An infra-red chemical analysis technique developed at Ames Lab is making the transition from a laboratory technique to an on-line, real-time monitor which is proving useful for a wide variety of applications.

It's commonplace for seeing babies in utero, fish underwater and submarines in the ocean, but now sonar technology will be giving DOE an image of the waste in some of its underground storage tanks.

Monitoring the spread of contamination through soil should be easier now with Ames Laboratory's new zero-tension lysimeter.

The new technology is actually an improved version of conventional lysimeters. Less expensive and easier to install, it should help DOE scientists guard against the spread of contaminants at sites they manage and allow more effective response when contaminant movement is detected.

Providing a way to rapidly analyze intractable samples, an Ames Laboratory device provides a wealth of chemical information that finds application for everything from characterizing hazardous wastes to answering industrial questions.

Combining state-of-the-art optics with established spectrometry, Ames Lab researchers are improving the resolution of portable spectrometers to make detailed characterization at some sites easier and less costly.

Applying a common biochemical assessment tool to environmental analyses, researchers have come up with a technology that should speed DOE's remediation work while cutting costs.

Simpler sampling can reduce the hazards, costs and complexity of site assessment, and that's what's on the way for an established analytical technique.

Working to save time and money in the characterization of DOE sites, Ames Lab scientists are advancing adoption of innovative technologies along with a more efficient characterization method.