Abstract: "A titrimetric method for the determination of fluoride in plutonium is reported. Prior to a steam distillation of the fluoride, the bulk of the plutonium is separated by precipitation of the sulfate. The fluoride in the distillate is titrated at a pH of 3.2 with 0.001 M thorium nitrate, using chrome azurol-S indicator. Applied to samples containing 1 to 15 parts per million fluoride, the recovery is 87% and the precision on the 95% confidence level is +/- 0.65 ppm."

Introduction: "A corrosion test program, to determine the suitability of LaBour B-55 and Worthite for use in the construction of circulating pumps for th UO3 process has been completed and the data are appended."

The Redox solvent extraction process for the separation of uranium and plutonium from their fission products and from each other has operated on an over-all basis very successfully for more than four and one-half years. During this time, there have been occasional periods of high product losses and/or poor separation of fission products from uranium or plutonium as well as periods of poor operability due, among other things, to emulsification and entrainment. The search for the cause of these various process troubles has resulted in almost continuous testing of the process solvent in attempting to determine its contribution, if any, to these difficulties. This report documents the history of the Redox Plant solvent.

One of the UO2 fuel element designs proposed for use in the PTRT is the nested tubular concepts. This configuration compromises a central fuel todo surrounded by two concentric tubes of fuel (see sketch, appenx I.) . These UO2 shapes are to be jacketed in the Zircaloy and must be separated from each other and the procuresses tyvm vt annular spaces for the passage of coolant. The annuli are established and and maintained by the longitudinal ribs on the outer surface of all three jacketed fuel elements.

Uranium dioxide, uranium monocarbide, and uranium mononitride are potentially useful ceramic nuclear fuel materials. This paper reports the results of a determination of the melting points of these materials.

At the request of Design Development Operation, various heat transfer and fluid flow problems were examined which are peculiar to the CO2 Gas-Cooled Loop in the PRTR. The results of these calculations are desired primarily to aid in demonstrating the adequacy of the design proposal. In addition, the operational limits of the loop and the consequences of the gas loop installation on the PRT reactor are of interest.

One of the research studies of the Chemical Effluents Technology Operation is the improvement of the method for predicting the capacity of a crib for the retention of wastes. In addition to laboratory work the research was extended a field experiment using a simulated crib fed with a solution containing a radioactive tracer. The purpose is twofold: (1) to check the validity of laboratory findings and (2) to observe several features of the behavior of solutions put to ground in the field.

In order to prevent dangerous concentrations of combustible gases such as hydrogen and ammonia in Redox dissolvers, a continuous analysis of the off-gases is needed. Hydrogen is evolved from most fuel element dissolution processes now used or planned for use at Redox. Ammonia is also released from ammonium fluoride dissolution of zirconium and caustic dissolution of aluminum cladding. Oxides of nitrogen and hydrogen are formed during nitric acid dissolution of uranium or plutonium-aluminum alloys. Since no fixed ratio exists between the concentrations of any two of these gases, the determination of combustible gases in complex mixtures is not possible with a single bulk property analyzer.

The multi-purpose dissolver was designed to provide: 1. A critically safe vessel for dissolving uranium metal of enrichments up to one percent U-235. 2. A vessel which can be charged with fuel elements up to 10 feet long. 3. An off-gas arrangement which will eliminate return of ammonia to the dissolver during the Zirflex decladding process. 4. A vessel in which small charges can be dissolved without using extra chemicals. 5. A by-pass routing around the silver reactor during cladding removal.

It is well known that neutron damage generally causes increases in the yield and ultimate strength and a decrease in ductility of a metal. There is a continuing program at HAPO to determine the extent of these changes in Zircaloy-2 as functions of integrated neutron exposure, irradiation temperature, and reactor atmosphere. Three investigations from this program will be described and the results summarized. The first investigation deals with both annealed and cold worked Zircaloy-2 irradiated at approximately 50 C. and the other two investigations deal with annealed Zircaloy-2 irradiated at approximately 100 and 280 C respectively. In each investigation tensile testing was performed at room temperature.

The development of a miniature probe was desired for measuring approximate single nuclide beta dose rate in solution and in various animal organs. This probe designed for biological experiments, was to have maximum possible sensitivity to detect low levels of nuclide concentrations. The desired dimensions of the light pipe were to be approximately one-fourth-inch diameter with lengths of three to twelve inches.

With the construction of nuclear reactors, a great deal of emphasis has been placed upon studying the effects of radiation on the solid materials of construction. It has become necessary to consider radiation exposure as an environmental entity along with others so established such as temperature, electrical and mechanical stress, chemical resistance, weather, etc. Problems concerning the study of the behavior of materials that are thus increased when radiation exposure has to be evaluated singly or in combination with one or more of the other environments. This paper presents the general plan of attack being followed to solve such problems that arise when plastics and elastomers are placed in radiation fields. These studies were undertaken for two primary reasons: (1) to obtain engineering data for practical applications of the desirable properties of these materials for such devices as o-rings, gaskets, pipe, and electrical insulation; and (2) to use these data to enable a better understanding of the nature of radiation effects on these materials. The initial phase of the program is the screening of materials by subjecting them to various degrading environments and recording property changes. Thus, with data on how these materials performed, more comprehensive studies could be made …