Chemist
Chemist

Biography

Matthew Asmussen is a chemist in the Radiological Materials group at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). He joined PNNL in October 2014 after receiving his PhD in chemistry from the University of Western Ontario (Canada). His primary research interests are in nuclear waste form development, durability, disposal, and modeling; glass, cementitious, ceramic, and metallic waste forms; radionuclide remediation technologies; nuclear waste canister corrosion (e.g., used fuel, krypton) repository sciences; radioiodine behavior, capture, and disposal; power-to-product conversion processes; electrochemical seawater conversions (e.g., lithium, electrolysis, and electrofuels); and corrosion science and geological carbon dioxide sequestration.

He also has experience and has published works related to corrosion, fuel cells, solar cells, nanomaterial synthesis, wastewater treatment, lightweight alloys, and nuclear waste management.

Since 2018, Asmussen has served as principal investigator of PNNL’s Integrated Disposal Facility Performance Assessment program, supporting the development, testing, disposal, and modeling of low-level/low-activity waste forms for the Hanford Site. Asmussen has also served as an expert on waste form behavior supporting review teams at the Hanford Site, the National Academy of Sciences, and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

He also has experience in a wide range of analytical techniques such as SEM/XEDS/FIB, CLSM, XRD, TEM, XPS, ToF-SIMS, COD, Auger spectroscopy, optical microscopy, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, ICP, UV-Vis, cement characterization, digital autoradiography, and liquid scintillation. Additionally, he has a wealth of experience with electrochemical techniques and analysis such as CV, LPR, EIS, CA/CP, SECM, MEC, galvanic coupling, and in situ ATR-FTIR. In his spare time, he enjoys playing hockey, biking, spending time at the lake, and cooking.

Research Interest

  • Nuclear waste forms (cementitious, grout, glass, ceramic, metallic)
  • Radioiodine
  • Safe nuclear waste disposal
  • Electrochemistry
  • Seawater extraction
  • Corrosion science
  • Hydrogen

Education

  • PhD, Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, 2014
  • MS, Chemistry, Lakehead University, 2009
  • BS, Chemistry, Lakehead University, 2007

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • Member of ASTM International
  • Member of the Electrochemical Society
  • Member of NACE (National Association of Corrosion Engineers)
  • Member of the International Society of Electrochemistry
  • Founding member of the NACE Southern Ontario Student Chapter
  • Chair of the 2016 Gordon Research Seminar in Aqueous Corrosion

Awards and Recognitions

  • ASTM International Emerging Professional Award, April 2019
  • DOE Office of River Protection, Grand Challenge Winner, June 2018
  • Award of Appreciation, ASTM International, January 2018
  • Superior Paper Award, WM Symposium, July 2015

Publications

2024

  • Asmussen S.E., R.M. Asmussen, A.P. Goulet, R.W. Shimskey, and B.D. Hanson. 2024. "The Effect of Cerium, Neodymium, and Ytterbium Doping on UO2 Dissolution." Journal of Nuclear Materials 591. PNNL-SA-183605. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2024.154916
  • Evarts J.S., S. Chong, J.M. Oshiro, B.J. Riley, R.M. Asmussen, and J.S. McCloy. 2024. "Ceramic-metal (cermet) composites: A review of key properties and synthesis methods focused on nuclear waste immobilization." Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 63, no. 14:6003-6023. PNNL-SA-191155. doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.3c04450
  • Kerisit S.N., J.J. Neeway, C.E. Lonergan, B. Parruzot, J. Crum, R.C. Daniel, and G.L. Smith, et al. 2024. "Application of the Immobilized Low-Activity Waste Glass Corrosion Model to the Static Dissolution of 24 Statistically-Designed Alkali-Borosilicate Waste Glasses." Journal of Nuclear Materials 592. PNNL-SA-191827. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2024.154968
  • Riley B.J., C.L. Beck, J.S. Evarts, S. Chong, A.M. Lines, H.M. Felmy, and J. Mcfarlane, et al. 2024. "Analytical capabilities for iodine detection: Review of possibilities for different applications." AIP Advances 14, no. 8:Art. No. 080701. PNNL-SA-195189. doi:10.1063/5.0208591

