To Clean It Up, First Understand How It Works

The recent oil spill off the coast of Spain pointed up yet again the complexities associated with isolating and removing pollutants, whether in water, in air, or in the ground. The problems posed by some environmental contaminants might appear nearly intractable, as illustrated by the political controversy over the designation of a permanent nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada, still not yet fully resolved after 21 years. The Center for Environmental Molecular Science (CEMS), recently funded at a level of $5.7 million over 5 years by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy, aims to bring a new scientific approach to these types of problems. Only one other new center was funded this year.

The diversity and chemical complexity inherent in the natural systems that are affected by pollution is a key factor that hinders solutions. Developing effective responses thus depends on arriving at a fundamental understanding of the processes and reaction mechanisms that govern contaminant fate. The detailed study of the molecular processes underlying contaminant sequestration in natural and engineered systems constitutes CEMS' central focus. This entails investigating the behavior of contaminants in the soil and how they affect the environment. This will be achieved by examining systems that occur naturally in the environment and also materials that have been specifically engineered to absorb pollutants.To achieve these goals, a uniquely wide cross-section of disciplines has been mobilized to undertake research in the Center, including Geosciences, where the director and several investigators reside, but also Chemistry, Marine Sciences, Materials Science, and Physics, as well as environmental scientists at nearby Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Among the prospective results of the Center's research programs are designed or tailored materials for specific clean-up and waste disposal tasks, to provide improved remediation techniques, materials for permanent waste storage and measures that limit corrosion of waste containers, one of the critical concerns in the Yucca Mountain debate. Tailoring a material to achieve a desired property also requires understanding at a molecular level.

In addition to the scientific goals, there will also be a major commitment to educational and outreach efforts in the area of environmental science, which will be focused at high school and undergraduate students as well as toward the local community.

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