Bio
Experience Highlights
- Over 45 years of experience and >250 open-literature publications in separation science and technology
- ACS Heroes in Chemistry Award, 2024
- Secretary of Energy Award, 2013. Glenn T. Seaborg Actinide Separations Award, 2019
- ORNL Corporate Fellow, AAAS Fellow
- Editor, journal Solvent Extr. Ion Exch. and book series Ion Exch. Solvent Extr.
Education
PhD, 1979, Inorganic Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
BS, 1974, Chemistry, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Duke University
Research and Professional Experience
Bruce Moyer is a Corporate Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), specializing over a 45-year career in both fundamental and applied aspects of separation science and technology, especially on the chemistry of solvent extraction and ion exchange. His more than 250 open-literature publications include 183 journal articles, 18 patents, 8 patent applications pending, 6 edited books, 15 book chapters, 31 peer-reviewed proceedings articles, and 32 open-literature ORNL reports. He earned his BS degree summa cum laude with chemistry honors from Duke University in 1974 and a PhD in inorganic chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1979 under the direction of Prof. Thomas J. Meyer. His graduate work dealt with fundamental mechanisms of redox catalysis, oxygen atom transfer, and proton-coupled electron transfer. In 1979, he joined the staff at ORNL and has worked on a variety of problems in separations chemistry, always with an eye on incorporating principles of molecular recognition. In addition to his recent duties as Group Leader, Chemical Separations, in the ORNL Chemical Sciences Division (1987–2020), Dr. Moyer has provided leadership for three programs for the US Department of Energy: Principles of Chemical Recognition and Transport in Extractive Separations (Office of Science), Sigma Team for Advanced Actinide Recycle (Office of Nuclear Energy), and Diversifying Supply Focus Area of the Critical Materials Institute, a USDOE Energy Innovation Hub (Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy). He has also provided leadership for the chemical development of the Caustic Side Solvent Extraction (CSSX) process implemented at the Savannah River Site for cesium removal from tens of millions of gallons of legacy nuclear waste, winning the Secretary of Energy's Award in 2013 and ACS Heroes in Chemistry Award in 2024. Dr. Moyer also serves as Co‑editor of the journal Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange as well as the book series Ion Exchange and Solvent Extraction.
Dr. Moyer’s most successful technology application is the development of the CSSX and Next Generation CSSX processes. CSSX is operating successfully in the $2B Salt Waste Processing Facility at the USDOE Savannah River Site, and both processes previously operated sequentially for 11 years in the Modular CSSX Unit at the Savannah River Site, processing over 7 million gallons of high-level waste. Dr. Moyer's 18 patents range from solvent extraction of cesium for nuclear-waste cleanup to supported liquid membrane systems and novel anion-exchange resins. Dr. Moyer became a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2019 and has received a number of awards, most recently the 2024 ACS Heroes in Chemistry Award. He also served as the Technical Chair of the 2008 International Solvent Extraction Conference (ISEC '08) and Editor-in-Chief of the proceedings, and in 2011 he served as member of the Advisory Committee, Program Chair for Nuclear Separations, and Co-editor of the proceedings of ISEC 2011.
Relevant Projects
- Led the research program “Principles of Chemical Recognition and Transport in Extractive Separations,” DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Office of Science (1987–2018).
- Led the Diversifying Supply Focus Area, Critical Materials Institute, a DOE Energy Innovation Hub under the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Advanced Manufacturing Office (2013–2023).
- Caustic Side Solvent Extraction (CSSX)—led the chemical development of the process at the heart of the $2B Salt Waste Processing Facility for cesium removal from millions of gallons of legacy nuclear waste at the Savannah River Site.
- Led the Sigma Team for Advanced Actinide Recycle for DOE Office of Nuclear Energy (2009–2018).
- Co-developed BiQuat, bifunctional anion exchange resin commercialized by Purolite for perchlorate and pertechnetate removal from groundwater: R&D 100 Award, 2004.
