Clemson Gets Part of Radioactive Waste Research Grant

A team of environmental scientists and engineers from Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and South Carolina State University, led by Clemson University associate professor Brian Powell, was awarded a three-year, $5.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research to make a direct positive impact on South Carolina in the advancement of monitoring, remediation and disposal of radioactive contaminants.

“Understanding the scientific and engineering needs for safely and adequately dealing with environmental aspects of nuclear technologies is imperative if South Carolina is to make a positive and meaningful contribution to the future of nuclear energy,” said Powell.

Brian Powell and student Todd Miller examine data from an experiment monitoring radionuclide transport through soils.

The objective of the project is to address key scientific issues identified by several Department of Energy (DOE) programs that limit the present understanding of radionuclide behavior in natural and engineered systems in support of closure of DOE legacy weapons production sites, disposal of radioisotope-bearing wastes and disposal of spent nuclear fuel from commercial energy production.

The key issues to be addressed include identifying source terms for contaminants in geologic disposal scenarios, determining the chemical speciation of contaminants, delineating the biogeochemical and physical processes through which contaminant transport is manifested, and predicting contaminant mobility across wide temporal and spatial scales.

To address the multidisciplinary nature of these problems, the research team members have expertise in nuclear engineering, radiochemistry, health physics, plant physiology, environmental science, hydrogeology, geophysics, computational modeling and civil engineering.

Brian Powell and student Amy Hixon prepare soil suspensions from the Savannah River Site for radionuclide uptake tests.

“Through this grant, we will produce intellectual capital, establish a research testbed capable of monitoring radionuclide transport through waste forms and soils, and develop highly integrative reactive transport models,” Powell said.

“Due to the high level of nuclear-related activities within the state of South Carolina, having educational and research programs to support these activities is critical for economic development,” he said.

The scope and potential impacts of this work are consistent with the South Carolina Vision 2025 plan to advance the state’s capacity in science and technology by developing nationally and globally competitive, multi-disciplinary research centers to “address complex problems and opportunities that are unique to South Carolina.”