The present HLW directed research portfolio is concentrated in the scientific areas of actinide chemistry, analytical chemistry and instrumentation, engineering sciences, geochemistry, hydrogeology, inorganic chemistry, materials science, and separation chemistry. More information on the Tanks Focus Area is available at the Tanks Focus Area Home Page . Within the Nuclear Materials investment portfolio, DOE funds research that advances science to solve environmental problems associated with unstable materials, such as plutonium metals and oxides, highly enriched uranium and nuclides of other actinide elements, and the long-term storage of stabilized materials. The Department funds research that advances science to solve environmental problems associated with safely and efficiently managing spent nuclear fuel from both domestic and foreign reactors. The spent fuel directed research portfolio is concentrated in analytical chemistry and instrumentation, engineering science, inorganic chemistry and, separations chemistry.
More information is available at the National Spent Nuclear Fuels Program home page .
Subsurface Contamination Research can assist the Department in solving environmental problems associated with hazardous and radioactive contaminants in soil and groundwater that exist throughout the DOE complex, including radionuclides, heavy metals, and dense, nonaqueous phase liquids. Characterization of structures and objects. Improved capabilities to understand and predict essential behaviors of complex contaminants such as organics, metals, and radionuclides in varying concentrations. This includes understanding, predicting, and monitoring dynamic transport processes in complex geology and hydrology through a wide range of spatial variation from hot spots to large plumes. Conceptual modeling capabilities for complex environments impacts from fractured rock, colloidal transport, and biological activity.