2023

  • Asmussen R.M., A.M. Westesen, E. Cordova, A. Fujii Yamagata, P.P. Schonewill, A.C. Moore, and A. Bourchy, et al. 2023. "Iodine Removal from Carbonate-Containing Alkaline Liquids using Strong Base Resins, Hybrid Resins, and Silver Precipitation." Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 62, no. 7:3271-3281. PNNL-SA-178096. doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.2c03527
  • Lu D., and R.M. Asmussen. 2023. A Lithium Feedstock Pathway: Coupled Electrochemical Saltwater Extraction and Direct Battery Materials Manufacturing. PNNL-35098. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. A Lithium Feedstock Pathway: Coupled Electrochemical Saltwater Extraction and Direct Battery Materials Manufacturing
  • Neeway J.J., J. Reiser, S.N. Kerisit, R.A. Reyes, R.C. Daniel, G.L. Smith, and R.M. Asmussen, et al. 2023. "Effect of composition on the corrosion behavior of 24 statistically-designed alkali-borosilicate waste glasses." Journal of Nuclear Materials 586. PNNL-SA-185207. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2023.1546742022

2022

  • Asmussen R.M., J. Turner, S. Chong, and B.J. Riley. 2022. "Review of recent developments in iodine wasteform production." Frontiers in Chemistry 10. PNNL-SA-176905. doi:10.3389/fchem.2022.1043653
  • Chong S., B.J. Riley, R.M. Asmussen, A. Fujii Yamagata, J. Marcial, S. Lee, and C. Burns. 2022. "Iodine capture with metal-functionalized polyacrylonitrile composite beads containing Ag0, Bi0, Cu0, or Sn0 particles." ACS Applied Polymer Materials 4, no. 12:9040-9051. PNNL-SA-174578. doi:10.1021/acsapm.2c01407
  • Demarest C., R.M. Asmussen, and J.R. Scully. 2022. "Pitting Propagation Behavior on Low Alloy AISI 4130 (UNS G41300) Steel Exposed to Various Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metal Chlorides." Corrosion 78, no. 7:634-649. PNNL-SA-169744. doi:10.5006/4042
  • Fujii Yamagata A.L., S.A. Saslow, J.J. Neeway, T. Varga, L.R. Reno, Z. Zhu, and K.A. Rod, et al. 2022. "The Behavior of Iodine in Stabilized Granular Activated Carbon and Silver Mordenite in Cementitious Waste Forms." Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 244-245. PNNL-SA-165944. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106824
  • Parruzot B., J. Crum, J. Reiser, J.J. Neeway, S.N. Kerisit, R.C. Daniel, and J.F. Bonnett, et al. 2022. "Effect of zeolite type, temperature, and pH on Stage III glass alteration behavior for two nuclear waste glasses." Journal of Nuclear Materials 567. PNNL-SA-166084. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153717
  • Reiser J., A.R. Lawter, N.M. Avalos, J.F. Bonnett, B.J. Riley, S. Chong, and N.L. Canfield, et al. 2022. "Review and Experimental Comparison of the Durability of Iodine Waste Forms in Semi-Dynamic Leach Testing." Chemical Engineering Journal Advances 11. PNNL-SA-165785. doi:10.1016/j.ceja.2022.100300
  • Ryan J.V., S.K. Cooley, B. Parruzot, J. Reiser, C.L. Corkhill, J. Du, and K. Ferrand, et al. 2022. Stirred-Reactor Coupon Analysis: An International Round Robin Study. PNNL-33141. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Stirred-Reactor Coupon Analysis: An International Round Robin Study

2021

  • Adiga P.P., N. Doi, C. Wong, D.M. Santosa, L. Kuo, G.A. Gill, and J.A. Silverstein, et al. 2021. "The Influence of Transitional Metal Dopants on Reducing Chlorine Evolution During the Electrolysis of Raw Seawater." Applied Sciences 11, no. 24:Art. No. 11911. PNNL-SA-165321. doi:10.3390/app112411911
  • Asmussen R.M., S.A. Saslow, G.L. Smith, A. Bourchy, J.J. Neeway, A. Fujii Yamagata, and R. Nichols, et al. 2021. Evaluation of Degradation Mechanisms for Solid Secondary Waste Grout Waste Forms. PNNL-32458. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Evaluation of Degradation Mechanisms for Solid Secondary Waste Grout Waste Forms
  • Crum J.V., J. Reiser, B. Parruzot, J.J. Neeway, J.F. Bonnett, S.N. Kerisit, and S.K. Cooley, et al. 2021. "Seeded Stage III Glass Dissolution Behavior of a Statistically Designed Glass Matrix." Journal of the American Ceramic Society 104, no. 8:4145-4162. PNNL-SA-155214. doi:10.1111/jace.17823
  • Gillispie E.C., S.T. Mergelsberg, T. Varga, S.M. Webb, N.M. Avalos, M. Snyder, and A. Bourchy, et al. 2021. "Competitive TcO4-, IO3-, and CrO42- Incorporation into Ettringite." Environmental Science & Technology 55, no. 2:1057-1066. PNNL-SA-151816. doi:10.1021/acs.est.0c06707
  • Riley B.J., S. Chong, R.M. Asmussen, A. Bourchy, and M.H. Engelhard. 2021. "Polyacrylonitrile composites of Ag-Al-Si-O aerogels and xerogels as iodine and iodide sorbents." ACS Applied Polymer Materials 3, no. 7:3344-3353. PNNL-SA-158597. doi:10.1021/acsapm.1c00237

