animal on the grounds or just outside the fence. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Argonne Security are investigating the reports. There is no wild population of cougars in the state, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and the animal seen at Argonne-East is likely a coyote or a bobcat, neither of which poses a threat to humans.

"As always, it's good to be cognizant of the environment in which we work and play. This is especially true for walkers and joggers who tend to use the more isolated areas of the site," said Adam Cohen, director of Environment, Safety and Health/Quality Assurance. Report unusual wildlife to the Protective Force at ext. 2-5738, or call 911.

Frontiers research highlights magazine takes first place

By Dinesh Ramde

Argonne's annual magazine of research highlights won first place in the annual report category in the National Association of Government Communicators 2003 Blue Pencil competition.

Frontiers 2003 Research Highlights was recognized for its quality and content among nationwide competition that included other national laboratories, as well as regional, state, county and city organizations.

NAGC encourages clear and straightforward communications by government organizations and its Awards of Excellence recognize significant achievement in this area.

"It was exciting to win, because I know the quality of competition," Frontiers editor Evelyn Brown (C&PA) said. "I was determined to enter after Lawrence Berkeley won first place in 2001. Their work is excellent, and I wanted to see how Argonne's publications compared."

Frontiers is published by the Communications and Public Affairs Division. Intended for a non-technical audience, it summarizes the lab's most important research of the year. Frontiers' audience includes federal and state legislators, funding agents, media and lab visitors. Each employee also receives a copy.

David Baurac, C&PA's manager of Web/external communications, and IPD contract designer Judi Damm were named as co-winners of the award. Many division employees also contributed.

Baurac praised the departmental collaboration that led to the honor.

"It was a successful team effort," he said. "We're all proud to have received the award."

"Not only does Argonne have great scientists, but this award recognizes that the lab also has excellent writers, photographers and designers," Brown said.

Brown likened Frontiers to a company's annual report. "Corporations tell their stockholders what they have done and why they should continue to invest. The laboratory owes it to the public and funding agencies to tell them how we are spending their money and why the research is important."

The winning report and the

are available online.

Combined Appeal raffle winners list posted online

Cathy Carbaugh (CHM) won the grand prize in the Argonne Combined Appeal raffle, held at the Argonne-East employee picnic July 10: a pair of United Airlines roundtrip tickets.

The raffle pays for many of the Argonne Combined Appeal (ACA) expenses. The ACA allows employees to contribute money to metropolitan Chicago's United Way/Crusade of Mercy Inc., United Way of Will County and 18 other health and welfare agencies.

Other major prize winners were Joanne Day (APS) who won four Cubs tickets, and Tom Brown (RIA) who will see the White Sox. Argonne employees won more than 30 other prizes in the raffle, ranging from gift certificates to a Weber Grill. A full list of winners and prizes is online.

Expert will demonstrate exercise equipment

Bob Perkins, a certified wellness trainer from the Total Body Fitness Center, will demonstrate the safe and proper use of all the fitness equipment in the exercise facility in Argonne-East's Building 402 Thursday, Aug. 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Perkins will also answer questions about personal fitness programs.

The exercise facility is behind the Advanced Photon Source Gallery.

Badges must be displayed at all times

Badges and site-access media must be displayed above the waist in plain view at all times while on the Argonne site.

This is a required component of the current U.S. Department of Energy security condition measures.

Scam targets U.S. Bank card holders

Some Argonne employees have received a scam e-mail message that looks like an official communication from U.S. Bank, which issues the laboratory's corporate credit cards.

The e-mail asks the recipient to click on an embedded link "to confirm your data, otherwise your access may be blocked."

U.S. Bank does not request confidential information via e-mail. Employees should not click on the link or respond; the message should be deleted or forwarded to spam@anl.gov. U.S. Bank customers who have replied to the e-mail should call (877) 595-6256.

MetLife rep to visit ANL-East

A representative from MetLife Auto and Home will visit Argonne-East Tuesday, Aug. 10, to meet with individual employees for insurance comparisons and quotes for the "METPAY" group automobile and homeowners insurance program.

To schedule an appointment, call Craig Riddick at (630) 810-0346, ext. 143. Employees can receive a quote over the phone by calling 1-800-438-6388.

Summer safety, quitting smoking topic of talks

The Argonne Medical Department will sponsor lectures on summer health and smoking cessation at Argonne-East during August. The lectures are free and registration is not necessary.

Physician Jamie Stalker (HR-MD) will present "Is It Safe to Go Outside? A Summer Survival Guide," Wednesday, Aug. 4, at noon in the Building 213 Cafeteria, Dining Rooms A and B. The talk will focus on heat, sunburn, bugs, bee stings, poison ivy and storms.

"Smoking Cessation" will be presented by R. Michael Trapp, a licensed clinical professional counselor and certified alcohol and drug counselor, Thursday, Aug. 5, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Building 200 Auditorium.