Professor
Fjeld Professor in Nuclear Environmental Engineering and Science
Rich Lab, 342 Computer Court
Anderson, SC 29625
864.656.1004
E-mail: bpowell@clemson.edu
Ph.D. Environmental Engineering and Science, Clemson University, 2004
M.S. Environmental Engineering and Science, Clemson University, 2001
B.S. Chemistry, University of Montevallo, 1999
Classes | Publications | Honors | CV
Faculty Overview
Dr. Brian A. Powell is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at Clemson University and holds the Fjeld Professorship in Nuclear Environmental Engineering and Science.
Dr. Powell’s research focuses on understanding and prediction of the physical, chemical, and biological processes which govern the mobility of radionuclides in natural and engineered systems. He previously held postdoctoral appointments at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Montevallo, and M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and Science from Clemson University. Dr. Powell is the winner of the 2014 South Carolina Governor’s Young Researcher Award for Excellence in Scientific Research and the 2011 Clemson University Sigma Xi Young Investigator of the Year. He also serves on the Radiation Safety Committee of the USEPA Scientific Advisory Board and is a member of the National Council on Radiation Protection, Program Activity Committee 5: Environmental Radiation and Radioactive Waste Issues.
Dr. Powell has published over 60 refereed journal publications, 16 research reports, and made over 100 technical presentations on these topical areas. He has conducted sponsored research in a wide range of projects dealing with topics of nuclear forensics, evaluation of nanoparticle behavior, sorption and environmental transport of plutonium, development of radiation detection and radiation detection laboratory courses, iodine, radium, strontium geochemistry in wetland and subsurface sediments, radionuclide geochemistry of saltstone and solid waste performance assessments at the Savannah River Site, measurement of thermodynamic parameters supporting advanced fuel cycle chemistry, and related topics. These research projects have received over $16.9M in funding from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Nuclear Security Agency, and Savannah River Nuclear Services (through the South Carolina Universities Education and Research Foundation). The knowledge gained from this work can be used to evaluate risk posed by subsurface contamination, to design remediation strategies for contaminated sites, and to facilitate the use of safe disposal practices.
Class Information
For current syllabi, please search the Clemson University Syllabus Repository.
EES 8130 Environmental Radiation Measurements Laboratory
EES 8420 Environmental Actinide Chemistry
EES 8430 Environmental Chemistry
GEOL 3180 Geochemistry
GEOL 4590/6590 Biogeochemistry
Selected Publications
Ferguson, B.O., Murdoch, L.C., Trumm, M., Liu, F., Rao, A.M., Powell, B.A., 2022. Mechanisms and kinetics of citrate-promoted dissolution of a uranyl phosphate mineral. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 318, 247–262. doi:10.1016/J.GCA.2021.11.023
Kayla Kilgo, M., Anctil, A., Kennedy, M.S., Powell, B.A., 2022. Metal leaching from Lithium-ion and Nickel-metal hydride batteries and photovoltaic modules in simulated landfill leachates and municipal solid waste materials. Chem. Eng. J. 431, 133825. doi:10.1016/J.CEJ.2021.133825
Parker, C.J., Kaplan, D.I., Seaman, J.C., Powell, B.A., 2022. Uranium partitioning from contaminated wetland soil to aqueous and suspended iron-floc phases: Implications of dynamic hydrologic conditions on contaminant release. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 318, 292–304. doi:10.1016/J.GCA.2021.11.034
Santikari, V.P., Witmer, M., Murdoch, L.C., Kaplan, D.I., Powell, B.A., 2022. Leaching and transport of technetium from reducing cementitious waste forms in field lysimeters. Sci. Total Environ. 841, 156596. doi:10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2022.156596
Estes, S.L., Powell, B.A., 2021. Response to Comment on “Enthalpy of Uranium Adsorption onto Hematite.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 55, 3444–3446. doi:10.1021/ACS.EST.0C08781
Li, C., Hassan, A., Palmai, M., Xie, Y., Snee, P.T., Powell, B.A., Murdoch, L.C., Darnault, C.J.G., 2021. Experimental measurements and numerical simulations of the transport and retention of nanocrystal CdSe/ZnS quantum dots in saturated porous media: effects of pH, organic ligand, and natural organic matter. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. Int. 28, 8050–8073. doi:10.1007/S11356-020-11097-0
Dickson, J., Conroy, N.A., Xie, Y., Powell, B.A., Seaman, J.C., Boyanov, M.I., Kemner, K.M., Kaplan, D.I., 2020. Surfactant-modified siliceous zeolite Y for pertechnetate remediation. Chem. Eng. J. 402, 126268. doi:10.1016/J.CEJ.2020.126268
Estes, S.L., Powell, B.A., 2020. Enthalpy of Uranium Adsorption onto Hematite. Environ. Sci. Technol. 54, 15004–15012. doi:10.1021/ACS.EST.0C04429
Kaplan, D.I., Smith, R., Parker, C.J., Baker, M., Cabrera, T., Ferguson, B.O., Kemner, K.M., Laird, M., Logan, C., Lott, J., Manglass, L., Martinez, N.E., Montgomery, D., Seaman, J.C., Shapiro, M., Powell, B.A., 2020. Uranium Attenuated by a Wetland 50 Years after Release into a Stream. ACS Earth Sp. Chem. 4, 1360–1366. doi:10.1021/ACSEARTHSPACECHEM.0C00124
Peruski, K.M., Koehler, K.C., Powell, B.A., 2020. Grain boundary facilitated dissolution of nanocrystalline NpO2(s) from legacy waste processing. Environ. Sci. Nano 7, 2293–2301. doi:10.1039/D0EN00262C
Awards & Honors
Department of Energy, Early Career Research Program Award, 2013-2018
Sigma Xi Young Investigator of the Year, 2011
Best Poster Presentation Prize, 12th International Conference on the Chemistry and Migration Behavior of Actinides and Fission Products in the Geosphere, 2009
W. R. Heatley Jr. Annual Fellowship, Clemson University, 2004
R.C. Edwards Fellowship, Clemson University, 1999-2000
Dean’s Scholarship in Chemistry, University of Montevallo, 1995-1999
