Report containing articles, manuscripts, and tabulations of recorded spectra created by the Spectroscopic Laboratory of the University of Chicago.

Report containing articles, manuscripts, and tabulations of recorded spectra created by the Spectroscopic Laboratory of the University of Chicago.

Introduction: "The need for a method of acid determination which could be used for small samples and easily adapted to remote control led to the investigation of the use of electrolytically generated base for the titration of acid in certain solutions. The use of electrolytically generated base for the titration of acetic acid in the presence of nitric acid has been reported (1)."

From introduction: "The following report presents a body of information obtained in the Health Instrument Development Laboratory from September, 1948, to the present, and is intended to be a preliminary review of [the study of electrodeposition of plutonium]. Many improvements in technique and methods and investigations along lines not explored are suggested by the present work. These will be undertaken as time permits, and reported at a later time."

This report covers an investigation made to develop a gasometric determination that can determine 1.2 x 10-(-5) g. of nitrite with a precision (99% limits) of +/- 8%, and discusses how this procedure works.

This report analyzes infrared absorption measurements that were made in the regions of carbonyl band and hydroxyl band absorptions on solutions of water in hexone and water in acetone, confirming intermolecular association of water and hexone.

The following report provides data from completed tests for corrosion testing of stellite-T347 stainless steel test cylinders.

The following report describes methods used to determine tributylphosphate in a deodorized shell base. An infrared absorption method is developed to emphasize toward determination of TBP in RCW streams, the organic waste streams.

The reports aims to determine the solubility limitation of concentrations of uranium in the food preparation step of the tributyl phosphate waste metal recovery process, and the subsequent solubilities in the RA column.

Abstract: "The thermal and electrical conductivities of a series of Pu-Al alloys have been determined in the range 0.12 atomic percent Pu. The conductivities are approximately proportional to the volume of free aluminum."

This report discusses methods for preparing thin films of plutonium on metallic disks, which are used for alpha energy analysis, fission counting, and preparation of geometry standards in ordinary counting. Various methods of preparation were tested and analyzed, but electrodeposition was the most effective method. Deposition was then tested, but the yields were "somewhat erratic".

This report follows the study of the oxidation of plutonium III and IV to the plutonyl state.

This report studies tritium oxides and tritium in water vapor, a product of P-10.

A report which discusses the data submitted for evaluation. This data is about optical densities from infrared spectrometer readings on eight standard samples, ranging in percent TBP from 6.71 to 17.85.

This report summarizes the measurements made for radioactive contamination in the environs of the Hanford Works. The principal sources of the radioactivity originating as a result of operations at Hanford which affect the environment in this area are the two waste stacks in the separations area and the cooling water from the four pile areas. Measurements are also made on samples taken from the Hanford waste systems which are primarily confined within the project proper. Although monthly summaries of these data are reported in Health Instrument Divisions Environs reports, a somewhat more detailed discussion of these data is covered in the quarterly report. In this manner, a better evaluation of possible trends can be detected as a result of the increased number of measurements made available by combining the data for a three month period. The following areas are discussed: meteorology, radioactive contamination of vegetation, airborne contamination and air radiation levels, radioactive contamination in Hanford wastes, radioactive contamination in the Columbia and Yakima rivers; beta activity in rain and snow, and radioactive contamination in drinking water and test wells.

A first approximation of the gas required to cool control rods for Pile Area G is presented in the following report. Since the results are based on a number of assumptions and approximations, they should be considered only as a first approximation and subject to revision. A gadolinium-stainless steel control rod can probably be readily cooled by gas. A boron-stainless steel control rod would be difficult to cool with gas and would probably require about 1,000 lbs./hr. of helium per rod. Carbon dioxide has a slight advantage over helium as a cooling agent for control rods. This advantage is so small that the problems of gas cooling control rods should not influence the decision whether to use helium or carbon dioxide in the pile.

Though the product of P-10 is T{sub 2}, the chief hazard is the tritium oxides, and tritium in water vapor might exchange with the hdyrogen in the water. If a catalyst is present, essentially all of the tritium would be exchanged. Because we do not know what catalyzers may exist at P-10 or in the lungs of a person breathing tritium, a ready answer cannot be given to the question of the importance of the exchange reactions. The HT + H{sub 2}O {r_reversible} HTO + H{sub 2} is also considered. The same conclusion holds, most of the tritium will be exchanged; however the equilibrium constant is needed. 1 fig.

Paper describes procedures used at Hanford to bioassay plutonium in urine samples.

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One method suggested for soldering small beads to fine wires using a torch to heat the bead, flux, and magnesia brick did not prove entirely satisfactory in this case. It was found the brick would draw heat away from the bead and flux at too fast a rate resulting in a poor weld, a rough surface, and an excessive accumulation of flux on the bead. Secondly, removal of the depleted flux presented a problem when the welding was done on the surface of the brick.

Neutrons produced by 350 Mev protons impinging on beryllium are scattered by hydrogen. We measure the differential scattering cross section as a function of the scattering angle. Results are summarized in Fig. 3 of the paper.

An experiment is described in which an attempt is made to follow the path of oxygen in photosynthesis by the use of O{sup 18} as a tracer.

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From ninety-five to ninety-nine per cent of the uranium was extracted from brannerite concentrates by digesting the sample with concentrated sulfuric acid and then leaching with water, using one ton of acid per ton of concentrate. Precipitates containing from sixteen to forty-eight per cent U{sub 3)O{sub 8} were obtained from pregnant solutions. Further research on the precipitation of uranium and the recovery of wolfram is needed to determine the proper treatment. (auth)