Professional Experience
07/2016–present Corporate Fellow, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
02/1987–9/2020 Group Leader, Chemical Separations, Chemical Sciences Division, ORNL
02/1990–09/1991 Group Leader, Transuranium Research Laboratory, Chemistry Division, ORNL
11/1983–02/1987 Research Staff Member, Separations Chemistry, Chemistry Division, ORNL
09/1979–10/1983 Research Staff Member, Separations Chemistry, Chemical Technology Division, ORNL
05/1974–08/1974 Resident Research Chemist, E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Wilmington, Delaware
05/1973–08/1973 Summer Student, Martin Marietta Corp., Orlando, Florida
05/1971–08/1971 Summer Student, Martin Marietta Corp., Orlando, Florida
05/1970–08/1970 Summer Student, Martin Marietta Corp., Orlando, Florida
Awards
2024 American Chemical Society Heroes in Chemistry Award for "Separations Chemistry Eliminates Nuclear-Waste Risks" (with SRMC, SRNL, ANL, and DOE).
2024 R&D 100 Award: Direct Lithium Extraction Sorbents (with Element3)
2023 UT-Battelle Distinguished Innovation team award for rare earth separation REESEP
2023 WM2023 Conference oral paper awarded “Superior” rating and proceedings paper awarded “Paper of Note” for “Next-Generation Solvent for Caustic-Side Solvent Extraction of Cesium from Supernatant Tank Waste”
2023 Society for Technical Communication 2022 Alliance Competition award of Excellence, workshop report “Innovative Separations R&D Needs for Advanced Fuel Cycles”
2022 Battelle Distinguished Inventor award
2019 Glenn T. Seaborg Award in Actinide Separations
2019 Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
2017 R&D 100 Award, for ACE: The Ageless Aluminum Revolution
2013 Secretary of Energy's Achievement Award, Salt Waste Disposal Technologies Team
2013 ORNL Significant Event Award, for successful hub proposal with Ames Lab on critical materials
2011 Council of Chemical Research Collaboration Award, for Development and Implementation of High-Level Salt-Waste Processing Technology (team award, LEADER)
2008 USDOE Outstanding Mentor Award
2004 R&D 100 Award, for Highly Selective, Regenerable Perchlorate Treatment System
2002 Outstanding Team Performance Award, for Savannah River Site Salt Processing Project, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
2002 Battelle S&T Technical Challenge Award, for idea on chiral separation method
2001 Chemical and Analytical Sciences Division Certificate of Appreciation Award, for development of a novel method for regeneration of ion-exchange resins
2001 Chemical and Analytical Sciences Division Certificate of Appreciation Award, for development of the CSSX process for removal of radioactive cesium from tank waste stored at the Savannah River Site
2000 UT-Battelle Technical Achievement Award, for developing novel resin regeneration techniques
2000 Best Presentation, for Salt Processing Project, Tanks Focus Area, FY 2000 Annual Program Review
1999 Lockheed Martin Technical Achievement Award, for team achievement in the invention, development, and testing of a novel process for cesium separation from waste; ORNL Chemical and Analytical Sciences Division Award, for same
1999 Lockheed Martin Valuable Invention Award, for improvements to CSEX process
1998 ORNL Chemical and Analytical Sciences Division Leadership Award, R&D Accomplishment, for exemplary performance in research leadership, team building, and program development to bring the separations chemistry program to national prominence
1998 ORNL Chemical and Analytical Sciences Division Technical Achievement Award, Development Accomplishment, for development of a novel bifunctional anion exchange resin for selective removal of pertechnetate ion from groundwater
