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

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.

PNNL researchers Daniel Deng and Yehia Ibrahim join the 2025 class of National Academy of Inventors Fellows.

A low-temperature, single-stage catalytic process converts PVC and polyolefin into valuable alkanes.

A comprehensive investigation provides quantitative data on the interaction between zeolite pores and linear alcohols, with hydroxyl group interactions playing the largest role.

Nanoscale domains of magnetically susceptible critical materials encounter enhanced magnetic interactions under external magnetic fields, providing a promising new avenue for separations.

The size of graphene oxide sheets affects the ability of assembled membranes and adsorbents to separate rare earth elements.

After isolating copper hydride monomers, researchers identified the mechanistic details of catalyst aggregation and cluster formation.

Directionally biased electrostatic interactions are the key to significantly tuning the reduction potential of iron/sulfur clusters.

The low-temperature breakdown of polyolefins is driven by carbenium ions generated from chloroaluminate ionic liquids.

A PNNL team has developed an energy- and chemical-efficient method of separating valuable critical minerals from dissolved solutions of rare earth element magnets.

Surface manganese mining from nodules in South Dakota is now possible with a new scalable selective precipitation process.

PNNL chemical engineer Mariefel Olarte shares passion for mentoring students and the next-generation workforce.

Cobalt substitution for magnesium in a model mafic mineral dramatically slows reaction with carbon dioxide to form a cobalt-doped carbonate.

Precipitation with sodium hydroxide in a flow-gel device enables the rapid extraction of magnesium from seawater in a new scalable process.

Tuning the environment of supported palladium atoms with hydrogen treatment enhances their catalytic activity.

A switchable single-atom catalyst is activated in the presence of surface intermediates and reverts to its stable inactive form when the reaction is completed.

Increasing the concentration of ions in zeolite micropores leads to a significant increase in the rate of acid catalyzed reactions.

Electronic modifications from hydrogen spillover onto the oxide support increase the activity of single-atom rhodium catalysts.