Entrained solids have in the past been one of the major factors limiting solvent extraction fission product decontamination. These solids are known to be surface active, to absorb fission products, and to form interfacial films or "cruds". A major step in eliminating these cruds was taken when the Purex columns were modified to operate with the interfaces at the waste ends of the columns rather than the product ends. This type of operation tended to flush the solids out with the waste rather than the product streams.

It is the purpose of this report to explain the bands and uses of a digital computer program for the calculation of steady state steam-water pressure drop and critical flow in pipes. The program has been coded for the IBM 709 computer. While so attempt has been made to obtain improved models of two-phase flow, it is believed that the numerical integration technique used in the code will permit more accurate calculation where pressure drops are large compared to the upstream pressure. The technique should lend itself readily to any improved correlations which appear in the future.

A study and tests of the feasibility and best method of reaming rear face Parker fittings has been made. Flow increase of 8 percent, based on maintaining the same front header pressure, can be obtained at B, D, and F reactors by reaming the rear Parker fittings to .610 inch and using existing rear face hardware. Tests indicate mechanical strength will not be significantly reduced, high frequency vibration will not be increased, and that methods of reaming are available.

Basic Studies. Sinterability studies on the isomorphous system UO2-PuO2 have continued. One-half inch diameter X 3/8'' long compacts containing physical mixtures of the two components have been heated in hydrogen. Sintered density as a function of time and temperature has been determined for times of one and eight hours up to 1600 C. In general, there seems to be minima on isothermal plots of density versus composition in the intermediate range 20-40 w/o PuO2. At concentrations greater than 40 w/o PuO2, density increases rapidly with increasing PuO2. In every case pure PuO2, (produced by decomposing plutonium oxalate at at 300 C) sintered to a greater density that ball ball milled PWR grade UO2. The data, for a one hour soak time, and tabulated in percent of the theoretical crystallographic density, can be seen below:

Facilities shall be provided in the 221-U Building for removing fuel elements from the casks as placed in the railroad tunnel from the transfer facility and moving the elements to modified existing 10' X 16' X 14' storage tanks in ten existing cells where they will be stored, until scheduled for processing.

A number of Pu-Al and UO2-PuO2 Zircaloy clad capsules have been fabricated for irradiation in the MTR. In addition, a four rod cluster containing Al 8 w/o Pu and Al 12 w/o Si 8 w/o Pu cores has been successfully irradiated and discharged from Loop 3 of the KER. A second four rod cluster is awaiting irradiation and design and fabrication of a seven rod cluster test element is underway.

In formulating this general diffusion theory expression which represents the neutron balance in a nuclear chain reactor the following assumptions were made : (1) the medium through which the neutrons are diffusing has a low neutron capture cross section, (2) the region in which the flux distribute is being described is two or three mean free paths from strong sources and sinks or from a boundary. Certainly, is going to the lattice cell of a receptor, both of the above conditions are violated; fuel elements have a large absorption cross section and most lattice cells are only two or three mean free paths to is over-all sites

Because of the relative simplicity of the X-Ray spectra and recent improvements in instrumentation, analytical applications of X-Ray of spectrography are becoming very popular. The method us applicable to both qualitative and quantitative determinations of all elements heavier than sodium. Elements in multicomponent systems, such as alloys and minerals, and elements such as, W, Pt, Nb, Ta, Hf, Zr, and the rare earths, which are difficult to separate or determine by other methods, can usually be determined directly without special sample treatment. The method is rapid and precision is comparable to wet chemical analyses. It is applicable over the very wide concentration range from parts per 10,000 to 100 percent, and can be applied to the analysis of all kinds of samples- metals, drillings and thin films, powders, glasses, or liquids. The method is described and its advantages and limitations are discussed. Typical analyses are mentioned and sensitivity limits for determination of the various elements are illustrated as a guide to possible uses of X-ray spectrography.

This report summarizes the research and development work carried out during June, July, and August, 1959, for Budget Activity 2790- Separations Development for Non-Production Reactors. The effort on Activity 2790 - Separations Development for Non-Production Reactors. The effort on Activity 2790 will enable Hanford to begin reprocessing in January, 1962, the fuel elements from power reactors which employ depleted or slightly enriched uranium fuels.

In the Columbia River downstream from Richland, Washington there is a gradual decrease in concentration of radioactive isotope. At any one location there are fluctuations due to factors such as dilution and decay time. During this period at all locations the concentration of alpha particle emitters in water averaged below the detection limit. Beta particle emitters in water upstream of McNary Dam decreased slightly due to increased river flow this quarter, with averages at various locations. Downstream from McNary Dam, beta particle emitter average concentrations in water were about the same as the past three quarters.

Hydrogen peroxide has been used to reduce plutonium (VI) in nitric acid solution to the (IV) valence state. However, reduction of plutonium (VI) solutions containing iron has often been incomplete when hydrogen peroxide was used as the reducing agent. Since reduction of plutonium (VI) has been applied in plant solutions containing iron, a study of the plutonium (VI) reduction with hydrogen peroxide was undertaken. Variables tested included plutonium, nitric acid, and iron concentrations.

The creep problems associated with zircaloy-2 process tubes and the factors affecting the creep of these tubes were discussed in detail. Emphasis was placed on the determination of the tube wall thickness for an SPR tube, whose minimum thickness is limited by creep considerations. It was concluded that, at the present time, there is not enough information available to design zircaloy-2 process tubes on a realistic basis. Various experiments were suggested to supplement the creep rate testing program being pursued by Battelle Memorial Institute.

