Separation techniques for the clean-up of radioactive mixed waste for ICP-AES/ICP-MS analysis (open access)

Separation techniques for the clean-up of radioactive mixed waste for ICP-AES/ICP-MS analysis

Two separation techniques were investigated for the clean-up of typical radioactive mixed waste samples requiring elemental analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) or Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). These measurements frequently involve regulatory or compliance criteria which include the determination of elements on the EPA Target Analyte List (TAL). These samples usually consist of both an aqueous phase and a solid phase which is mostly an inorganic sludge. Frequently, samples taken from the waste tanks contain high levels of uranium and thorium which can cause spectral interferences in ICP-AES or ICP-MS analysis. The removal of these interferences is necessary to determine the presence of the EPA TAL elements in the sample. Two clean-up methods were studied on simulated aqueous waste samples containing the EPA TAL elements. The first method studied was a classical procedure based upon liquid-liquid extraction using tri-n- octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) dissolved in cyclohexane. The second method investigated was based on more recently developed techniques using extraction chromatography; specifically the use of a commercially available Eichrom TRU[center dot]Spec[trademark] column. Literature on these two methods indicates the efficient removal of uranium and thorium from properly prepared samples and provides considerable qualitative information on the extraction behavior of …
Date: March 17, 1993
Creator: Swafford, A.M. & Keller, J.M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
High resolution microstructural and microchemical analysis of zirconia eutectic interfaces (open access)

High resolution microstructural and microchemical analysis of zirconia eutectic interfaces

Resolution of microscopic analytical methods has greatly improved over the past decade, and it is now possible to examine periodic variations in structure and chemistry at a scale much finer than the spacing typical of eutectic structures (1-5 [mu]m). During the current year, studies were completed on ZrO[sub 2]-NiO and ZrO[sub 2]-MnO eutectic systems, and study was initiated on microchemical variation in two spinodal systems: Cu-Ni-Sn and SnO[sub 2]-TiO[sub 2]. Work was also initiated on metal/oxide interface microchemistry, in particular the corrosion interface resulting during oxidation of Cu-Sn alloys. 6 figs.
Date: March 17, 1993
Creator: Notis, Michael R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Preliminary results of the comparison of ATSR measurements with in situ sea temperatures (open access)

Preliminary results of the comparison of ATSR measurements with in situ sea temperatures

During October and November, 1991, the NATO Research Vessel Alliance sailed from Amsterdam into the western Mediterranean Sea and during this time measurements were made for the validation of ATSR data. This document reports the initial comparison between ATSR measurements and sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) taken along the ship's track by an in situ thermometer at a depth of about 3m.
Date: March 17, 1993
Creator: Minnett, P.J.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Evaluation of an x-ray fluorimeter for measuring lead in paint (open access)

Evaluation of an x-ray fluorimeter for measuring lead in paint

A laboratory analysis of key performance features of the Warrington Microlead I XRF Analyzer was conducted. This analysis included the determination of instrument accuracy and precision as measured against standard reference materials as well as the instrument's ability to provide information for multiple layers of a lead-based paint.
Date: March 17, 1993
Creator: Klein, R.C.; Horn, F.T. & Wilson, R.D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Summer investigations into the metabolic diversity of the microbial world (open access)

Summer investigations into the metabolic diversity of the microbial world

The philosophy of the course described here is to underscore the essence of microbiology which is diversity>: diversity of morphology and cellular development, behavior, and metabolic and physiological functions. Emphasis is on microbes other than those customarily covered in conventional microbiology courses and includes: the archaebacteria, extremophiles, and array of obligate anaerobes, various phototrophs, and those microbes exhibiting complex developmental cycles. Also included are microbes carrying out a variety of transformations of organic and inorganic compounds, as well as those which normally occur in symbiotic association with other microbes or with higher forms of life.
Date: May 17, 1993
Creator: Breznak, J. & Dworkin, M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cretaceous shallow drilling, US Western Interior: Core research (open access)

