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Applied Geology and Geochemistry

Wooyong Um

Wooyong Um

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
PO Box 999
Richland, WA 99352

Research Interests

  • Sorption mechanism using spectroscopic techniques (XAS and XPS)
  • Radionuclides and metal sorption/desorption
  • Pore structure and diffusion measurements using XMT
  • Metal surface complexation and speciation on bioavailability and toxicity
  • Fate and transport of oxyanions (As, Se, I, Cr, and Tc) under redox conditions
  • Modified zeolites or synthesis of novel nanoporous sorbents
  • Transport modeling of radionuclides and metal coupled with geochemical reactions

Education and Credentials

  • Ph.D., Hydrogeology, University of Nevada, Reno, 2001
  • M.S., Geology (Geophysics), Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea, 1994
  • B.S., Geology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea, 1990

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • America Water Resources Association
  • America Geophysical Union
  • National Ground Water Association

Awards and Recognitions

  • Recipient of Korea Government Scholarship, 1995-1998
  • Recipient of Nevada Medal Fellowship, 1998
  • Recipient of Geological Society of America (GSA) research grants, 2000
  • Recipient of George B. and Jane C. Maxey Award in Desert Research Institute, 2001

PNNL Publications

2009

  • Um W, RJ Serne, GV Last, RE Clayton, and ET Glossbrenner. 2009. "The effect of gravel size fraction on the distribution coefficients of selected radionuclides." Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 107(1-2):82-90.  doi:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2009.04.003
  • Cai R, WB Lindquist, W Um, and KW Jones. 2009. "Tomographic Analysis of Reactive Flow Induced Pore Structure Changes in Column Experiments ." Advances in Water Resources 9(32):1396-1403.  doi:10.1016/j.advwatres.2009.06.006
  • Serne RJ, AL Ward, W Um, BN Bjornstad, DF Rucker, DC Lanigan, and MW Benecke. 2009. Electrical Resistivity Correlation to Vadose Zone Sediment and Pore-Water Composition for the BC Cribs and Trenches Area. PNNL-17821, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA. 
  • Um W, MJ Truex, MM Valenta, C Iovin, IV Kutnyakov, H Chang, RE Clayton, RJ Serne, AL Ward, CF Brown, KN Geiszler, ET Clayton, SR Baum, and DM Smith. 2009. Characterization of Sediments from the Soil Desiccation Pilot Test (SDPT) Site in the BC Cribs and Trenches Area. PNNL-18800, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA. 
  • Um W, Z Wang, RJ Serne, BD Williams, CF Brown, CJ Dodge, and AROKIASAMYJ FRANCIS. 2009. "Uranium Phases in Contaminated Sediments Below Hanford's U Tank Farm ." Environmental Science & Technology 43(12):4280-4286.  doi:10.1021/es900203r

2008

2007

  • Um W, RJ Serne, and KM Krupka. 2007. "Surface complexation modeling of U(VI) sorption to Hanford sediment with varying geochemical conditions." Environmental Science and Technology 41(10):3587-3592.  doi:10.1021/es0616940
  • Um W, SV Mattigod, RJ Serne, GE Fryxell, DH Kim, and LD Troyer. 2007. "Synthesis of nanoporous zirconium oxophosphate and application for removal of U(VI)." Water Research 41(15):3217-3226. 
  • Brown CF, JP Icenhower, W Um, BN Bjornstad, MM Valenta, C Iovin, DC Lanigan, RE Clayton, KN Geiszler, ET Clayton, IV Kutnyakov, SR Baum, MJ Lindberg, and RD Orr. 2007. Characterization of Direct-Push Vadose Zone Sediments from the 241-B and 241-BX Tank Farms . PNNL-17162, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA. 
  • Shin Y, GE Fryxell, W Um, KE Parker, SV Mattigod, and R Skaggs. 2007. "Sulfur-Functionalized Mesoporous Carbon." Advanced Functional Materials 17(15):2897-2901.  doi:10.1002/adfm.200601230
  • Um W, RJ Serne, CF Brown, and GV Last. 2007. "U(VI) Adsorption on Aquifer Sediments at the Hanford Site." Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 93(1-4):255-269. 
  • Williams BA, CF Brown, W Um, MJ Nimmons, RE Peterson, BN Bjornstad, DC Lanigan, RJ Serne, FA Spane, and ML Rockhold. 2007. Limited Field Investigation Report for Uranium Contamination in the 300 Area, 300-FF-5 Operable Unit, Hanford Site, Washington. PNNL-16435, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA. 
  • Zachara JM, CF Brown, JN Christensen, JA Davis, PE Dresel, C Liu, SD Kelly, JP McKinley, RJ Serne, and W Um. 2007. A Site Wide Perspective on Uranium Geochemistry at the Hanford Site. PNNL-17031, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA. 

2006

2005

  • Um W, and RJ Serne. 2005. "Sorption and transport behavior of radionuclides in the proposed low-level radioactive waste repository at the Hanford site, Washington." Radiochimica Acta 93(1):57-63.  doi:10.1524/ract.93.1.57.58295
  • Um W, RJ Serne, SB Yabusaki, and AT Owen. 2005. "Enhanced radionuclide immobilization and flow path modifications by dissolution and secondary precipitates ." Journal of Environmental Quality 34(4):1404-1414.  doi:10.2134/jeq2004.0395
  • Um W, RJ Serne, BN Bjornstad, HT Schaef, CF Brown, VL Legore, KN Geiszler, SR Baum, MM Valenta, IV Kutnyakov, TS Vickerman, and MJ Lindberg. 2005. Characterization of 200-UP-1 Aquifer Sediments and Results of Sorption-Desorption Tests Using Spiked Uncontaminated Groundwater. PNNL-15502, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA. 

2004

  • Um W, and C Papelis. 2004. "Metal ion sorption and desorption on zeolitized tuffs from the Nevada Test Site." Environmental Science and Technology 38(2):496-502. 
  • Um W, RJ Serne, and KM Krupka. 2004. "Linearity and Reversibility of Iodide Adsorption on Sediments from Hanford, Washington Under Water Saturated Conditions." Water Research 38(8):2009-2016. 
  • Diallo MS, S Christie, P Swaminathan, Balogh, XIANGYANG Shi, W Um, C Papelis, WA Goddard, and JH Johnson. 2004. "Dendritic chelating agents. 1. Cu(II) binding to ethylene diamine core poly (amidoamine) denderimers in aqueous solutions." Langmuir 20(7):2640-2651. 
  • Um W, RJ Serne, SB Yabusaki, VL Freedman, SD Samson, and KL Nagy. 2004. "The role of secondary mineral precipitates on radionuclide sequestration at the Hanford Site." In Proceedings of the eleventh international symposium Water-Rock Interaction, WRI-11, vol. 1, ed. RB Wanty and RR Seal, pp. 715-718.  AA Balkema, Leiden, NY. 

2003

  • Um W, and C Papelis. 2003. "Sorption mechanisms of Sr and Pb on zeolitized tuffs from the Nevada test site as a function of pH and ionic strength." American Mineralogist 88(11-12 Pt.2):2028-2039. 
  • Papelis C, W Um, CE Russel, and JB Chapman. 2003. "Measuring the specific surface area of natural and manmade glasses: effects of formation process, morphology, and particle size." Colloids and Surfaces. A, Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 215(1-3):221-239. 

2002

  • Um W, and C Papelis. 2002. "Geochemical effects on colloid-facilitated metal transport through zeolitized tuffs from the Nevada Test Site." Environmental Geology 43(1-2):209-218. 

Applied Geology and Geochemistry

Additional Information