1996 ORNL Chemical and Analytical Sciences Division Technical Achievement Award, for invention on novel methodology to remove fission product technetium from legacy DOE radioactive wastes
1994 Martin Marietta Energy Systems’ Technology Transfer Award
1990 Martin Marietta Energy Systems’ Special Achievement Award
1986 Martin Marietta Energy Systems’ Significant Accomplishment Award, for the development of a selective solvent extraction system for copper
1983 David J. Evans Award (3rd International Symposium on Hydrometallurgy)
Education
PhD, Inorganic Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1979
BS, Chemistry, Summa Cum Laude, Chemistry Honors, Phi Beta Kappa, Duke University, 1974
Professional Service
2002–present Co-editor-in-Chief, Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange (journal)
2022–present International Committee for Solvent Extraction
2021–2022 Co-editor, "Innovative Separations R&D Needs for Advanced Fuel Cycles" workshop report, Feb. 2022. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1844866
2018–2019 National Academy of Science, Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology, Committee on A Research Agenda for a New Era in Separations Science
2014 Chair, Lind Lecture committee, ACS East Tennessee Section
1994–2012 Editorial Board, Hydrometallurgy (journal)
2008 Editor-in-Chief, Proceedings of the International Solvent Extraction Conference ISEC 2008 (1600 pages)
2005–2019 Co-editor, Ion Exchange and Solvent Extraction (book series)
2003–2005 Editorial Advisory Board, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (journal)
1990–2003 Executive Committee, ACS Industrial & Engineering Division, Separation Science and Technology Subdivision
1999–2001 ACS Awards Committee, Separation Science and Technology.
1994–1997 Chairman sequence, ACS Industrial & Engineering Division, Separation Science and Technology Subdivision (Elected Office)
1994, 1996 Lind Lecture Committee, East Tennessee Section, American Chemical Society
1991–1993 Secretary/Treasurer, ACS Industrial & Engineering Division, Separation Science and Technology Subdivision (Elected Office).
Professional Affiliations
2023–present Friends of ORNL, member
2022–present International Committee for Solvent Extraction
2020–2023 Canadian Institute of Mining
2015–present American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2018 Fellow
2014–present American Nuclear Society, member
1991–present ACS Nuclear Division, member
1980–present American Chemical Society (ACS), member
1988–present ACS Industrial & Engineering Division, Separation Science and Technology Subdivision, member and Executive Committee and elected offices 1990–2003
Trademarks and Patents
- Moyer B. A.; McDowell, W. J. Method for Extracting Copper, Silver, and Related Metals. U. S. Patent 4,927,610, May 22, 1990.
- Moyer, B. A.; Sachleben, R. A.; Bonnesen, P. V. Process for Extracting Technetium from Alkaline Solutions. U. S. Patent 5,443,731, Aug. 22, 1995.
- Alexandratos, S. D.; Brown, G. M.; Bonnesen, P. V.; Moyer, B. A. Bifunctional Anion-Exchange Resins with Improved Selectivity and Exchange Kinetics. U. S. Patent 6,059,975, May 9, 2000.
- Kilambi, S.; Moyer, B. A.; Robinson, R. B.; Bonnesen, P. V. Supported Liquid Membrane Separation. U. S. Patent 6,086,769, Jul. 11, 2000.
- Kilambi, S.; Moyer, B. A.; Robinson, R. B.; Bonnesen, P. V. Supported Liquid Membrane Separation. U. S. Patent 6,096,217, (Divisional of 6,086,769), Aug. 1, 2000.
- Moyer, B. A.; Sachleben, R. A.; Bonnesen, P. V.; Presley, D. J. Calixarene Crown Ether Solvent Composition and Use Thereof for Extraction of Cesium from Alkaline Waste Solutions. U.S. Patent 6,174,503, January 16, 2001.
- Brown, G. M.; Gu, B.; Moyer, B. A.; Bonnesen, P. V. Regeneration of Strong-Base Anion-Exchange Resins by Sequential Chemical Displacement. U. S. Patent 6,448,299, Sept. 10, 2002.