Cretaceous shallow drilling, US Western Interior: Core research

This project is a continuing multidisciplinary study of middle to Upper Cretaceous marine carbonate and clastic rocks in the Utah-Colorado-Kansas corridor of the old Cretaceous seaway that extended from the Gulf Coast to the Arctic during maximum Cretaceous transgressions. It is collaborative between in the US Geological Survey (W.E. Dean, P.I.) and University researchers led by The Pennsylvania State University(M.A. Arthur, P.I.) and funded by DOE and the USGS, in part. Research focusses on the Greenhom, Niobrara and lower Pierre Shale units and their equivalents, combining biostratigraphic/paleoecologic studies, inorganic, organic and stable isotopic geochemical studies, mineralogical investigations and high-resolution geophysical logging. This research requires unweathered samples and continuous smooth exposures'' in the form of cores from at least 4 relatively shallow reference holes (i.e. < 1000m) in transect from east to west across the basin. The major initial effort was recovery in Year 1 of the project of continuous cores from each site in the transect. This drilling provided samples and logs of strata ranging from pelagic sequences that contain organic-carbon-rich marine source rocks to nearshore coal-bearing units. This transect also will provide information on the extent of thermal maturation and migration of hydrocarbons in organic-carbon-rich strata along a burial …
Date: February 17, 1993
Creator: Arthur, Michael A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Workforce diversity in a research and development environment -- a model that works (open access)

Workforce diversity in a research and development environment -- a model that works

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Engineering Directorate is in the third year of a diversity process that has changed the culture of the organization in many ways. This work outlines progress toward realizing the LLNL Engineering Diversity Model. Currently recommendations are being implemented that have been formulated through a problem resolution process, described in this work, in which employees helped identify problems, recommend solutions, and work with managers in focus groups. The process of arriving at the recommendations and the lessons learned through the problem resolution process are discussed. Ongoing actions, short-term goals, and long-term goals of the program are described.
Date: November 17, 1993
Creator: McDavid, S.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Quality factor measurements at NTF (open access)

Quality factor measurements at NTF

The dose equivalent rate in the radiation field outside of the polydoor at the Neutron Therapy Facility has been measured, using a Chipmunk, assuming a quality factor (QF) of 5, to be 25 mrem/hr. This kind of dose rate if true introduced occupancy restrictions and NTF is operating under an exemption. Based on the previous CR-39 studies of the neutron field around NTF,and the amount of shielding around the NTF, it was difficult to believe that a significant neutron field exists in this area, and contributes to the measured dose rate. If the field was mostly due to gamma rays the QF setting on the Chipmunk could be reliably set to a value of one. One method of obtaining a qualitative understanding of the relative abundance of neutron and gamma contribution to the absorbed doses, is to measure the quality factor for the field. This was determined using a recombination chamber. The recombination chamber is a gas filled ion chamber that can measure the average quality factor of a radiation field of unknown composition and energy spectrum. To use the recombination chamber in an unknown field, one needs to measured a calibration curve using radiation fields of known quality factor. …
Date: December 17, 1993
Creator: Vaziri, K.; Krueger, F.; Kroc, T.; Lauten, G.; Lennox, A. & Leveling, T.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Two dimensional self-consistent fluid simulation of rf inductive sources (open access)

Two dimensional self-consistent fluid simulation of rf inductive sources

The two-dimensional (R - Z) electromagnetic code FMRZ has been written to model inductive sources self-consistently in time. The code models an argon plasma with momentum-transfer, excitation and ionization as electron-neutral reactions and scattering and charge-exchange for the ion-neutral reactions. The electrons and ions are treated as Maxwellian fluid species and a reduced set of Maxwell`s equations is used to advance the electromagnetic fields. The set of equations used in FMRZ is not subject to typical numerical constraints present in many time dynamic codes allowing one to choose appropriate the and space scales to resolve only the frequencies and scale lengths of interest. The model retains nonlinear driving terms which give rise to a pondermotive force that distorts the density profile. Density and power profiles will be used to illustrate the physical effects of various terms in the equations. Trends in average density and temperature compare well with an analytic model.
Date: November 17, 1993
Creator: DiPeso, G.; Vahedi, V.; Hewett, D. W. & Rognlien, T. D.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
{sup 41}Ca as a tracer for calcium uptake and deposition in heart tissue during ischemia and reperfusion (open access)

