Earth Scientist
Earth Scientist

Biography

Hilary Emerson works in the Fundamental Processes group under the Energy and Environment Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Emerson has experience in fate and remediation of radionuclides, including the actinide elements. She enjoys working on systems spanning from laboratory to field scale. Since joining PNNL in 2019, her work has focused primarily on site characterization studies and development of remediation technologies for radionuclides.

Research Interest

  • Actinide Chemistry
  • Environmental Characterization
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Remediation

Education

  • PhD in environmental engineering and science, Clemson University
  • BS in environmental engineering, University of Central Florida

Awards and Recognitions

  • Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy - Innovations in Fuel Cycle Research, awarded 2nd place for “Used Fuel Disposition” paper, 2016

Publications

2024

  • Herman S.M., E.J. Warzecha, R.E. Stene, H.P. Emerson, D.L. Arbova, C.J. Allen, and N.E. Uhnak, et al. 2024. "Evaluation of SR/ TEVA/ TRU Triple Stack for Separation of Activation Products." Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 333, no. 2024:2351-2360. PNNL-SA-191263. doi:10.1007/s10967-024-09379-9

2023

  • Delegard C.H., C.I. Pearce, and H.P. Emerson. 2023. "On Silica's Roles in Controlling Americium Migration in Contaminated Sediments." Applied Geochemistry 154. PNNL-SA-178865. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2023.105690
  • Katsenovich Y., A.A. Maria, J. Williams, S. Kandel, D. Boglaienko, H.P. Emerson, and T.G. Levitskaia. 2023. "Reductive Removal of Pertechnetate and Chromate by Zero Valent Iron under Variable Ionic Strength Conditions." Journal of Hazardous Materials 445. PNNL-SA-174414. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130546
  • Saslow S.A., E. Cordova, N.M. Escobedo Avalos, O. Qafoku, M.E. Bowden, C.T. Resch, and N. Lahiri, et al. 2023. "Accumulation mechanisms for contaminants on weak-base hybrid ion exchange resins." Journal of Hazardous Materials 459. PNNL-SA-167020. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132165
  • Saslow S.A., T.G. Levitskaia, E. Cordova, N.M. Avalos, D. Boglaienko, Y. Fang, and X. Song, et al. 2023. "Part I: Predicting Performance of Purolite A532E Resins for Remediation of Comingled Contaminants in Groundwater." Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 11, no. 3:Art. No. 109618. PNNL-SA-178092. doi:10.1016/j.jece.2023.109618
  • Saslow S.A., T.G. Levitskaia, E. Cordova, N.M. Avalos, D. Boglaienko, Y. Fang, and X. Song, et al. 2023. "Part II: Predicting Performance of DOWEX 21K Resin for Remediation of Comingled Contaminants in Groundwater." Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 11, no. 3:Art. No. 109620. PNNL-SA-178093. doi:10.1016/j.jece.2023.109620

2022

  • Baumer T., S. Hellebrandt, E. Maulden, C.I. Pearce, H.P. Emerson, M. Zavarin, and A. Kersting. 2022. "Pu distribution among mixed waste components at the Hanford legacy site, USA and implications to long-term migration." Applied Geochemistry 141. PNNL-SA-168490. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105304
  • Kandel S., Y. Katsenovich, D. Boglaienko, H.P. Emerson, and T.G. Levitskaia. 2022. "Time dependent zero valent iron oxidation and the reductive removal of pertechnetate at variable pH." Journal of Hazardous Materials 424, no. Part B:Art. No. 127400. PNNL-SA-164032. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127400
  • Mazumdar H., M. Murphy, S. Bhatkande, H.P. Emerson, D.I. Kaplan, and H. Gohel. 2022. "Optimized Machine Learning Model for Predicting Groundwater Contamination." In IEEE MetroCon, November 3, 2022, Hurst, TX, 1-3. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-178580. doi:10.1109/MetroCon56047.2022.9971133
  • Szecsody J.E., H.P. Emerson, R.D. Mackley, M. Snyder, C.T. Resch, and S.R. Baum. 2022. Characterization of Contaminants and Mobility in WMA A-AX Boreholes D0006 and D0008. PNNL-33346. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Characterization of Contaminants and Mobility in WMA A-AX Boreholes D0006 and D0008

2021

  • Emerson H.P., C.I. Pearce, C.H. Delegard, K.J. Cantrell, M. Snyder, M. Thomas, and B.N. Gartman, et al. 2021. "Influences on Subsurface Plutonium and Americium Migration." ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 5, no. 2:279-294. PNNL-SA-147891. doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.0c00277
  • Emerson H.P., J.E. Szecsody, A.R. Lawter, C.D. Halter, A.R. Mangel, E.H. Fernald, and C.T. Resch, et al. 2021. Spectral Induced Polarization-Biogeochemical Relationships for Remediation Amendment Monitoring. PNNL-30440 Rev 1. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Spectral Induced Polarization-Biogeochemical Relationships for Remediation Amendment Monitoring
  • Szecsody J.E., N. Qafoku, A.R. Lawter, R.D. Mackley, H.P. Emerson, and C.T. Resch. 2021. Laboratory Evaluation to Increase Effectiveness of Field-Scale Soil Flushing in the Hanford 100 Areas. PNNL-31980. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Laboratory Evaluation to Increase Effectiveness of Field-Scale Soil Flushing in the Hanford 100 Areas