- Moyer, B. A.; Chambliss, C. K.; Bonnesen, P. V.; Keever, T. J. Solvent and Process for Recovery of Hydroxide from Aqueous Mixtures. U. S. Patent 6,322,702, November 27, 2001.
- Bonnesen, P. V.; Moyer, B. A.; Sachleben, R. A. Fluoro-Alcohol Phase Modifiers and Process for Cesium Solvent Extraction. U.S. Patent 6,566,561, May 20, 2003.
- Peterman, D. R.; Meikrantz, D. H.; Law, J. D.; Riddle, C. L.; Todd, T. A.; Greenhalgh, M. R.; Tillotson, R. D.; Bartsch, R. A.; Moyer, B. A.; Delmau, L. H.; Bonnesen, P. V. Extractant Compositions for Co-extracting Cesium and Strontium, A Method of Separating Cesium and Strontium from an Aqueous Feed, Calixarene Compounds, U.S. Patent 8,158,088, Apr. 17, 2012.
- Custelcean, R. C.; Moyer, B. A.; Rajbanshi, A. Selective Oxoanion Separation Using a Tripodal Ligand, U.S. Patent 9,260,326, Feb. 16, 2016.
- Paranthaman, M. P.; Bhave, R. R.; Moyer, B. A.; Harrison, S. Composition for Recovery of Lithium from Brines and Process of Using Said Composition, U.S. Patent 10,266,915 B2, April 23, 2019.
- Freiderich, J. W.; Luo, H.; Moyer, B. A.; Dai, S. Methods for Liquid Extraction of Rare Earth Metals Using Ionic Liquids, U.S. Patent 10689727, June 23, 2020.
- Williams, N. J.; Custelcean, R.; Seipp, C. A.; Moyer, B. A.; Ellis, R. J.; Abney, C. W.; Lipophilic Guanidinium Compounds for Removal of Oxyanions From Aqueous Solutions, U. S. Patent 11001554B2, May 11, 2021.
- Freiderich, J. W.; Luo, H.; Moyer, B. A.; Dai, S. Rare Earth Amide Compositions, U.S. Patent 11,186,893, November 30, 2021.
- Bhave, R. R.; Harrison, S.; Moyer, B. A.; Paranthaman, M. P. Lithium Extraction Composite for Recovery of Lithium from Brines, and Process of Using Said Composition. U.S. Patent 11,253,820 B2, February 22, 2022.
- Rios, O.; Henderson, H. B.; Kesler, M. S.; Moyer, B. A.; Sims, Z.; Weiss, D.; Ott, R. T.; Anderson, C. G.; Cui, H.; McCall, S. Production of Castable Light Rare Earth Rich Light Metal Compositions from Direct Reduction Processes. U.S. Patent No. 11,365,463, June 21, 2022.
- Bhave, R. R.; Deshmane, V.; Linneen, N. N.; Harrison, S.; Paranthaman, M. P.; Moyer, B. A. Forward Osmosis Composite Membranes for Concentration of Lithium Containing Solutions. U.S. Patent No. 12,030,017 B2, July 9, 2024.
Publications
The Coordination Chemistry and Stoichiometry of Extracted Diglycolamide Complexes of Lanthanides in…
Other Publications
Selection of representative publications:
Evans, B. R.; Popovs, I; Johnson, K.; Einkauf, J. D.; Moyer, B. A.; Paranthaman, M. P. A New Triketone Ligand for Extraction of Lithium from Brines. ChemSusChem, 2024, DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202401600.
Bessen, N. P.; Moyer, B. A. An Advanced Solvent for the Caustic-Side Solvent Extraction of Cesium from Nuclear Waste: Comparing Lipophilic Guanidines for Improved Hydrolytic Stability. Solvent Extr. Ion Exch. 2024, DOI: 10.1080/07366299.2024.2392511
Fargher, H. A.; Delmau, L. H.; Bryantsev, V. V.; Haley, M. M.; Johnson, D. W.; Moyer, B. A. Disrupting the Hofmeister Bias in Salt Liquid-Liquid Extraction with an Arylethynyl Bisurea Anion Receptor. Chem. Sci. 2023, 15, 5311–5318. DOI: 10.1039/D3SC05922G.