{sup 41}Ca as a tracer for calcium uptake and deposition in heart tissue during ischemia and reperfusion

We have developed techniques and are commencing experiments using enriched {sup 41}Ca as a tracer in isolated rabbit heart preparations. The aims of the study are to measure calcium uptake and deposition in response to cardiac ischemia and reperfusion, and to investigate events and mechanism leading to irreversible myocyte injury.
Date: September 17, 1993
Creator: Southon, J. R.; Bishop, M. S. & Kost, G. J.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fusion with highly spin polarized HD and D{sub 2}. Final report, December 14, 1991--June 30, 1993 (open access)

Fusion with highly spin polarized HD and D{sub 2}. Final report, December 14, 1991--June 30, 1993

The experimental efforts over the past 5 years have been aimed at carrying out ICF shots with spin-polarized D fuel. The authors successfully prepared polarized D in HD, and solved the problems of loading target shells with their carefully prepared isotopic mixtures, polarizing them so that the D polarization remains metastably frozen-in for about half a day, and carrying out the various cold transfer requirements at Syracuse, where the target is prepared, and at Rochester, where the cold target is inserted into the OMEGA fusion chamber. A principal concern during this past year was overcoming difficulties encountered in maintaining the integrity of the fragile cold target during the multitude of cold-transfers required for the experiment. These difficulties arose from insufficient rigidity of the cold transfer systems, which were constrained to be of small diameter by the narrow central access bore of the dilution refrigerator, and were exacerbated by the multitude of required target shell manipulations between different environments, each with different coupling geometry, including target shell permeation, polarization, storage, transport, retrieval and insertion into OMEGA. The authors did solve all of these problems, and were able to position a cold, high density but unpolarized target with required precision in OMEGA. …
Date: December 17, 1993
Creator: Honig, A.; Letzring, S. & Skupsky, S.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Summer investigations into the metabolic diversity of the microbial world. Progress report, May 5, 1992--April 30, 1993 (open access)

Summer investigations into the metabolic diversity of the microbial world. Progress report, May 5, 1992--April 30, 1993

The philosophy of the course described here is to underscore the essence of microbiology which is diversity>: diversity of morphology and cellular development, behavior, and metabolic and physiological functions. Emphasis is on microbes other than those customarily covered in conventional microbiology courses and includes: the archaebacteria, extremophiles, and array of obligate anaerobes, various phototrophs, and those microbes exhibiting complex developmental cycles. Also included are microbes carrying out a variety of transformations of organic and inorganic compounds, as well as those which normally occur in symbiotic association with other microbes or with higher forms of life.
Date: May 17, 1993
Creator: Breznak, J. & Dworkin, M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Cretaceous shallow drilling, US Western Interior: Core research. Technical progress report (open access)

Cretaceous shallow drilling, US Western Interior: Core research. Technical progress report

This project is a continuing multidisciplinary study of middle to Upper Cretaceous marine carbonate and clastic rocks in the Utah-Colorado-Kansas corridor of the old Cretaceous seaway that extended from the Gulf Coast to the Arctic during maximum Cretaceous transgressions. It is collaborative between in the US Geological Survey (W.E. Dean, P.I.) and University researchers led by The Pennsylvania State University(M.A. Arthur, P.I.) and funded by DOE and the USGS, in part. Research focusses on the Greenhom, Niobrara and lower Pierre Shale units and their equivalents, combining biostratigraphic/paleoecologic studies, inorganic, organic and stable isotopic geochemical studies, mineralogical investigations and high-resolution geophysical logging. This research requires unweathered samples and continuous smooth ``exposures`` in the form of cores from at least 4 relatively shallow reference holes (i.e. < 1000m) in transect from east to west across the basin. The major initial effort was recovery in Year 1 of the project of continuous cores from each site in the transect. This drilling provided samples and logs of strata ranging from pelagic sequences that contain organic-carbon-rich marine source rocks to nearshore coal-bearing units. This transect also will provide information on the extent of thermal maturation and migration of hydrocarbons in organic-carbon-rich strata along a burial …
Date: February 17, 1993
Creator: Arthur, M. A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Combining nonlinear multiresolution system and vector quantization for still image compression (open access)

