This document is a de-classified June 1948 progress report on neutron source development at Monsanto Chemical`s Mound facility. Specific sources reviewed are: (1) Postum-beryllium, (2) Postum-Boron and Postum-Fluoborate, and (3) Postum-Lithium and Postum-Sodium. Preparation of each source is discussed, and some of their physical properties are given.

Solubilities -- Orban: The solubility of postum in various concentrations of nitric acid was determined at 25.4{degrees}C. Hydrofluoric and Trifluoroacetic Acids -- Abel and Raiff: Details of this work will be reported in the next Progress Report. Conversion of Nitric Acid Solutions to Hydrofluoric Acid Solutions -- Bell: Conversion of production solutions to hydrofluoric acid solutions was tried by precipitation with ammonium oxalate, aluminum hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, and sodium carbonate. Silver and Teflon discs were used.

This document is a de-classified July 1948 General Chemistry Progress Report from Monsanto Chemical`s Mound facility. Detailed discussions of numerous studies of Postum compounds are included in this report, and experimental data on various chemical and physical properties of these compounds are given.

The high rate neutron scaler has been removed from service for repair. Consequent study has led to the discovery of a double counting effect. The vacuum system of the vacuum balance is being redesigned and rebuilt so as to obtain a higher vacuum. The vapor pressure of postum was measured with a quartz sickle gauge between 0.3 and 90 mm. of mercury pressure at temperatures between 430{degrees} and 745{degrees}C. The least square representation of the data is the following: Log p = {sub T}{und 5377.8} + 7.2345 where p is the pressure in mm. of mercury and T is the absolute temperature. From this least square equation the extrapolated boiling point is 962.1{degrees}1{degrees}C. and the latent heat of vaporization is 24,597 calories per mole. A single crystal study of potassium chloride is being made since it is the crystal which is most nearly like a simple cubic lattice. The Geiger counter X-ray spectrometer belonging to Unit I was set up and a recorder attached so that certain patterns could be obtained more quickly. Continuation of the effusion experiment showed that data obtained were violently Inconsistent. The experimental work Is being dropped. At the end of the Physics Group Progress Report …

The work to determine the feasibility of a pratical solution counter for alphas has been continued through this month. It has developed that the electronic technique using an Amperex mica-window GM tube (1.4 mg./cm{sup 2} mica) is reliable, and it now appears that the problem is mainly one of solution-mounting technique. Two four-input gamma mixers and three two-input B-wall mixers have been given a final check and assembled in cabinets with their associated scalers. These scalars, Instrument Development Laboratory Model 161-S, were modified for use with either type mixer and may also be used for straight GM counting. One Instrument Development Laboratory Model 161-S, scale of 256 gamma counter has been given performance tests before being placed in operation at Mound Laboratory. Tests are being run on the parallel plate alpha counter Model K-262.

Progress is reported on the following projects: Quartz-fiber microbalance research, quartz-fiber construction and maintenance, design of multiple stirrer plating unit, and design of rotating stage for foil photography.

Studies on the conversion of production nitric acid solutions to bismuth free postum (Polonium 210) solutions and the plating of postum from the hydrofluoric acid solution.

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Equipment and supplies are being packed for moving to Mound Laboratory. Work was started on the development of a cathode-follower circuit to match a B-wall tube to its connecting cable. The final report and maintenance manual for the scaler-multiplier are almost finished. The 10 millivolt Speedomax recorder used by Group 3 in the study of electrodeposition potentials has been replaced with a 150 millivolt Speedomax, utilizing two recording points for simultaneous recording of radioactive deposition and the plating cell current. Three two-input B-wall mixers, three scaler-multipliers, one four-input Geiger-Mueller mixer and five Thyratron heater controls were delivered to Group 24. One high-current plating control, EL-173, was delivered to Group 17. The following instruments are complete: portable pulse generator, EL-261, the instruction book and photographs will be submitted for approval at an early date. Portable regulation checker, EL-258. Preliminary tests have been made, instructions are being written and drawings are being made.

A theoretical discussion of the formation and steady state kinetic behavior of metal complexes is provided.

During the course of a research problem involving hydrofluoric acid it became necessary to filter concentrated hydrofluoric solutions to remove various solid materials. The search for a suitable filter media finally led to the use of a commercially manufactured plastic material known as ``Sponge Teflon`` (polytetrafluoroethylone) which is produced by the DuPont Company. This material, which comes in 1/8 in. sheets, is used primarily as a gasket material in acid lines, and is impervious to all acids, including hydrofluorle acid.

This quarterly progress report describes four programs namely (1) The Metabolic Properties of Plutonium and Allied Materials (2) Biological studies of radiation effects, (3) Biological effects of radiation from external and internal sources, and (4) Health Physics and Chemistry. Progress for each program has been separately indexed and abstracted for the database.