Einkauf, J. D.; Bryantsev, V. S.; Moyer, B. A.; Custelcean, R. A Photoresponsive Receptor with a 105 Magnitude of Reversible Anion-Binding Switching. Chem. Eur. J. 2022, 28 (26), e202200719. doi.org/10.1002/chem.202200719 [Front cover]
Flores, R.; Momen, M. A.; Healy, M. R.; Jansone-Popova, S.; Lyon, K. L.; Reinhart, B.; Cheshire, M. C.; Moyer, B. A. The Coordination Chemistry and Stoichiometry of Extracted Diglycolamide Complexes of Lanthanides in Extraction Chromatography Materials. Solvent Extr. Ion Exch. 2022, 40(1&2), 6–27. DOI: 10.1080/07366299.2021.1956121
Burns, J. D.; Moyer, B. A. Group Hexavalent Actinide Separations: A New Approach to Used Nuclear Fuel Recycling. Inorg. Chem. 2016, 55, 8913–1919 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b01430, August 2016.
Freiderich, J. W.; Stankovich, J. J.; Luo, H. M.; Dai, S.; Moyer, B. A. Dissolution of the Rare-Earth Mineral Bastnaesite by Acidic Amide Ionic Liquid for Recovery of Critical Materials. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2015, 4354–4361; DOI: 10.1002/ejic.201500509.
Seipp, C. A.; Williams, N. J.; Bryantsev, V.; Custelcean, R.; Moyer, B. A. A Conformationally Persistent Pseudo-bicyclic Guanidinium for Anion Coordination As Stabilized by Dual Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonds. RSC Advances 2015, 5, 107266–107269; DOI: 10.1039/C5RA21864K.
Beltrami, D.; Cote, G.; Mokhtari, H.; Courtaud, B.; Moyer, B. A.; Chagnes, A. Recovery of Uranium from Wet Phosphoric Acid by Solvent Extraction Processes. Chem. Rev. 2014, 114 (24), 12002–12023. DOI: 10.1021/cr5001546.
Izatt, R. M.; Izatt, S. R.; Bruening, R. L.; Izatt, N. E.; Moyer, B. A. Challenges to achievement of metal sustainability in our high-tech society. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2014, 43 (8), 2451–2475. DOI: 10.1039/C3CS60440C.
Delmau, L. H.; Moine, J., Mirzadeh, S.; Moyer, B. A. First Experimentally Determined Thermodynamic Values of Francium: Hydration Energy, Energy of Partitioning, and Thermodynamic Radius. J. Phys, Chem. B. 2013, 117 (31), 9258–9261, DOI: 10.1021/jp401880f.
Moyer, B. A.; Custelcean, R.; Hay, B. P.; Sessler, J. L.; Bowman-James, K.; Day, V. W.; Kang, S.-O. A Case for Molecular Recognition in Nuclear Separations: Sulfate Removal from Nuclear Wastes. Inorg. Chem. 2013, 52, 3473–3490, DOI:10.1021/ic3016832. (Invited forum review).
Borman, C. J.; Bonnesen, P. V.; Moyer, B. A. Selectivity Control in Synergistic Liquid-Liquid Anion Exchange of Univalent Anions via Structure-Specific Cooperativity between Quaternary Ammonium Cations and Anion Receptors. Anal. Chem., 2012, 84 (19), 8214–8221; http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac301315c .
Custelcean, R.; Bock, A.; Moyer, B. A. Selectivity Principles in Anion Separation by Crystallization of Hydrogen-Bonding Capsules, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 7177–7185.
