Research
Highlights...
|
Ames' Corbett now relishes 'old man' role.
See below.
|
|
|
|
 |
| Number 46 |
January 10, 2000 |
| A cleaner fuel
Increasingly stringent standards for vehicle sulfur emissions could be met with a new process being developed by researchers at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Petro Star in Alaska. The novel chemical-biological process could result in ultra-clean fuels with sulfur contents of less than 30 parts per million (ppm) compared to the 300 ppm of today's fuels. The Petro Star/ORNL process involves partially oxidizing the sulfur chemically, then extracting the sulfur using a solvent. Then, genetically engineered microbes further reduce the amount of sulfur in the petroleum feed stocks. Researchers are studying the amount of energy the bacteria require and whether the process will be economical compared with existing approaches.
[Ron Walli, 423/576-0226, wallira@ornl.gov]
Better "bugs" lead to cheaper ethanol from biomass
Continued advances in genetic engineering are at the heart of two agreements that could further bring down the cost of making ethanol from biomass and boost the U.S. biofuels industry. A new cooperative research and development agreement and licensing agreement have been signed between DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Arkenol Holdings. The agreements focus on developing new strains of genetically altered bacteria for use in converting rice straw to ethanol at a planned Arkenol refinery in Sacramento, Calif. NREL and Arkenol researchers point out that such new bacteria strains also could be used to bring down the cost of chemicals and products from other biomass feedstocks.
[Patrick Summers, 303/275-4050, patrick_summers@nrel.gov]
Fermilab Sets New Schedule for Collider Run II
Scientists are augmenting their research with "hands-on" installation shifts at the massive DZero and CDF detectors, as DOE's Fermilab gears up for final preparations of Collider Run II at the Tevatron in early 2001. The world's highest-energy particle accelerator, the Tevatron was slated to get back to work colliding beams of protons and antiprotons late this year. But upgrades and additions amounting to the reinvention of the intricate systems within the 5,000-ton detectors have taken longer than anticipated. "Both of these detectors have brand-new systems that no one has ever built before," said Director Michael Witherell. "We have invented the institution of the international detector collaboration to build these multi-kiloton 'Swiss watches.'"
[Mike Perricone 630/840-5678 mikep@fnal.gov]
How cells "catch" a cold
Achoo! Scientists at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory have taken what could
be the first step toward finding a cure for the common cold. Using X-ray
crystallography at Brookhaven's National Synchrotron Light Source, the
researchers deciphered the molecular mechanism by which one type of cold
virus binds to human cells. Since that binding is the first step in
infection, finding a way to block it could bring relief to runny noses
everywhere. The finding could also lead to targeted vaccines, a better
understanding of how viruses evolve, and advances in gene therapy.
[Karen McNulty, 631/344-8350, kmcnulty@bnl.gov]
On the track of wildfire pollutants
Researchers at DOE's Los Alamos National Laboratory are developing a wildfire chemistry model to track some longer-range effects of these catastrophes. The scheme to track volatile organics released into the atmosphere from wood heating and burn simulations will allow computation of gas and smoke emissions from wildfires. These results, added to Los Alamos' wildfire model developed for fire safety applications, will allow prediction of effects on the air at a wide variety of distances.
[Kay Roybal, 505/665-0582., k_roybal@lanl.gov]
Sneak peeks leading to safer munitions handling
X-ray images tell the dentist whether or not to drill your teeth, and can also tell you whether or not it's safe to move an explosive. Researchers bombard an ordnance with X-rays on a portable turning platform and use sophisticated computer programs to assimilate thousands of pieces of data, creating two- and three-dimensional images so exact that a hairline fracture on the detonator of a bomb can be seen as easily as your cavity. New portable digital imaging technologies that can by used by police forces or the military are being developed as part of a cooperative research and education partnership between DOE's Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory and Idaho State University.
[Deborah Hill, 208/526-4723, dahill@inel.gov]
|
|
The 'Old Man' and the 'Sea
|
|
John Corbett
|
John Corbett chuckles as he notes that he always considered the American Chemical Society's award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry to be the "old man's award."
That is, until he was chosen as the next recipient.
"Longevity has something to do with this," says Corbett, a senior chemist at DOE's Ames Laboratory since 1963. "It helps to be healthy for a long time."
But his colleagues say the award recognizes far more than longevity. They note that the 73-year-old Corbett continues to be one of the most visible, productive chemists in the inorganic community and one of the nation's foremost authorities in synthetic solid-state chemistry.
During his 47-year career, Corbett has made groundbreaking discoveries about the existence, bonding, structures and properties of many new compounds, thereby adding new depth to the sea of scientific knowledge.
"We've been extending chemistry, trying to show what's new and what's possible," Corbett says. "There are zillions of solid-state compounds left to be discovered, and you cannot predict ahead of time what you will find or what will be useful."
When Corbett's career began in 1952, the field of solid-state inorganic chemistry was virtually nonexistent. Corbett has helped it to grow through his research as well as the classroom. He holds a distinguished professorship at Iowa State University where he has trained students who have gone on to teach throughout the world.
"It's gratifying to know that I've helped nucleate a lot of solid-state chemistry in this country at academic institutions concerned with fundamental research," he says.
Corbett will receive the award at the annual ACS meeting in March 2000. And then he will return, as always, to his work.
"We're discovering lots of novel and significant things," he notes. "And if you're also having fun and you feel good, why quit?"
Submitted by
DOE's Ames Lab
|
| |
|