2020

  • Asmussen R.M., and J.J. Neeway. 2020. "The Sporadic History of Rubidium and its Role in Corrosion of Steel Related to Nuclear Material Storage." Journal of Nuclear Materials 530. PNNL-SA-142841. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.151914
  • Asmussen R.M., S.A. Saslow, J.J. Neeway, A.L. Fujii Yamagata, A. Bourchy, T. Varga, and K.A. Rod, et al. 2020. Development and Characterization of Cementitious Waste Forms for Immobilization of Granular Activated Carbon, Silver Mordenite, and HEPA Filter Media Solid Secondary Waste. PNNL-28545 Rev 1.0. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Development and Characterization of Cementitious Waste Forms for Immobilization of Granular Activated Carbon, Silver Mordenite, and HEPA Filter Media Solid Secondary Waste
  • Asmussen R.M., S.K. Cooley, and N.M. Avalos. 2020. Round Robin Summary for ASTM Method C1733. PNNL-30717. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Round Robin Summary for ASTM Method C1733
  • Asmussen R.M., T.G. Levitskaia, C. Bottenus, and M.S. Fountain. 2020. Iodine Speciation Basis and Gap Analysis for Hanford Tank Farm Inventory and during Processing. PNNL-30105. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Iodine Speciation Basis and Gap Analysis for Hanford Tank Farm Inventory and during Processing
  • Chong S., B.J. Riley, R.M. Asmussen, A.R. Lawter, S. Bruffey, J. Nam, and J.S. McCloy, et al. 2020. "Iodosodalite synthesis with hot isostatic pressing of precursors produced from aqueous and hydrothermal processes." Journal of Nuclear Materials 538. PNNL-SA-149138. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152222
  • Lawter A.R., N.M. Avalos, J.F. Bonnett, N.L. Canfield, M.E. Bowden, L.M. Seymour, and S.A. Saslow, et al. 2020. Iodine Waste Form Corrosion: PNNL Summary Testing Report. PNNL-30127. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Iodine Waste Form Corrosion: PNNL Summary Testing Report
  • Moore R.C., C.I. Pearce, J.W. Morad, S. Chatterjee, T.G. Levitskaia, R.M. Asmussen, and A.R. Lawter, et al. 2020. "Iodine Immobilization by Materials through Sorption and Redox-Driven Processes: A Literature Review." Science of the Total Environment 716. PNNL-SA-138461. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.166
  • Pearce C.I., R.C. Moore, J.W. Morad, R.M. Asmussen, S. Chatterjee, A.R. Lawter, and T.G. Levitskaia, et al. 2020. "Technetium Immobilization by Materials through Sorption and Redox-Driven Processes: A Literature Review." Science of the Total Environment 716. PNNL-SA-138464. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.195
  • Saslow S.A., S.N. Kerisit, T. Varga, S.T. Mergelsberg, C.L. Corkhill, M. Snyder, and N.M. Avalos, et al. 2020. "Immobilizing Pertechnetate in Ettringite via Sulfate Substitution." Environmental Science & Technology 54, no. 21:13610-13618. PNNL-SA-147963. doi:10.1021/acs.est.0c03119