Levitskaia, T. G.; Maya, L.; Van Berkel, G. J.; Moyer, B. A. Anion Partitioning and Ion-Pairing Behavior of Anions in the Extraction of Cesium Salts by 4,5"-bis(tert-octylbenzo)dibenzo-24-crown-8 in 1,2-Dichloroethane. Inorg. Chem. 2007, 46(1), 261–272.
Custelcean, R.; Delmau, L. H.; Moyer, B. A.; Sessler, J. L.; Cho, W-S., Gross, D.; Bates, G. W.; Brooks, S. J.; Light, M. E.; Gale, P. A. Calix[4]pyrrole: An Old Yet New Ion-pair Receptor. Angew. Chem. 2005, 44 (17), 2537–2542. (Featured on Cover).
Hay, B. P.; Firman, T. K.; Moyer, B. A. Structural Design Criteria for Anion Hosts: Strategies for Achieving Anion Shape Recognition through the Complementary Placement of Urea Donor Groups. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 1810–1819.
Levitskaia, T. G.; Bonnesen, P. V.; Chambliss, C. K.; Moyer, B. A. "Synergistic Pseudo-Hydroxide Extraction: Synergism and Anion Selectivity in Sodium Extraction Using a Crown Ether and a Series of Weak Lipophlilic Acids," Anal. Chem.2003, 75(3), 405–412.
Moyer, B. A.; Alexandratos, S. D.; Bonnesen, P. V.; Brown, G. M.; Caton, J. E.; Delmau, L. H.; Duchemin, C. R.; Haverlock, T. J.; Levitskaia, T. G.; Maskarinec, M. P.; Sloop, F. V., Jr.; Stine, C. L. “Caustic-Side Solvent Extraction Chemical and Physical Properties: Progress in FY 2000 and FY 2001,” Report ORNL/TM-2001/285, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, February 2002; 214 pp. DOI: 10.2172/814534. This is the technical description of the CSSX chemistry development leading to selection of CSSX for implementation at the Savannah River Site.
B. A. Moyer, C. F. Baes, Jr., F. I. Case, and J. L. Driver, “Liquid-Liquid Equilibrium Analysis in Perspective. II. Complete Model of Water, Nitric Acid, and Uranyl Nitrate Extraction by Di-2-ethylhexyl Sulfoxide in Dodecane,” Solvent Extr. Ion Exch., 19(5), 757-790 (2001).
Bonnesen, P. V.; Brown, G. M.; Alexandratos, S. D.; Bavoux, L. B.; Presley, D. J.; Patel, V.; Moyer, B. A. Development of Bifunctional Anion Exchange Resins with Improved Selectivity and Sorptive Kinetics for Pertechnetate. Batch-Equilibrium Experiments. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2000, 34, 3761–3766.
Moyer, B. A. Complexation and Transport. In Molecular Recognition: Receptors for Cationic Guests; Gokel, G. W., Ed.; Comprehensive Supramolecular Chemistry; Vol. 1; Atwood, J. L., Davies, J. E. D., MacNicol, D. D., Vögtle, F., Lehn, J.-M., Eds.; Pergamon, Elsevier: Oxford, 1996; pp. 377–416 (Invited review).
Y. Deng, R. A. Sachleben, and B. A. Moyer, "Equilibrium Aspects of the Extraction of Cesium Nitrate by Dicyclohexano-21-crown-7, Dibenzo-21-crown-7, and Bis-[tert-alkylbenzo]-21-crown-7," J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans. 23, 4215-4222, 1995.
Moyer, B. A.; McDowell, W. J. Factors Influencing Phase Disengagement Rates in Solvent Extraction Systems Employing Tertiary Amine Extractants," Sep. Sci. Technol. 1981, 16, 1261‑1289.
Moyer B. A.; Meyer, T. J. Properties of the Oxo-Aquo System Oxobis(2,2'‑bipyridine)pyridineruthenium(II)/Aquobis(2,2'-bipyridine pyridineruthenium(IV). Inorg. Chem. 1981, 20, 436–444.