The recent production by Thompson, Ghiorso, and Seaborg of a radioactive isotope of berkelium (atomic number 97) makes it possible to investigate the chemical properties of this transuranium element by means of the tracer technique. This isotope has been prepared through the bombardment of Am{sup 241} with about 35 Mev helium ions in the 60-inch cyclotron of the Crocker Laboratory and is believed to have the mass number 243, or possibly 244. This Bk{sup 243} has a half-life of 4.6 hours and decays by electron capture with about 0.1% branching decay by alpha-particle emission. In the present tracer chemical experiments, the radiations accompanying the electron capture process were used as a means of detection and were counted in two ways. Where the sample deposits on the platinum plates were essentially weightless, as was the case following the evaporation and ignition of the elutriant solutions in the column adsorption experiments, a high efficiency was obtained by using a windowloess proportional counter to count the Auger electrons. The thicker samples from the precipitation experiments in which carrier materials were used were counted close to the thin window (3 mg/cm{sup 2} mica) of a bell type Geiger counter filled with 10 cm. xenon …

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Information is presented in threc main sections: nuclear and radiochemistry. physical and organic chemistry, and process chemistry. Included is an investigation of naturally occurring Pu for isotopes other than Pu/sup 239/ , an examination of Mallinckrodt wastes for Ac/sup 227/ the half life of Pa/sup 240/ the cross section of Np /sup 237/ and a study of Np isomers, studies of various Tc and Re compounds, coincidence of interference in a pulse analyzer, absorption of neutrons in a sphere. separation of tritium and hydrogen, spectrophotometric studies of Pa, studies of salt-mixed solvent systems. spectra of ferric complexes, separation of Pu and Np. oxidation of Np(IV by Fe(III). magnetic susceptibilities of actinic compounds, Np(V) compounds. thermal decomposition of UO/sub 3/, physical properties of metal chloridephosphorus oxychloride systems, a continuous chromatographic adsorption method, fluoride volatility separations, fluorination of Th, Zr. Al. and Zr- U alloys, electrolysis of BrF/sub 3/ solutions, decontamination studies including U- Te separations, Pa volatility experiments, extraction of ionium from Mallinckrodt raffinate, and isolation of Pa from the ionium waste stream. (J.R.D.)

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As titanium, zirconium, and other of the high melting electropositive metals become more important, the problem of using suitable refractory materials for their casting becomes more important. This paper discusses the method of choosing and testing possible container materials. To make the discussion more specific, titanium is used as an example. As titanium melt at 2000 {+-} 10 K, it is immediately clear that one is restricted to refractory materials melting considerably above 2000 K. This greatly limits the possible materials that might be considered. The possibility of using any pure high melting element can be quickly eliminated as titanium reacts quite vigorously with non-metals such as carbon and due to its high boiling point and therefore high internal pressure, one can predict that it dissolves even the most refractory metals. Examination of phase diagrams confirms that even metals such as tantalum, tungsten, and rhenium would not be able to resist attack by titanium. One is thus limited to high melting compounds such as the oxides, sulfides, nitrides, carbides, silicides, and borides. The first consideration is that, if possible, one would use a compound which is thermodynamically stable in the presence of titanium metal at 2000 K. Titanium should not …

When it became apparent that particles were emanating from the stacks of the separations plants, it become important that the source, size, activity and composition of the particles be determined in order to evaluate the hazard to persons working in and neer the stack areas. The present report will give the results of radiochemical analysis of particles collected by electrostatic precipitation from ``B`` plant canyon ventilation air, not from the off-gas ventilation line. Of importance is the fact the particles analyzed consist not only of particles from the ventilation air but also, unavoidably, of rust from the iron manifold used to conduct the gases to the precipitator. This makes a determination of the activity versus weight ratio impossible, but should not invalidate the radiochemical data.

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This report summarizes a study of the composition and physical properties of a number of hydrocarbon diluents together with some generalizations regarding relations between these properties.

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This report presents decontamination and corrosion resistance data on various industrial materials tested on a laboratory scale to aid in the section of materials for the construction and maintenance of radiochemical laboratories at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

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Description of apparatus and technique for detection of photomesons produced by the synchrotron.

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Uranium can be rolled from cast metal or forged ingot to sheet satisfactory for cupping, deep drawing, and similar fabrication procedures by a combination of hot breakdown in the neighborhood of 600 deg C and warm finishing at 225 to 325 deg C. Sheet may also be obtained by hot rolling alone and by warm rolling alone, but the combination of hot and warm rolling afforded the best and most practical method to secure good quality sheet in the quantity required. The percent reduction by hot working does not appear to be critical, but at least 60% warm reduction is desirable to obtain complete and controlled grain size by recrystallization with high ductility and strength properties. Except for research investigation, rolling of uranium below 225 deg C is not recommended. Hot rolling of unplated uranium from the as-cast or as-forged surface is recommended, using a bath of 35% Li/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ plus 65% K/sub 2/CO/sub 3/ for a heating medium. No further preparation other than washing the salt from the hot rolled surface is required before warm rolling, and a bath of Meltemp No. 7 oil is recommended for warm rolling. Starting with an as-cast tensile strength averaging 60,000 psi, …

The objective of this project was to remove impurities in the form of PbO/sub 2/ from a HNO/sub 3/ solution by electrolysis. This electrolytic cell must process up to a 15-gal. batch in a minimum of time. It is desirable that the impurity remaining after processing be less than 20 ppm. Construction and operation of the cell are described. (G.Y.)

A coincidence circuit using the traveling wave principle as applied to distributed amplification is described. The resolving time is about 10{sup -8} sec. when the device is used in connection with scintillation detectors.

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