Richard Mayes, senior R&D staff member and group leader of the Fuel Cycle Chemical Technology Group at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been elected a Fellow of the American Chemical Society.
Mayes was recognized for his significant contributions to separations chemistry, including developing novel separations for uranium from seawater, promethium production from irradiated fuel, and advancing water desalination. He was also recognized for his dedication and leadership in science education – mentoring young scientists, promoting K-12 STEM education in local communities, developing sustainable programming for the industrial community at national meetings and promoting colleagues for awards and volunteer recognition.
At ORNL, Mayes’ research has focused largely on radiochemistry and materials science. He currently oversees a research and development portfolio focused on developing the advanced processes related to the nuclear fuel cycle, transitioning fundamental science to engineering scale. In 2024, he was part of ORNL’s award-winning research team that studied the chemical properties of promethium-147, a rare earth element crucial to medical studies and nuclear batteries.
Mayes holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in chemistry from Tennessee Technological University, as well as a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is an active member of the American Chemical Society and served as the 2024 chair of the organization’s East Tennessee Section. He also serves as an associate editor in sustainable process engineering for Frontiers in Chemical Engineering.
The ACS fellows program recognizes members for their outstanding contributions to science and the profession, as well as their exemplary service to the society. Mayes will be recognized alongside the 2025 Fellows class during the ACS Fall Conference 2025 in Washington, D.C. on Monday, August 18.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science. — Liz McCrory
This Oak Ridge National Laboratory news article "Mayes elected American Chemical Society Fellow" was originally found on https://www.ornl.gov/news
