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Energy and Environment Directorate

Amanda Lawter

Amanda Lawter

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
PO Box 999
Richland, WA 99352
(509) 375-2709

Biography

Amanda Lawter joined PNNL in 2011, and has worked primarily on contaminant research as well as groundwater impacts of carbon sequestration. Her work has included fate and transport of contaminants at the Hanford Site and testing potential remediation technologies for multiple contaminants using batch and column studies. In addition, she has supported projects focused on determining the potential effect of carbon capture and storage on overlying groundwater aquifers, testing cementitious waste forms for stabilization of secondary waste, and sediment characterization. Amanda joined PNNL as a post-bachelor’s research associate. She received a Master of Natural Resources degree from Oregon State University in 2014 and became a scientist in 2015.

Research Interests

  • Contaminant fate and transport
  • Immobilization and/or remediation of radioactive and non-radioactive hazardous waste
  • Sediment characterization
  • Carbon capture and storage

Education and Credentials

  • M.Sc., Natural Resources, Oregon State University
  • B.A., Geology, Eastern Washington University

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • Member of American Geophysical Union

PNNL Publications

2023

  • 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

  • Qafoku N., A.R. Lawter, E.C. Gillispie, E.M. McElroy, F.N. Smith, R. Sahajpal, and K.J. Cantrell, et al. 2022. "Calcium carbonate minerals as scavengers of metals and radionuclides: Their role in natural attenuation and remediation." In Advances in Agronomy, edited by D.L. Sparks. 115-152. Cambridge, Massachusetts:Academic Press. PNNL-SA-156685. doi:10.1016/bs.agron.2022.07.003
  • 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

2021

  • Lawter A.R., T.G. Levitskaia, O. Qafoku, M.E. Bowden, F. Cintron Colon, and N. Qafoku. 2021. "Simultaneous immobilization of aqueous co-contaminants using a bismuth layered material." Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 237. PNNL-SA-147691. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106711

2020

  • Bagwell C.E., E.C. Gillispie, A.R. Lawter, and N. Qafoku. 2020. "Evaluation of Gaseous Substrates for Microbial Immobilization of Contaminant Mixtures in Unsaturated Subsurface Sediments." Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 214-215. PNNL-SA-147782. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106183
  • 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
  • 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

2019

  • 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
  • Saslow S.A., S.N. Kerisit, T. Varga, K.C. Johnson, N.M. Avalos, A.R. Lawter, and N. Qafoku. 2019. "Chromate Effect on Iodate Incorporation into Calcite." ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 3, no. 8:1624-1630. PNNL-SA-141592. doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.9b00047

2018

  • 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
  • Lawter A.R., W.L. Garcia, R.K. Kukkadapu, O. Qafoku, M.E. Bowden, S.A. Saslow, and N. Qafoku. 2018. "Technetium and iodine aqueous species immobilization and transformations in the presence of strong reductants and calcite-forming solutions: Remedial action implications." Science of the Total Environment 636. PNNL-SA-129751. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.240

2017

  • 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
  • Qafoku N., A.R. Lawter, D.H. Bacon, L. Zheng, J.E. Kyle, and C.F. Brown. 2017. "Review of the Impacts of Leaking CO2 Gas and Brine on Groundwater Quality"." Earth - Science Reviews 169. PNNL-SA-119041. doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2017.04.010
  • Strickland C.E., A.R. Lawter, N. Qafoku, J.E. Szecsody, M.J. Truex, and G. Wang. 2017. Evaluation of Iodine Remediation Technologies in Subsurface Sediments: Interim Status Report. PNNL-26957. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/1418095.Evaluation of Iodine Remediation Technologies in Subsurface Sediments: Interim Status Report
  • Szecsody J.E., M.J. Truex, B.D. Lee, C.E. Strickland, J.J. Moran, M. Snyder, and C.T. Resch, et al. 2017. Geochemical, Microbial, and Physical Characterization of 200-DV-1 Operable Unit Cores from Boreholes C9552, C9487, and C9488, Hanford Site Central Plateau. PNNL-26266. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
  • Truex M.J., J.E. Szecsody, N. Qafoku, C.E. Strickland, J.J. Moran, B.D. Lee, and M. Snyder, et al. 2017. Contaminant Attenuation and Transport Characterization of 200-DV-1 Operable Unit Sediment Samples. PNNL-26208. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/1368134.Contaminant Attenuation and Transport Characterization of 200-DV-1 Operable Unit Sediment Samples

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

  • Lawter A.R., N. Qafoku, G. Wang, H. Shao, and C.F. Brown. 2015. "Evaluating Impacts of CO2 Intrusion into an Unconsolidated Aquifer: I. Experimental Data." International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 44, no. 2016:323-333. PNNL-SA-107057. doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2015.07.009
  • Lawter A.R., N. Qafoku, H. Shao, D.H. Bacon, and C.F. Brown. 2015. "Evaluating Impacts of CO2 and CH4 Gas Intrusion into an Unconsolidated Aquifer: Fate of As and Cd." Frontiers in Environmental Science 3. PNNL-SA-110137. doi:10.3389/fenvs.2015.00049
  • 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
  • Neeway J.J., N. Qafoku, R.J. Serne, A.R. Lawter, J.R. Stephenson, W.W. Lukens, and J.H. Westsik. 2015. Evaluation of Technetium Getters to Improve the Performance of Cast Stone. PNNL-23667 Rev. 1;EMSP-RPT-026 Rev1. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Evaluation of Technetium Getters to Improve the Performance of Cast Stone
  • Shao H., N. Qafoku, A.R. Lawter, M.E. Bowden, and C.F. Brown. 2015. "Coupled Geochemical Impacts of Leaking CO2 and Contaminants from Subsurface Storage Reservoirs on Groundwater Quality." Environmental Science & Technology 49, no. 13:8202-8209. PNNL-SA-108351. doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b01004
  • Wang G., N. Qafoku, A.R. Lawter, M.E. Bowden, O. Harvey, E.C. Sullivan, and C.F. Brown. 2015. "Geochemical Impacts of Leaking CO2 from Subsurface Storage Reservoirs to an Unconfined Oxidizing Carbonate Aquifer." International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 44, no. 2016:310-322. PNNL-SA-96349. doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2015.07.002
  • Zheng L., N. Qafoku, A.R. Lawter, G. Wang, H. Shao, and C.F. Brown. 2015. "Evaluating Impacts of CO2 Intrusion into an Unconsolidated Aquifer: II. Modeling Results." International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 44, no. 2016:300-309. PNNL-SA-106872. doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2015.07.001

2014

  • Qafoku N., A.R. Lawter, H. Shao, G. Wang, and C.F. Brown. 2014. "Evaluating impacts of CO2 gas intrusion into a confined sandstone aquifer: Experimental results." Energy Procedia 63. PNNL-SA-105260. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2014.11.355

Energy and Environment

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