The objective of this work was to establish operating conditions for a hydrothermal pre-processing scheme for municipal solid wastes that produce a good slurry product for conversion in a Texaco gasifier. Work was carried out with model components such as wood, paper, and paper/plastic mixtures.

In this quarter we studied the effect of hydrogen pressure, and of sulfur and nitrogen containing compounds on the isomerization and hydrocracking of n-hexadecane using a Pt/ZrO{sub 2}/SO{sub 4} catalyst. The reactions were carried out at 300{degrees}C and hydrogen pressures between 50 and 500 psig. Increasing hydrogen pressure resulted in increased conversion and increased hydrocracking. Nitrogen containing compounds had a greater inhibiting effect on the conversion of n-hexadecane than sulfur-containing compounds. The reaction of diphenylmethane in air at 25{degrees}C and in the presence of sulfated zirconia was studied as a possible means to characterize the protonic acidity of solid superacids.

The objective of this Cooperative Research and Development project (CRADA) was to generate a new design for a microwave vacuum window to be used with ASTeX Corporation plasma processing equipment. This vacuum window allows transmission of microwave power from an input waveguide into a vacuum chamber for creation of plasma using the electron cyclotron resonance process. Requirements for the window design are: higher power capability, improved resistance to chemical attack, and physical compatibility with previous window models. In these applications, a significant portion of the input power is deposited in the window by plasma bombardment so the window must remove a great deal of heat to remain at a reliable operating temperature. A power level increase from 1.5 kW to 5 kW is desired by ASTeX for the new window which must have {approximately} 120 mm diameter and be compatible with existing hardware. New applications for these processing systems are being developed by ASTeX; these require the use of highly reactive fluorine plasmas which can rapidly etch some window materials. Therefore, the use of a fluorine compatible window ceramic is required. Two new window designs were investigated using advanced window-modeling techniques and low-power laboratory testing. It was determined that both …

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) has advised the Department of Energy (DOE) to concentrate the near-term sampling and analysis activities on identification and resolution of safety issues (Conway 1993). The data quality objective (DQO) process was chosen as a tool to be used to identify the sampling and analytical needs for the resolution of safety issues. As a result, a revision in the Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (Tri-Party Agreement) milestone M-44 has been made, which states that ``A Tank Characterization Plan (TCP) will also be developed for each double-shell tank (DST) and single-shell tank (SST) using the DQO process``. This document satisfies that requirement for tank 241-S-107 (S-107) sampling activities. The report gives a summary of descriptive information available on Tank S-107. Included are the present status and physical description of the tank, its age, process history, and expected tank contents from previous sampling and analytical data. The different types of waste, by layer, for Tank S-107 will also be discussed. As of December 1994, Tank S-107 has been categorized as sound and was partially isolated in December 1982. It is a low-heat load tank and is awaiting stabilization. Tank S-107 is expected to contain two …

This report has identified all plutonium currently excess to DOE Defense Programs under current planning assumptions. A number of material categories win clearly fan within the scope of the MD (Materials Disposition) program, but the fate of the other categories are unknown at the present time. MD planning requires that estimates be made of those materials likely to be considered for disposition actions so that bounding cases for the PEIS (Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement) can be determined and so that processing which may be required can be identified in considering the various alternatives. A systematic analysis of the various alternatives in reachmg the preferred alternative requires an understanding of the possible range of values which may be taken by the various categories of feed materials. One table identifies the current total inventories excess to Defense Program planning needs and represents the bounding total of Pu which may become part of the MD disposition effort for all materials, except site return weapons. The other categories, principally irradiated fuel, rich scrap, and lean scrap, are discussed. Another table summarizes the ranges and expected quantities of Pu which could become the responsibility of the MD program. These values are to be used for …