2019

  • Asmussen R.M., J. Matyas, N. Qafoku, and A.A. Kruger. 2019. "Silver-Functionalized Silica Aerogels and Their Application in the Removal of Iodine from Aqueous Environments." Journal of Hazardous Materials 379. PNNL-SA-129580. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.04.081
  • Asmussen R.M., J.V. Ryan, J. Matyas, J.V. Crum, J. Reiser, N.M. Avalos, and E.M. McElroy, et al. 2019. "Investigating the Durability of Iodine Waste Forms in Dilute Conditions." Materials 12, no. 5:Article No. 686. PNNL-SA-140280. doi:10.3390/ma12050686
  • Asmussen R.M., S.A. Saslow, J.J. Neeway, J.H. Westsik, K.A. Rod, C.E. Lonergan, and B.R. Johnson. 2019. Development and Characterization of Cementitious Waste Forms for Immobilization of Granular Activated Carbon, Silver Mordenite, and HEPA Filter Media Solid Secondary Waste. PNNL-28545. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Development and Characterization of Cementitious Waste Forms for Immobilization of Granular Activated Carbon, Silver Mordenite, and HEPA Filter Media Solid Secondary Waste
  • Asmussen R.M., Y. Fang, G.D. Tartakovsky, X. Song, J.H. Westsik, and G.L. Smith. 2019. Performance Metric for Cementitious Waste Form Inventory Release in the Integrated Disposal Facility. PNNL-28992. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Performance Metric for Cementitious Waste Form Inventory Release in the Integrated Disposal Facility
  • Kroll J.O., J.V. Crum, B.J. Riley, J.J. Neeway, R.M. Asmussen, and M. Liezers. 2019. "Synthesis of Nd3BSi2O10 using a LiCl-flux method." Journal of Nuclear Materials 515. PNNL-SA-133296. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2018.12.016
  • Neeway J.J., R.M. Asmussen, E.M. McElroy, J.A. Peterson, B.J. Riley, and J.V. Crum. 2019. "Kinetics of Oxyapatite [Ca2Nd8(SiO4)6O2] and Powellite [(Ca,Sr,Ba)MoO4] Dissolution in Glass-Ceramic Nuclear Waste Forms in Acidic, Neutral, and Alkaline Conditions." Journal of Nuclear Materials 515. PNNL-SA-138113. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2018.12.043
  • Saslow S.A., M. Snyder, B.D. Williams, R.M. Asmussen, S.R. Baum, I.I. Leavy, and T. Varga. 2019. Leach Testing of Laboratory-Scale Melter Evaporator Condensate Cementitious Waste Forms. PNNL-28917. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Leach Testing of Laboratory-Scale Melter Evaporator Condensate Cementitious Waste Forms

2018

  • Bacon D.H., P.D. Meyer, J.J. Neeway, Y. Fang, R.M. Asmussen, and C.E. Strickland. 2018. Field-Scale Lysimeter Studies of Low-Activity Waste Form Degradation. PNNL-27394. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
  • Lawter A.R., N. Qafoku, R.M. Asmussen, R.K. Kukkadapu, O. Qafoku, D.H. Bacon, and C.F. Brown. 2018. "Element mobilization and immobilization from carbonate rocks between CO2 storage reservoirs and the overlying aquifers during a potential CO2 leakage." Chemosphere 197. PNNL-SA-125304. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.12.199
  • Neeway J.J., P.C. Rieke, B. Parruzot, J.V. Ryan, and R.M. Asmussen. 2018. "The Dissolution Behavior of Borosilicate Glasses in Far-From Equilibrium Conditions." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 226. PNNL-SA-126627. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2018.02.001
  • Neeway J.J., R.M. Asmussen, E. Cordova, C.E. Lonergan, B.D. Williams, I.I. Leavy, and E.M. Mcelroy. 2018. FY2017 ILAW Glass Corrosion Testing with the Single-Pass Flow-Through Method. PNNL-27098. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. FY2017 ILAW Glass Corrosion Testing with the Single-Pass Flow-Through Method
  • Pearce C.I., J.P. Icenhower, R.M. Asmussen, P.G. Tratnyek, K.M. Rosso, W.W. Lukens, and N. Qafoku. 2018. "Technetium stabilization in low solubility sulfide phases: A review." ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 2, no. 6:532-547. PNNL-SA-132805. doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.8b00015
  • Pearce C.I., R.J. Serne, S.A. Saslow, W. Um, R.M. Asmussen, M.D. Miller, and O. Qafoku, et al. 2018. "Characterizing Technetium in Subsurface Sediments for Contaminant Remediation." ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 2, no. 11:1145-1160. PNNL-SA-130781. doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.8b00077
  • Pearce C.I., S.A. Saslow, R.M. Asmussen, W. Um, J.N. Serne, M.D. Miller, and O. Qafoku, et al. 2018. "Exploiting Knowledge of Technetium in the Subsurface to Develop Remediation Strategies - 18223." In Proceedings of the 44th Annual Waste Management Conference (WM2018), Nuclear and Industrial Robotics, Remote Systems and Other Emerging Technology, March 18-22, 2018, Phoenix, AZ, 8, 5082-5090. Tempe, Arizona:Waste Management Symposia, Inc. PNNL-SA-130601.
  • Peterson J.A., J.V. Crum, B.J. Riley, R.M. Asmussen, and J.J. Neeway. 2018. "Synthesis and characterization of oxyapatite [Ca2Nd8(SiO4)6O2] and mixed-alkaline-earth powellite [(Ca,Sr,Ba)MoO4] for a glass-ceramic waste form." Journal of Nuclear Materials 510. PNNL-SA-133874. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2018.08.048
  • Saslow S.A., W. Um, R.L. Russell, B.D. Williams, R.M. Asmussen, T. Varga, and O. Qafoku, et al. 2018. Effluent Management Facility Evaporator Bottoms: Waste Streams Formulation and Waste Form Qualification Testing. PNNL-26570 Rev. 1. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Effluent Management Facility Evaporator Bottoms: Waste Streams Formulation and Waste Form Qualification Testing
  • Saslow S.A., W. Um, R.L. Russell, B.D. Williams, R.M. Asmussen, T. Varga, and O. Qafoku, et al. 2018. Effluent Management Facility Evaporator Bottoms: Waste Streams Formulation and Waste Form Qualification Testing. PNNL-26570 Rev. 2. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Effluent Management Facility Evaporator Bottoms: Waste Streams Formulation and Waste Form Qualification Testing

