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Bassam Jody (ES) was named a finalist of the 11th Annual Discovermagazine Awards for Technological Innovation. Jody developed a froth flotation process that separates and recovers usable hard plastics from waste streams containing mixed plastics.
The award honors those whose work improves the quality of everyday lives and alerts society to what lies ahead in the frontiers of human achievement and ingenuity.
The froth flotation process separates usable plastics from appliance and automobile scrap. After metals are removed from discarded appliances and cars, plastics such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) are separated from the leftover material. In the ABS/HIPS mixture, the plastics are placed in a solution that makes the ABS particles hydrophilic -- attracted to water -- and the HIPS particles hydrophobic -- repelled from water. The hydrophobic particles float to the top of the aqueous solution; the hydrophilic particles sink. These plastics are then collected, rinsed and dried.
This process makes it economical to separate equal-density plastics. Froth flotation can recover plastics such as ABS and HIPS at high purity so that the recovered materials can be mixed with virgin plastics to make quality products.
In the case of appliance scrap, the process can recover about 700 pounds of ABS and about 100 pounds of HIPS from each 1,000 pounds of scrap. The process could save more than 300 million pounds of usable plastic per year in the United States. Manufacturers will be able to purchase the recycled plastic at half the cost of pure plastic.
"Generation after generation left the earth pristine and functional for their descendants. We have the responsibility and know-how to leave a beautiful and unpolluted earth that our children can enjoy and live safely in," Jody said.
Jody was one of five Department of Energy researchers named either a winner or a finalist of the award. He was honored June 24 at a ceremony and technology summit at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center.
Froth flotation and other new technologies are featured inDiscover magazine's July 2000 issue.
Argonne-East received the White House "Closing the Circle"Award for its Affirmative Procurement Program. The award was created to recognize government employees whose efforts resulted in a significant benefit to the environment under "Greening the Government" Executive Order 13101.
The Affirmative Procurement Program has made it easier for Argonne employees to purchase products made with recycled materials. Also, through educational activities, the program raised awareness of recycling issues among employees. As a result, Argonne increased its purchases of products with recycled content to 70 percent in 1999, up from 42 percent in 1998 and 31 percent in 1997.
Argonne's team recognized for this achievement included Rudy Bouie (OPS), Rab Malhotra (PFS-SMO), Dennis Bugielski (OCF-PRO), James Parker (OCF-PRO), James Jakubowski (OCF-PRO), Joseph Ingraffia (OCF-PRO) and Keith Trychta (PFS-WMO). They were honored at a recent ceremony in Washington, D.C.
"Affirmative Procurement is an integral part of the laboratory's Pollution Prevention and Waste Minimization Program," Bouie said. "It enhances the laboratory's commitment to environmental quality by becoming a model consumer of environmentally preferable products."
The Affirmative Procurement Program is a laboratory-wide collaborative effort led by the Procurement Department and the Pollution Prevention Program.
Not all computer "cracking" is done with sophisticated electronic programs. Successful penetration of computer systems is sometimes done with the polite cooperation of the computer user.
A common cracking technique is to simply call a computer user, identify oneself as a member of that organization's information services department and request that user's passwords as part of an "upgrade" project. Such "spoofing" techniques can be successful if computer users let their guards down, said Computer Protection Manager Paul Krystosek (ECT).
Argonne'sElectronics and Computing Technologies Division, or any legitimate information services provider, will never request users' passwords, Krystosek said. Any employee who receives such a request should contact Argonne's Computer Protection Office immediately at ext. 2-3456.
Other computer security precautions include:
Change passwords often.
Don't
use easily-guessed passwords like pet names or children's
names.
Don't
write down passwords.
Keep all
computer equipment in a locked room or secured with a
padlocked cable.
Four Argonne employees will receive $100 cash awards through the IMPACT suggestion program for their recommendations to improve the safety, health and environment at Argonne.
Janice
Adams (PFS) recommended shipping dosimeter badges in sealed,
secured envelopes to reduce the chances of losing badges.
Steve
Bengtson (PFS) suggested that the light fixture in Building
202, substation A, be adjusted to keep the door from hitting
it.
Raymond
Wolson (CMT) suggested modifying the handrails and doorstop
in Building 205 (stairwells 1 and 2) to prevent possible
injuries.
Lynn
Welsh (OPS) suggested installing "No Parking"
signs on Inner Circle Road near the Credit Union to reduce
visual hazards when turning onto Inner Circle Road.
