Amine functionalized graphene oxide yields laminates with an enhanced capacity to adsorb rare earth elements, improved water transport, and greater stability for effective membrane-based separation of critical minerals.

Five PNNL innovations earned 2026 R&D 100 Awards for advances in biotechnology, manufacturing, critical minerals, and nuclear security.

PNNL has formed a partnership with the Orlando-based firm Refinity, which has licensed a key process from PNNL that will help the company convert mixed plastic waste into valuable industrial products like chemicals, plastics, and fuels.

Replacing commercial acid with acidic waste enables researchers to improve nickel extraction efficiency, lower projected costs, and improve process economics.

Connecting energy generation, electricity storage, and using sensors and control software to track load, including precommercial market marine energy generation technologies.

Localized gradients in magnetic fields have long-range effects on the concentration of rare earth ions in solution, facilitating field-driven extraction of critical minerals.

Studying a series of rare earth element compounds revealed differences in their magnetic behavior that will be leveraged for separations.

Soil mineral preferentially incorporates rare earth elements based on size, with implications for critical mineral extraction.

The first tidal turbine deployed in the Pacific Northwest at PNNL-Sequim showcases the Lab’s growing role as a regional center for marine energy research.

The 2024 State of the Science Report on environmental effects of marine renewable energy research has been released.

Recycling polyolefin materials is challenging. One waste management strategy is plastic upcycling. New work demonstrates a single-step upcycling route coupling cracking and alkylation, recycling carbon and keeping valuable resources active.

PNNL signs memorandum of understanding with Oregon State University to support marine science and technology advancements.

PNNL convenes ocean leaders to tackle climate challenges and support the Ocean Climate Action Plan.

A PNNL innovation uses steam to recover heat from the high-temperature reactor effluent in the HTL process, substantially reducing the propensity for fouling and potentially reducing costs.

A Triton Story highlights the Triton Initiative's holistic marine energy environmental monitoring research, including considerations for energy sustainability and life cycle assessment next steps.

The Triton Initative discusses special issue publications from the Triton Field Trials on environmental monitoring recommendations for marine energy applications.

New report takes a comprehensive look at offshore aquaculture as a market for marine energy.

Triton project coordinator Nicole Loosveldt supports marine energy environmental monitoring technology development projects for marine energy.

This Triton Story discusses the many types of marine energy devices and the Triton Field Trials environmental monitoring research around wave, tidal, and riverine energy devices.

Ocean engineer Emma Cotter supports the Triton Initiative's environmental monitoring projects.