The Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) is a national scientific user facility sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Located at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington, EMSL provides state-of-the-art capabilities for molecular and environmental science research to help solve complex problems related to energy production, environmental stewardship and security.
EMSL’s integrated approach to tackling these challenges combines theory, computation and experiment under one roof. This unique mix of capabilities is made possible by EMSL’s world-class instrumentation, staff expertise and user facilities, which are available free of charge to scientists from academia, industry and government.
Instrumentation at EMSL includes high performance computing resources, electron microscopes, spectrometers and more than two dozen other cutting-edge analytical tools. These instruments are used by EMSL staff and visiting users to probe the structure and behavior of molecules relevant to energy production, environmental cleanup and other critical issues facing our nation.
Highlights from recent scientific achievements at EMSL include:
• Development of new catalysts for converting biomass into transportation fuels
• Discovery of previously unknown microorganisms that can break down toxic chemicals in groundwater
• Identification of key enzymes involved in plant responses to drought stress
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory