Report discussing a method for the stepwise calculation of the number of transfer units utilized in a given solvent extraction operation. "Use of the method results in a very appreciable saving in time of calculation with an error of 1.5% for the runs tested. The error tends to become smaller with increasing total numbers of transfer units involved."

A report discussing an experiment conducted to determine the effect of radiation on the melting point of Tempilaq, a commercially available, temperature-indicating liquid.

Summary: A method for the separation of cesium from macro quantities of sodium and potassium using an ion exchange resin, Dowex 50, has been developed. A 95% recovery of cesium with a reduction of the solid content of 95% was found possible. Curves illustrating the effect of acidity, column length, and flow rate are presented in the report. The sodium form, hydrogen form and ammonium form of Dowex 50 were investigated; the hydrogen form was found to give the best separation.

Report discussing the results of research conducted by the Hanford Works Analytical Research Group during the period from March 1949 to April 1949.

"The purpose of this present document is twofold: (1) To acquaint the reader with the planning of the radiochemical laboratory designed for the analytical control of the Radio-lanthanum Process. (2) To define the terminal status of the design of this laboratory and its equipment."

Report discussing an impinging experiment "to test the pitting tendencies of different qualities of water," specifically, alum coagulated water without sodium dichromate, alum coagulated water plus 2 ppm sodium dichromate, and ferrifloc coagulated water without sodium dichromate.

Report discussing tests conducted in an attempt to adapt a micromanometer for use in measuring variations of about 0.003 mm Hg in atmospheric pressure. Additionally, a method for making full use of the micromanometer sensitivity and extending its range is described.

Report discussing the details of a radiation burst in a spherical reactor using plutonium nitrate fuel that occurred on November 16, 1951 at Hanford Works.

Report discussing the progress made on research concerning sluge-supernate acidification. This report focuses mainly on "'reverse strike' acidification and the observations of the physical characteristics of the test material," which was a synthetic incubated metal waste.

Report discussing analytical methods that were developed for various procedures in the Radiolanthanum Laboratory.

Report discussing "the effect on the multiplication constant of using graphite of various density." Results are tabulated and plotted.

The spontaneous fission rate of plutonium-240 has been redetermined and found to be 1.51 X 106 events/g/hr.

Field tests were conducted to measure short-period pollutant concentrations at several stack heights during conditions of marked atmospheric instability and low wind speeds. The source was a mechanical smoke generator located at the 185-ft level of a tower.

A manipulator designed to support an irradiated slug at the bottom of the viewing basin, so that an operator could view it through a binocular telescope and be able to see all surfaces, was designed. Hydraulic power, using water, operates the manipulator and gears.

The corrosion resistance of four types of austenitic stainless steels to Purex process first and second acid concentrator bottoms was determined. Although the compositions of the two solutions were very similar, tests in simulated solutions of both compositions were conducted to strengthen the basis for the conclusions which were to be made.

Measurements were taken to provide experimental evidence for determining the feasibility of a proposed method for converting Pu240 to 241 by exposing shielded plutonium to selectively transmitted pile neutrons.

Thermal spikes occurring during the life of a slug in a pile cause a momentary destruction of the original configuration of atoms in the metal. This process occurs at such a rate that in a thermal neutron flux of 10(13) neutrons per square centimeter per second each atom in the metal will be subject to temperatures above the melting point of uranium every 40 minutes.

During the canning of slugs for Production Test 313-105-3-M, a high number of rejects were caused by gas voids in the A1-S1 bonding layer. Since the heat treatment of the slugs in a molten salt bath resulted in a chemically altered surface, an investigation was made to determine the volume of gas evolved from salt-bath heat-treated slugs as compared to other types of slugs. This test was designed as a preliminary test to determine if there were a significant differences.

Two xenon extraction runs were made this month. It appears that a small design change in Trap #2 will be necessary so that a dry ice-trichloroethylene slurry can be used for coolant rather than liquid freon. For each of the runs this month the enriched generator was exposed for four hours in the est pile operating at 100 watts. A period of eight hours for cooling and xenon builidup was allowed before the collection and separation runs were started.

Hanford uranium contains minute angular inclusions which affect the microstructure, reactivity, and other important factors controlling the serviceability of the metal. Small quantities of the inclusions have been isolated by chemical means, and the x-ray diffraction patterns and chemical analyses of the isolated materials have been determined. As a first step in the identification of the inclusions present in rolled uranium, a search was made for a chemical method of separating the inclusions from the matrix metal.

Removal of particles from air is discussed in terms of three classes of filtering media--air-sampling, respirator, and air-cleaning. Plots of efficiency versus filtering velocity are presented. The pressure drop characteristics of the filters are discussed in terms of initial pressure drops of the clean filters, variations in pressure drop of the individual filters, and comparison of loading rates.

The remodeling, fabrication, and instrumentation of a high vacuum system are described. The faults encountered with the old system and their solution are outlined. Tests were made on diffusion pump oils and on the reduction of pump oil back diffusion. The measurement of high vacuum pressures by a cold cathode ionization gage at various points on a vacuum system are discussed.

Several improvements have been made in the gamma scintillation counter (GSC). The Model V gamma scintillation counter uses a canned thallium activated sodium iodide crystal as a detector. Although the electronic components remain unchanged, a modification of the sample support has been made to improve reproducibility of geometry. To assure comparable results between various counters, they must be operated at the same energy threshold and counting yield. Methods have been developed to assure operation at a preferred energy threshold of 0.1 Mev and an arbitrarily fixed counting yield of 3.36% for Cs-Ba-137. Partial pulse height discrimination against U 237 is also accomplished.

The results of electrical resistance measurements have been used as a means of following changes occurring in metals due to irradiation. The electrical conductivity is sensitive to changes in composition and to cold-work or structure damage. In an anisotropic metal, such as uranium, the director of measurement also influences to some extent the values obtained. For these reasons it is essential to use the same material, and if possible the same piece of material, in comparing the electrical properties before and after irradiation. This report is a description of the measurements made on pieces of the same uranium rod before and after an exposure of approximately 150 MWD/T. The results, while preliminary in nature and dealing only with one sample and exposure level, provide data for which a comparison may be made of the electrical resistivity of irradiated and non-irradiated uranium metal.