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.

Research provided definitive spectroscopic characterization, reactivity, and deactivation of a reactive monomeric diphosphine-copper hydride intermediate.

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

Developed a method for selectively anchoring diverse divalent metal cations in zeolites, important for precise control over catalytic materials.

Developed a simple kinetic framework for evaluating catalyst hydride transfer ability.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

ChemReasoner combines decades of chemistry knowledge with large language models to propose strategies for effective new catalysts.