From abstract: "The rate of hydrolysis of TBP and the effect of the hydrolysis products in the Purex Process have been studied. Hydrolytic conditions may be encountered in the process which would lead to formation of dibutyl phosphoric acid, causing significant losses of tetravalent plutonium in stripping. This situation may be easily alleviated by reducing and stripping the plutonium in the trivalent state."

Much of the shielding work carried out with the Bulk Shielding Reactor (BSR) has yielded data of particular interest for the design of swimming pool type reactors, However, it is often difficult for a reactor designer to locate such data since it may be recorded in a report primarily concerned with shielding problems. Therefore, this memorandum presents a bibliography of reports from the Bulk Shielding Facility arranged according to the application of data to the various aspects of reactor design.

Semiannual Progress report of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Chemistry Division providing updates on various projects, experiments, and other work in inorganic and physical chemistry, nuclear chemistry, organic chemistry, chemical physics, chemistry of separation processes, radiation chemistry, and reactor chemistry.

A satisfactory ion-exchange-polarographic method was developed for the determination of either chromium(VI) or total chromium in Homogeneous Reactor fuels. Total chromium is determined as chromium (VI) , i.e., chromate, and in the same way as is chromium(VI), after chromium in the lower valence states is oxidized to chromate by potassium permanganate. Chromate is separated from all interfering metal ions in the fuel by ion exchange on a Dowex 50 resin column. The Chromate in the effluent is determined polarographically in approximately 0.75 M sodium hydroxide solution as supporting electrolyte. A well polarographic wave is obtained for the chromium (VI) chromium (III) reduction at a half-wave potential of -0.85 volt vs. the S.C.E. The relative standard deviation of the data for 2 μg of chromium (VI) per ml was 2%; for 4 μg of total chromium per ml, it was 3%. An ion-exchange-polarographic method was developed also for the determination of chromium(III). Chromium (III) is separated from all interfering ions in the fuel by ion exchange on a Dowex 1 resin column. The chromium (III) in the effluent is determined polarographically in a 1M ammonia-1M ammonium chloride supporting electrolyte. The wave obtained at a half-wave potential of -1.42 volt vs. the …

Bench scale studies have been made of the recovery of uranium from acid leach liquors (and slurries) by solvent extracting with di (2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid in an organic diluent. Uranium may be stripped from the organic solvent by either alkaline or acidic reagents, the former having been studied in greater detail. On the basis of these tests, a recovery process may be considered which shows promise both from the standpoint of operation and chemical costs. Under proper conditions, vanadium can also be extracted by the di (2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid and stripping again may be accomplished with either acidic or alkaline reagents. Preliminary studies have been made of these possibilities. In addition to di (2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid, some other organophosphorus acids, have been cursorily examined in respect to their extraction and/or stripping performance.

Technical report describing results on work which cannot be ascribed to one reactor program. Outlines the results of miscellaneous corrosion testing, the development of new shielding materials, the testing of irradiated plastics, and general heat transfer investigation. [From Preface]

Release of fission products from UO2 with emphasis on fuel elements operated at higher surface temperatures and lower external pressures than those for pressurized-water systems.

From Introduction: "The present semiannual progress report introduces more active consideration than has been given in the past (by us, at least) to the importance of energy degradation in DCX-like devices. The following pages introduce also a new major apparatus designated as DCX-2. Some of these concepts cannot as yet be released publicly and therefore Chap. 3 of this report, covering the DCX-EP-B design, is being issued separately, with restricted distribution, as ORNL-3044."

Report issued by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory discussing the production separation for the radioisotope program. As stated in the abstract, "a general description is given of five years' experience in routine production of fission products of high concentration and high activity levels for the radioisotope program. Details of construction and production processes are given for two systems which were built on ion-exchange principle" (p. 2). This report includes illustrations, and photographs.

This quarterly progress report of the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Project at ORNL records the technical progress of the research on circulating-fuel reactors and ether ANP research at the Laboratory under its Contract W-7405-eng-26. The report is divided into three major parts: I. Reactor Theory, Component Development, and Construction, II. Materials Research, and III. Shielding Research.

The first step in a proposed processing method for recovery of uranium from graphite-uranium fuels consists of oxidation of the fuel by oxygen to volatilize the carbon. Residue ash from the combustion step can be treated in a variety of ways to recover and purify the uranium. The combustion step may be caried out by contacting the solid fuel in a fixed or moving bed with a stream of oxygen-bearing gas in a tubular or annular reactor. Oxidizing gas may be introduced to the reactor at several points up the reactor and there may be continuous or intermittent addition of fresh fuel and removal of residue ash.

The first man-made nuclear reactor -- or "pile" as it was then called -- was rather hurriedly improvised and operated in a crowded space under the athletic bleachers of Stagg Field at the University of Chicago on December 2, 1942. Just prior to this time, there began the assembly of a group of physicists with an unusual assignment. They were determined that radiation hazards of unprecedented proportions must be coped with successfully in the conduct of reactor programs as planned. Since these physicists were to be concerned with the health of radiation workers, they were called health physicists. There was no formal instruction available to this first group of health physicists and they perforce received training as they felt their way by firsthand experience and by trial and error. Health physics at Oak Ridge National Laboratory from the very beginning has been organized into three principal areas: applied activities, education and training and research.