Ceramic fuel element specimens consisting of a uranium oxide-thorium oxide solid solution dispersed in beryllium oxide were fabricated by hot pressing in graphite dies. Details of fabrication techniques are given. Tests for overall composition, homogeneity and size and shape of fuel grains made during and at the completion of the work indicate that the specimens are in general agreement with initial specifications.

The meter, based on the galvanic cell described by Hersh, was developed by the Analytical Chemistry Group of the A.A.E.C. Research Establishment to enable traces of oxygen in gases to be determined. The instrument consists of our main parts; the galvanic cell, the electrolytic cell, the flowrate indicator, and the control unit.

The main difficulties of experiments on the influence of radiation on creep is metals are discussed. Some typical apparatuses for investigation by using natural sources, reactors, cyclotrons, etc., are described. These methods have resulted in relatively inaccurate measurements up to now. Therefore, the published results do not allow any statement of laws, but only tendencies. There is a surprising influence of charged particles on creep rate in spite of their low depth of penetration. The discussion of the results leads to the conclusion, that the temperature of the specimen, the stresses and the density of beam are very important. Two requirements are put forward if such researches are to be of technical importance and not only of theoretical interest.

The complex formation reaction between beryllium and aluminon was investigated for different values of pH. It was established that at pH between 4 and 5 a complex is formed containing the constituents in the ratio 1 : 1 . At a pH between 7 and 8 a complex is formed having a beryllium-aluminon ratio of 3 : 1. At pH 6 both complexes are formed . It is shown that the complexes can be distinguished optically and in other aspects. The colorimetric determination of beryllium with aluminon is made at pH 5. At this pH value the results obtained for the determination of beryllium are satisfactory and of sufficient reproducibility.

Selenenoyl-2-acetone is much more suitable for the extraction of thorium from aqueous solutions than acetylacetone, which is extensively used for this purpose. The stability constants of thorium selenenoyl-2-acetoneates and the distribution coefficient of the extracted complex in the CHCl3-H2O system have a higher value than those of the acetylacetonates of this element.

EDTA is an eluant with many possibilities for analytical chemistry. The authors present the results obtained in the separation of carrier-free radioisotopes; separation of Ba, Sr, Y, La; preparation of 228(Ra) from thorium; separation of Ca, Sr, Ba, and Ra. All the results were obtained with Dowex 50.