The IMPACT Suggestion Program provides an opportunity for employees to voice their concerns about safety, health, productivity and cost savings improvements at Argonne. For more information, contact Judy Knox at ext. 2-8591.
One lucky employee in the Argonne Combined Appeal raffle will win two round-trip tickets on United Airlines to anywhere United flies in the 48 continental states.
Tickets for the Argonne Combined Appeal's (ACA) annual raffle will be on sale daily from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria through Friday, July 7. Tickets are 25 cents each or five for $1.
Tickets will also be available from ACA steering committee members, ACA coordinators and at the Argonne-East employee picnic Saturday, July 8.
This year's prizes include tickets to Second City in Chicago, gift certificates to restaurants including Maggiano's and Carriage Green Country Club, movie passes to Yorktown General Cinema and Loew's-Cineplex Odeon-Sony theatres and subscriptions to the 2000-2001 season at the Theatre of Western Springs. Other prizes include a weekend night for two at the Hyatt Oak Brook and gift certificates to Jewel/Osco and Walgreens.
The drawing will be held at the July 8 picnic. Winners do not need to be present to win.
The Combined Appeal provides employees with a way to contribute to the Metropolitan Chicago United Way/Crusade of Mercy, United Way Will County and many other charities. The raffle funds the cost of running the campaign.
For more information on the combined appeal see the ACA home page at http://www.anl.gov/ACA/aca-home.html.
This summer, Argonne-East will once again participate in ComEd's energy conservation program. Under this program, Argonne will save energy and be compensated for each kilowatt saved.
When ComEd notifies Argonne officials to reduce electrical use, an announcement will be made over the public address system asking employees to turn off non-essential lighting, computers and other equipment for periods lasting two to six hours.
To date, Argonne has received about $750,000 from ComEd for reducing energy use. Last year, Argonne received a refund of $111,000.
This is Argonne's eighth year participating in ComEd's program to reduce power consumption in the summertime.
The Argonne Guest House Restaurant holds a lunchtime barbecue each Wednesday, rain or shine during the summer.
Prices range from $4.95 to $9.95 and entrees include ribs, rib-eye steak and other items. Salad only is $5.95.
Lunch hours are 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
A representative from the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company ("MetLife") will visit Argonne-East on three consecutive Tuesdays, July 11, 18, and 25, to meet with individual employees for insurance comparisons and quotes for the "METPAY" group automobile and homeowners insurance program.
To schedule an appointment, call (630) 810-0346, ext. 143. Before each appointment, employees should fax their auto policy renewal statements to Craig Riddick at (630) 810-1628.
Human Resources will hold several classes in June.
"Time
Management" (HR486) -- Participants will assess their
current time management habits and learn techniques to help
manage time more effectively. Wednesday, July 26, 1 p.m. - 5
p.m. in Building 201, Room 274.
"Russian
Language" (HR164) -- This course offers beginning and
intermediate coverage of reading, writing and speaking the
Russian language. It will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays
beginning Tuesday, July 11, in Building 208, Room A262. A
beginning class starts at 10 a.m. and an intermediate class
starts at 11:30 a.m.
"The
Brown Bag Lunch Seminar: Successful Self-Management"
(HR237) -- Participants will learn a logical five-step plan
for improving personal productivity, accomplishments and
satisfaction. Tuesday, July 25, 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m. in
Building 201, Room 238.
To enroll, contact a Training Management System representative. For more information, call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410, or visit the HR web site.
Electronics and Computing Technologies will offer several computer software classes during July.
Unless otherwise noted, classes will be held in Building 221, Room A142, are limited to 10 participants and cost $195.
Full class descriptions and schedules are available on-line. For more information, call Diane Cavazos (ECT) at ext. 2-7153 or send e-mail todkcavazos@anl.gov.
Microsoft Outlook 2000 (ECT377) -- Monday, July 10,
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Introduction Word 2000 (ECT369) -- Tuesday, July 11,
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Introduction Access Version 2000 (ECT371) -- Thursday, July 13,
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Class size limited to eight.
Introduction Excel 2000 (ECT370) -- Wednesday, July 12,
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Introduction PowerPoint 2000 (ECT372) -- Friday, July 14,
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Cost: $135.
Intermediate PowerPoint 2000 (ECT373) -- Friday, July 14,
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cost: $135.