Combining nonlinear multiresolution system and vector quantization for still image compression

It is popular to use multiresolution systems for image coding and compression. However, general-purpose techniques such as filter banks and wavelets are linear. While these systems are rigorous, nonlinear features in the signals cannot be utilized in a single entity for compression. Linear filters are known to blur the edges. Thus, the low-resolution images are typically blurred, carrying little information. We propose and demonstrate that edge-preserving filters such as median filters can be used in generating a multiresolution system using the Laplacian pyramid. The signals in the detail images are small and localized to the edge areas. Principal component vector quantization (PCVQ) is used to encode the detail images. PCVQ is a tree-structured VQ which allows fast codebook design and encoding/decoding. In encoding, the quantization error at each level is fed back through the pyramid to the previous level so that ultimately all the error is confined to the first level. With simple coding methods, we demonstrate that images with PSNR 33 dB can be obtained at 0.66 bpp without the use of entropy coding. When the rate is decreased to 0.25 bpp, the PSNR of 30 dB can still be achieved. Combined with an earlier result, our work demonstrate …
Date: December 17, 1993
Creator: Wong, Y.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
High resolution microstructural and microchemical analysis of zirconia eutectic interfaces. Progress report, July 1, 1992--June 30, 1993 (open access)

High resolution microstructural and microchemical analysis of zirconia eutectic interfaces. Progress report, July 1, 1992--June 30, 1993

Resolution of microscopic analytical methods has greatly improved over the past decade, and it is now possible to examine periodic variations in structure and chemistry at a scale much finer than the spacing typical of eutectic structures (1-5 {mu}m). During the current year, studies were completed on ZrO{sub 2}-NiO and ZrO{sub 2}-MnO eutectic systems, and study was initiated on microchemical variation in two spinodal systems: Cu-Ni-Sn and SnO{sub 2}-TiO{sub 2}. Work was also initiated on metal/oxide interface microchemistry, in particular the corrosion interface resulting during oxidation of Cu-Sn alloys. 6 figs.
Date: March 17, 1993
Creator: Notis, M. R.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Separation techniques for the clean-up of radioactive mixed waste for ICP-AES/ICP-MS analysis (open access)

Separation techniques for the clean-up of radioactive mixed waste for ICP-AES/ICP-MS analysis

Two separation techniques were investigated for the clean-up of typical radioactive mixed waste samples requiring elemental analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) or Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). These measurements frequently involve regulatory or compliance criteria which include the determination of elements on the EPA Target Analyte List (TAL). These samples usually consist of both an aqueous phase and a solid phase which is mostly an inorganic sludge. Frequently, samples taken from the waste tanks contain high levels of uranium and thorium which can cause spectral interferences in ICP-AES or ICP-MS analysis. The removal of these interferences is necessary to determine the presence of the EPA TAL elements in the sample. Two clean-up methods were studied on simulated aqueous waste samples containing the EPA TAL elements. The first method studied was a classical procedure based upon liquid-liquid extraction using tri-n- octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) dissolved in cyclohexane. The second method investigated was based on more recently developed techniques using extraction chromatography; specifically the use of a commercially available Eichrom TRU{center_dot}Spec{trademark} column. Literature on these two methods indicates the efficient removal of uranium and thorium from properly prepared samples and provides considerable qualitative information on the extraction behavior of many …
Date: March 17, 1993
Creator: Swafford, A. M. & Keller, J. M.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Supplement to the Annual Energy Outlook 1993 (open access)

Supplement to the Annual Energy Outlook 1993

The Supplement to the Annual Energy Outlook 1993 is a companion document to the Energy Information Administration`s (EIA) Annual Energy Outlook 1993 (AEO). Supplement tables provide the regional projections underlying the national data and projections in the AEO. The domestic coal, electric power, commercial nuclear power, end-use consumption, and end-use price tables present AEO forecasts at the 10 Federal Region level. World coal tables provide data and projections on international flows of steam coal and metallurgical coal, and the oil and gas tables provide the AEO oil and gas supply forecasts by Oil and Gas Supply Regions and by source of supply. All tables refer to cases presented in the AEO, which provides a range of projections for energy markets through 2010.
Date: February 17, 1993
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Assist in the Recovery of Bypassed Oil From Reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico. Summary Annual Report, February 18, 1992--February 18, 1993 (open access)