The experimental evaluation of low (10⁻⁸ in/in/hr) creep rates are costly and time consuming. Thus, in answer to a request from the design group, the creep data on Zircaloy-2 obtained at Battelle Memorial Institute is extrapolated into the low creep rate range. Because the methods of extrapolation have not been evaluated at very low creep rates on Zircaloy, two different methods are used to analyze the creep data. The methods of extrapolation are given so that future analyses can be carried out by the design group or by other sections interested in predicting creep rates which have not been experimentally determined.

The penetration rates of thorium metal by boiling nitric acid were measured as a function of the concentration of fluoride catalyst and of nitric acid. Dissolved thorium and aluminum were found to inhibit the reaction. Thoris exhibited penetration rates much lower than those of thorium metal. In addition to the specific rate measurements, pot type batch dissolvings were carried out to estimate plant time cycles. An empirical mathematical equation was devised which correlates the results of these batch dissolvings and facilitates application of the data to other types of dissolvers.

The absorption of the important fission products by plants is quantitatively presented as a concentration factor which is defined as the ratio of the fission product concentration found in the leaves to the fission product concentration found in the nutrient substrate. Of the fission products, the isotopes of strontium were found to be the most important by virtue of their high concentration factor, long half-life, and low maximum permissible amounts for animals. Iodine and barium follow in importance, with cesium moderately important in some soils. All other fission products have concentration factors less than strontium by 100 or more. The effect on the concentration factor of different agricultural plants, as well as different organs of the same plant, causes variations of about a factor of ten or less for each isotope. The concentration factor tends to increase as the pH of the nutrient substrate is decreased. Addition of stable carrier to the substrate does not decrease the amount of the radioactive isotope that is absorbed into the plant. The presence of iodine and yttrium carrier actually causes a significant increase in the concentration of the respective radioactive isotopes in the plant tissue.

Using ferrous ion in the presence of fluoride for reducing uranium(VI) to the four state, the salt calcium uranium (IV) fluoride can be precipitated from uranyl nitrate solutions. X-ray studies have shown that the precipitate is a true double salt and not a mixture of the two insoluble fluorides of calcium and uranium. The salt settles rapidly and can be either filtered or centrifuged. Waste losses during precipitation and washing were on the order of 2.0 and 0.4 per cent, respectively. These waste losses are not primarily solubility losses. During filtration of the supernates some fines were not removed by the sintered glass filter, and post-precipitation was also noticed. The hydrated salt contains approximately one mole of water which can also be removed without hydrolysis by drying at 250 C in an atmosphere of deoxygenated argon. Dry calcium uranium fluoride prepared in this manner is free flowing with a bulk density of about 1.25 g/cm³.

It is the purpose of this document to outline a proposed addition to the previously considered clean-up systems as a possible solution for the maintenance of high purity water. A cyclone separator system has been devised in conjunction with the water clean-up of a high temperature recirculating reactor cooling system. By utilizing such a cyclone separator system, a high quality water can be obtained in a primary coolant system made up of carbon steel components without excessive clean-up costs.

Handwritten report. This theoretical introduction to the anisotropic elastic properties of the orthorombic [sic] uranium crystal presents certain basic ideas which are useful in the study of experimental methods for determining preferred orientations in polycrystalline bodies. The method of analysis used to determine the elastic constants suggests explanations and correlations for the observations of sonic wave experiments on bars having preferred orientations and also serves as an introduction into the type of mathematical relations used in the study of anisotropic crystals.

Describes the current prototype model of a linear amplifier, two-channel pulse-height analyser, two-channel count-rate meter, and count-rate difference detector for a gamma-ray spectrometer monitor developed to approach the above design criteria.

The preparation of radioactive metallurgical specimens for microscopic examination is one of the responsibilities of the Radiometallurgy Sub-Unit. An abrasive cut-off machine development program, based upon a previous experimental model, was undertaken to provide a method for sectioning of irradiated materials without undue personnel exposure or spread of contamination and finally to provide data for the design of an abrasive cutting unit for use in the work cells in the Radiometallurgy Building. A horizontal-feed type set-off machine, powered by a 7 1/2 hp motor with V-belt drive, has been developed for the submerged sectioning of irradiated uranium and is currently being used successfully to obtain samples for metallurgical, chemical and physical investigations without excessive personnel exposure or spread of radioactive contaminates.

The monitoring of thermal and resonance neutron flux in a thermal reactor having high flux over periods of time from 1 to 12 months using think Co foils is considered. Special attention is paid to the many correction factors to be applied to the activation data; neutron temperature, effective cadmium cutoff energy, burnout of Co59 and Co60, and decay of Co60. Results on a homogeneity test of 10 mil, 0.08% Co-A1 alloy foils is given.

From summary: The object of the study was to determine if the heavy metal ions within the concentration ranges normally found in pile cooling water were responsible for corrosion of aluminum.

Abstract: "Laboratory production of an explosion between UNH and "red oil" under calcination conditions has been accomplished. Attempted production of a vapor phase explosion was unsuccessful below 150-160 C. Since such severe conditions are necessary to obtain an explosive reaction, it appears that present Purex plant design is adequate to avoid explosive conditions."

Report summarizing physical studies on Redox solutions and metal waste solutions, including refractometric investigations.