2020

  • Boglaienko D., J.A. Soltis, R.K. Kukkadapu, Y. Du, L.E. Sweet, V.E. Holfeltz, and G.B. Hall, et al. 2020. "Spontaneous Redox Continuum Reveals Sequestered Technetium Clusters and Retarded Mineral Transformation of Iron." Communications Chemistry 3, no. 1:Article No. 87. PNNL-SA-148992. doi:10.1038/s42004-020-0334-x
  • Delegard C.H., H.P. Emerson, K.J. Cantrell, and C.I. Pearce. 2020. Generation and Characteristics of Plutonium and Americium Contaminated Soils Underlying Waste Sites at Hanford. PNNL-29203. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Generation and Characteristics of Plutonium and Americium Contaminated Soils Underlying Waste Sites at Hanford
  • Di Pietro S., H.P. Emerson, Y. Katsenovich, N. Qafoku, and J.E. Szecsody. 2020. "Phyllosilicate mineral dissolution upon alkaline treatment under aerobic and anaerobic conditions." Applied Clay Science 189. PNNL-SA-149956. doi:10.1016/j.clay.2020.105520
  • Emerson H.P., A.T. Gebru, D. Boglaienko, Y. Katsenovich, S. Kandel, and T.G. Levitskaia. 2020. "Impact of zero valent iron aging on reductive removal of technetium-99." Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 8, no. 3:Article No. 103767. PNNL-SA-149885. doi:10.1016/j.jece.2020.103767
  • Maloubier M., H.P. Emerson, K. Peruski, A. Kersting, M. Zavarin, P.M. Almond, and D.I. Kaplan, et al. 2020. "Impact of natural organic matter on plutonium vadose zone migration from an NH4Pu(V)O2CO3(s) source." Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 54, no. 5:2688-2697. PNNL-SA-145027. doi:10.1021/acs.est.9b05651
  • Szecsody J.E., H.P. Emerson, C.I. Pearce, B.N. Gartman, C.T. Resch, and S. Di Pietro. 2020. "In situ reductive dissolution to remove Iodine-129 from aquifer sediments." Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 216. PNNL-SA-142245. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106182
  • Szecsody J.E., H.P. Emerson, R.D. Mackley, C.T. Resch, B.N. Gartman, C.I. Pearce, and S.A. Saslow, et al. 2020. Evaluation of the Change in Uranium Mobility in Sediments from the Hanford 300-FF-5 Stage B Polyphosphate Field Injection. PNNL-29650. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Evaluation of the Change in Uranium Mobility in Sediments from the Hanford 300-FF-5 Stage B Polyphosphate Field Injection

2019

  • Emerson, H.P., D.I. Kaplan, and B.A. Powell. 2019. "Plutonium binding affinity to sediments increases with contact time." Chemical Geology 505, 100-107. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2018/11/009
  • Szecsody J.E., G. Wang, C.I. Pearce, A.R. Lawter, K.J. Cantrell, E. Cordova, and V.L. Freedman, et al. 2019. Evaluation of In Situ and Ex Situ Remediation Technologies for Iodine-129: Final Bench Scale Results. PNNL-28064 Rev 1.0. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Evaluation of In Situ and Ex Situ Remediation Technologies for Iodine-129: Final Bench Scale Results
  • Zengotita F., H.P. Emerson, F. Stanley, T. Dittrich, M.K. Richmann, D.T. Reed, and J. Swanson. 2019. "Potential for biocolloid transport of cesium at high ionic strength." Chemosphere 235. PNNL-SA-142323. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.06.222

2018

  • Emerson, H.P., S. Di Pietro, Y. Katsenovich, and J. Szecsody, J. 2018. "Uranium immobilization in the presence of minerals following remediation via base treatment with ammonia gas," Journal of Environmental Management 223, no. 1:108-114. doi:10:1016/jenvman.2018.06.12
  • Emerson, H.P., F. Zengotita, T. Dittrich, M. Richmann, Y. Katsenovich, and D. Reed. 2018. "Retention of neodymium by dolomite at variable ionic strength as probed by batch and column experiments," Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 190-191, 89-96. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.05.007

2017

  • Emerson, H.P., S. Di Pietro, Y. Katsenovich, and J. Szecsody. 2017. "Effect of Ammonium on Uranium Partitioning and Kaolinite Mineral Dissolution." Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 167, 150-159. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.11.029

2016

  • Emerson, H.P., K.A. Hickok, and B.A. Powell. 2016. "Experimental Evidence for Ternary Colloid-facilitated Transport of Th(IV) with Hematite (α-Fe2O3) Colloids and Suwannee River Fulvic Acid." Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 165, 168-181. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.10.001.

2015

  • Emerson, H.P. and B.A. Powell. 2015. "Observations of surface-mediated reduction of Pu(VI) to Pu(IV) on hematite nanoparticles by ATR FT-IR." Radiochimica Acta 103, no. 8:553-563. doi:10.1515/ract-2014-2372

2014

  • Emerson, H.P., A.E. Hart, J.A. Baldwin, T.C. Waterhouse, C.L. Kitchens, O.T. Mefford, and B.A. Powell. 2014. "Characterization of physical transformations of iron oxide and silver nanoparticles from an intermediate scale field transport study." Journal of Nanoparticle Research 16, no. 2. doi:10.1007/s11051-014-2258-9
  • Emerson, H.P., C. Xu, Y.-F. Ho, S. Zhang, K.A. Schwehr, M. Lilley, D.I. Kaplan, P.H. Santschi, and B.A. Powell. 2014. "Geochemical controls of iodine uptake and transport in Savannah River Site subsurface sediments." Applied Geochemistry 45, 105-113. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2014.03.002