2017

  • Asmussen R.M., J.J. Neeway, T.C. Kaspar, and J.V. Crum. 2017. "Corrosion Behavior and Microstructure Influence of Glass Ceramic Waste Forms." Corrosion 73, no. 11:1306-1319. PNNL-SA-121385. doi:10.5006/2449
  • Lawter A.R., N. Qafoku, R.M. Asmussen, D.H. Bacon, L. Zheng, and C.F. Brown. 2017. "Risk of geologic sequestration of CO2 to groundwater aquifers: Current knowledge and remaining questions." Energy Procedia 114. PNNL-SA-121493. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.1433
  • Neeway J.J., R.M. Asmussen, B. Parruzot, E. Cordova, B.D. Williams, I.I. Leavy, and J.R. Stephenson, et al. 2017. FY2016 ILAW Glass Corrosion Testing with the Single-Pass Flow-Through Method. PNNL-26169; RPT-IGTP-013 Rev. 0.0. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. FY2016 ILAW Glass Corrosion Testing with the Single-Pass Flow-Through Method
  • Saslow S.A., W. Um, R.L. Russell, G. Wang, R.M. Asmussen, and R. Sahajpal. 2017. Updated Liquid Secondary Waste Grout Formulation and Preliminary Waste Form Qualification. PNNL-26443; RPT-SWCS-009 Rev 0. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Updated Liquid Secondary Waste Grout Formulation and Preliminary Waste Form Qualification

2016

  • Asmussen R.M., J.J. Neeway, A.R. Lawter, A.D. Wilson, and N. Qafoku. 2016. "Silver Based Getters for 129-I Removal from Low Activity Wastes." Radiochimica Acta 104, no. 12:905-913. PNNL-SA-116202. doi:10.1515/ract-2016-2598
  • Asmussen R.M., J.J. Neeway, A.R. Lawter, T.G. Levitskaia, W.W. Lukens, and N. Qafoku. 2016. "The Function of Sn(II)-Apatite as a 99-Tc Immobilizing Agent." Journal of Nuclear Materials 480. PNNL-SA-114465. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.09.002
  • Neeway J.J., R.M. Asmussen, A.R. Lawter, M.E. Bowden, W.W. Lukens, D. Sarma, and B.J. Riley, et al. 2016. "Removal of TcO4- from Representative Nuclear Waste Streams with Layered Potassium Metal Sulfide Materials." Chemistry of Materials 28, no. 11:3976-3983. PNNL-SA-116928. doi:10.1021/acs.chemmater.6b01296

2015

  • Neeway J.J., A.R. Lawter, R.J. Serne, R.M. Asmussen, and N. Qafoku. 2015. "Technetium Getters to Improve Cast Stone Performance." In MRS Proceedings: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXXVIII, edited by S Gin, R Jubin, J Matyas and E Vance, 1744, 43-52. Warrendale, Pennsylvania: Materials Research Society. PNNL-SA-106863. doi:10.1557/opl.2015.310