Investigation report of new artificial heavy nuclides conducted at the laboratory.

Three individuals were inadvertently exposed to polonium. Activity determinations on the routine weekly urine samples submitted by the individuals revealed counts of 174, 734, and 2190 c/min/50 ml respectively. An investigation was immediately launched to determine the source of the exposure, since there was no report of a spill or accident involving active material. By the process of elimination, the time of exposure was narrowed down to a time when two of the individuals were engaged in the denitration of a polonium solution in a small kettie inside a hood when a leak developed in the kettle. The active solution was transferred from the kettle to a carboy. All three individuals were present during the transfer period. Two wore respirators, rubber gloves, and smocks over their coveralls while the third stood well behind and watched the procedure. However, it was concluded that an inhalation exposure resulted. A medical study of each case was instituted and data are summarized. No immediate toxic effects were observed. (C.H.)

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The authors have produced and identified two new series of alpha-particle emitting radioactive elements; one is a 'collateral' branch of the actinium (4n + 3) radioactive family and the other is collateral to the thorium (4n) family. The series are of considerable interest in that they are the first whose early members lie on the neutron deficient side of beta stability. They have been produced in high yield of irradiation of thorium with deuterons of energy about {sup 80}Mev in the Berkeley 184-inch cyclotron. So far as the present observations are concerned both of these series begin with isotopes of protactinium (atomic number 91), although progenitors with higher atomic numbers are to be expected and will possibly be produced and identified. These protactinium isotopes are Pa{sup 227} and Pa{sup 228} formed by d,7n and d,6n reactions respectively.

This document is a November 1948 Calorimetry Research Progress Report from the Mound Laboratory. Updates are given in the following areas: (1) development of micro and macrocalorimeters of the resistance-bridge type, (2) study and design of a rod calorimeter, (3) half-life of Postum, (4) evaluation of various calorimeter types, (5) applied mathematics, (6) materials, and (7) future efforts.

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A test dose of Zr{sup 95} was given to a female patient which had a metastatic reticula endothelial tumor at the distal portion of the left femur. A comparison of the deposition of Zr{sup 95} showed greater uptake 24 hours after administration than any of the normal tissues investigated.

X-ray diffraction patterns have been obtained from a sample of elemental polonium over a period of more than four half-lives. This time study was made for the purpose of determining the effect of decay upon the lattice constants and crystal structure of the element.

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The initial phase of the pressure drop testing program on proposed fuel element design shapes for the high-temperature, gas-cooled power reactor, has been completed with the compilation of pressure drop data for the flatplate riveted-assembly type of unit, the ribbed cylinder type, the single bent-plate type both with and without rivets, the 13 hexagon-6 pentagon type, and the 7-hole graphite type. This phase of the program was conducted for the purpose of determining the equivalent skin-friction pressure drop factor for composite fuel element crosssections, and for determining the joint loss factors for varying degrees of misalignment of the fuel units in the fuel channels of the pile. (auth)

The major problems in this determination are the extraction of X from the sample and the isolation of the extracted X. The application of various analytical methods to these two problems indicates that the current method of analysis yields values which may be as much as 15% high. The current method of analysis is subject to positive and negative errors. The magnitude of these errors varies with techniques and with sample composition. The recommend method, although longer, is believed to be free of these errors, but a radical change, say 100 fold, in the composition of the sample would certainly require further investigation.

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.

The Argonne National Laboratory model of the Vibrating Reed Electrometer was installed in the laboratory of Group 3 to detect the point at which electrodeposition of a radioactive element begins. As now set up, the Vibrating Reed Electrometer has a direct reading sensitivity of 10{sup {minus}12} amperes and this can be increased to 10{sup {minus}17} amperes by using it as a rate of charge instrument. During the past month the ionization chamber was designed and constructed and the complete system was set up for operation. One four-input gamma mixer was completed. Inputs for the GM tubes are on the back of the chassis with mixer output on the front panel, convenient to the Instrument Development Laboratory Model 162 GM input. The performance, on test, was equal to that of the prototype (EL-208). Two thyratron heater controls, EL-238 and EL-241 were completed and are being tested by the Assay Group. Three Scaler-Multipliers, scale of 16,384, are under construction. Two Instrument Development Laboratory methane-flow scalers were modified as outlined in the Electronics Progress Report, MLM-153, dated July 1--31, 1948. A portable power supply tester is being developed which will embody a simplified switching arrangement. Some trouble has been encountered in getting a …

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Operation of the 100F pile is reported on. Ongoing construction is described; detailing population and occupancy. Visitors and the Schenectady report are discussed. A copy of the June 4 letter from Carleton Shugg to Carrol L. Wilson pertaining to flooding of the Columbia and Yakima rivers is included.

In an attempt to detect a possible influence of the atomic electrons on the radioactive decay constant of Be{sup 7} they have measured {lambda}{sub Be}-{lambda}{sub BeO} and found (-3.0 {+-} 1.8) 10{sup -4} {lambda}{sub Be}. They describe also a method to measure mean lives of radioactive substances in a time short compared with the mean life.

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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.

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.

This document is a de-classified August 1948 General Chemistry progress report from Monsanto Chemical`s Mound facility. General chemical properties of Postum compounds are discussed, and experimental data on these properties are presented.

Decomposition potentials of bismuth solutions of 1.037 and 0.509 grams of the metal per 100 ml. of 1.5 nitric acid were found to be -0.06 and -0.09 volts to N.C.E. These results confirm previous values and indicate that bismuth will not be reduced from production solutions at the potential of the normal calomel electrode. A summary of research in progress, completed, or anticipated is given.

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This report provides a summary of the Health and Safety Conference held April 1948 at Chicago, Illinois. Representatives of Argonne National Laboratory, Rochester University, University of California Radiation Laboratory, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, New York Memorial Hospital, as well as a Canadian group and an United Kingdom group. Many topics were discussed some of which were plutonium in urine, toxicity of beryllium, and relative toxicity of radioelements.