This monthly report provides brief progress descriptions of a number of projects being conducted at Mound Laboratory. Projects include sensitivity of the scaler used for neutron counting, purity of postum (Polonium 210), vapor pressure of postum, resistivity of postum, vapor pressure of selenium,and x-ray diffraction studies to determine the coefficients of expansion for aluminum, copper, lead,and gold.

This report details gamma scale chemistry activities at Mound Laboratory during the month of November1948.

The Process group reports that material processing is on schedule and that process laboratories 2 and 3 are being overhauled. The Electrodeposition group reports that they are on schedule but that they are somewhat handicapped due to a lack of coveralls. Administration reports that Site W schedules have been prepared.

This monthly progress report describes efforts to prepare neutron sources with postum (Polonium 210) and either beryllium, boron or lithium by volatilization and by electrochemical deposition.

This document presents details about health concerns resulting from the activities of the Mound Laboratory during the month of August 1948.

This document is the report from a November 1948 meeting at Mound Laboratory on the measurement of the density of metallic polonium. Four determinations of the density of Polonium at 25 degrees C have been made. These values are 8.69 gm/cc, 9,34 gm/cc (twice) and 9.20 gm/cc. The probable error was 2%. The material used in the first determination was not subjected to a preliminary purification, which makes the value obtained doubtful. In this instance, production foils were used without a separation from their more volatile constituents. The difference in the reported value from that which appears in the Ad Interim Report is due to a recalculation based on the latest information on the physical constants of polonium. The value of using pure material and knowing the physical properties of polonium are clearly indicated.

Preparation and analytical chemistry of postum (Polonium 210) dibromide and tetrabromide by bromination of metallic postum are described.

Tracer studies employing uranium enriched in the isotopes U{sup 234}, U{sup 235} have been carried out in six human subjects; four males and two females. The uranium, 6 micrograms to 70 micrograms per kilogram of body weight was given intravenously in the hexavalent state as uranyl nitrate. Each individual of the series received a single injection of the metal except for one who was given two widely spaced doses. The first of these was when his condition was normal and the second after an acidosis had been produced by ingestion of ammonium chloride. Renal function tests including urinary catalase, protein, amino N to Creatinine N ratio and clearances of mannitol and p-aminohippurate were done before and after administration of uranium. Only at the 70 microgram per kilogram level in Subject 6 was there a slight rise in urinary catalase and protein suggesting that tolerance had been reached. The excretion of uranium was mainly in the urine, where from 70 to 85% of the administered dose appeared in the first twenty-four hours. Urine of the second twenty-four hours contained about 4% and the third twenty-four hour urine, 1.5% of the administered dose. Detectable amounts were excreted for at least two weeks.

This document is the December 1948 Physics Division Progress Report from the Mound Laboratory. Items covered include: (1) measurement of the vapor pressure of polonium, (2) x-ray diffraction analysis of tantalum, (3) use of the vacuum balance, and (4) updates on efforts to prepare an x-ray target, measurement of the resistivity of polonium, and construction of polonium gamma standards.

This report contains a review of this work conducted by the Electrodeposition Group for the last six months. Pictures and a discussion of the method used to convert production solutions to postum to hydrofluoride acid solutions of postum are given. Attempts to plate postum in an inert atmosphere by remote control have been made. As yet no successful runs have been completed. Standardization of normal calomel electrodes by comparison to silver-silver chloride electrodes and to hydrogen electrodes is described.

This report considers the work done during the year ending June 30, 1948, present work being done and future plans on the determination of formulas, methods of preparation, and properties of as many compounds of postum as possible. An experimental approach to such a research problem on the element postum requires that procedures which may be used deal with ultramicro quantities of material. Such procedures on an ultramicro or gamma scale require special techniques by personnel trained in manipulating these small quantities of radioactive material. Equipment which may be used varies with the experiment considered. Often new apparatus must be developed or equipment previously developed and used in some other experiment must be modified. This generalized research problem is subdivided in the {open_quotes}Research Problems Outline{close_quotes}. The presentation of a survey of these research problems with reference to the outline for the year ending June 30, 1948 is a critical review of the work done by the Gamma Scale Chemistry Group as well as a consideration of future plans. The course which these future plans may follow will depend upon information which may be obtained when carrying out planned experiments.

In this report progress is reported on the production of the postum-beryllium neutron sources and the postum-fluoborate neutron sources. A brief discussion is given for each. Results are given of the efficiency of the postum-fluoborate source and its comparison with Std. 9 and Al-1. This source was shipped to Los Alamos on December 16, 1948.