Assist in the Recovery of Bypassed Oil From Reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico. Summary Annual Report, February 18, 1992--February 18, 1993

The objective of this research is to assist the recovery of non-contacted oil from known reservoirs on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico. Thus far, research has consisted of data collection from Minerals Management Service (MMS); literature and operators; screening of reservoirs for detailed studies; modification of two public domain simulators; development of a predictive model; and design of several laboratory experiments for studying attic oil recovery. The methodology for data collection from MMS, literature and operators is keyed on 208 sands containing 1,289 reservoirs, representing 60% of the original oil in place (OOIP) in the Gulf of Mexico. This data collection is presently in progress after several delays concerning confidentiality agreements between MMS, DOE, and LSU and its subcontractors. Modifications on two public domain computer reservoir simulators, BOAST II and MASTER, is underway. Modifications will consist of developing a code to handle steeply dipping oil reservoirs and a radial grid format for near wellbore studies. Modifications for steeply dipping reservoirs have been successfully implemented. At present, modifications to BOAST II for radial grid systems are producing acceptable results in a reasonable, though long, period of time. Research of all phases listed above are in progress; therefore, …
Date: March 17, 1993
Creator: Schenewerk, P. A.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Development of measurement capabilities for the thermophysical properties of energy-related fluids. Annual report, December 1, 1993--November 30, 1994 (open access)

Development of measurement capabilities for the thermophysical properties of energy-related fluids. Annual report, December 1, 1993--November 30, 1994

Objectives are to develop state-of-the-art experimental apparatus for measuring the thermophysical properties of a wide range of fluids and fluid mixtures important to the energy, chemical, and energy-related industries, and carry out benchmark measurements on key systems. Measurement capabilities to be developed cover transport properties, thermodynamic properties, phase equilibria properties, and dielectric properties. The new apparatus will make it possible to study a wide range of complex fluid systems under conditions that have been previously inaccessible. Specific measurement capabilities to be developed are: Thermal Conductivity Apparatus, Vibrating Wire Viscometer, Dual-Sinker Densimeter, High-Temperature Vibrating Tube Densimeter, Dynamic Phase Equilibria Apparatus, Apparatus for Dilute Solutions, Total-Enthalpy Flow Calorimeter, Dielectric Constant Apparatus. The research also includes benchmark experimental measurements on pure and mixed alternative refrigerants, aqueous solutions, and carefully selected systems consisting of species of diverse size (methane + neopentane) and polarity (methane + ammonia) important for development of predictive models for energy-related fluids.
Date: August 17, 1993
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fast pulsars, compact stars, and the strange matter hypothesis (open access)

Fast pulsars, compact stars, and the strange matter hypothesis

Part one of this paper deals with the recent finding of the possible existence of a mixed phase of baryon matter and quark matter inside neutron stars. In part two we review the theoretically determined minimum rotational periods of neutron stars, which serve to distinguish between pulsars that can be understood as rotating neutron stars and those that can not. Likely candidates for the latter are hypothetical strange stars. Their mass-radius relationship is discussed in the last part. It is pointed out that strange stars with a nuclear crust can give rise to the observed phenomena of pulsar glitches, thus passing the only astrophysical test of the strange-matter hypothesis existing to date.
Date: March 17, 1993
Creator: Weber, F. & Glendenning, N. K.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Audit of Mound Plant`s reduction in force (open access)

Audit of Mound Plant`s reduction in force

Objective of this audit was to determine whether the Mound Plant`s Fiscal Year 1992 reduction in force (RIF) was effectively managed and implemented properly by DOE. DOE established policy to encourage contractors to reduce staffing by voluntary separations without unreasonable separation costs. EG&G Mound`s FY 1992 RIF was accomplished by voluntary separations; however, its implementation unreasonably increased costs because DOE did not have adequate criteria or guidelines for evaluating contractors` RIF proposals, and because EG&G Mound furnished inaccurate cost data to DOE evaluators. The unreasonable costs amounted to at least $21 million. Recommendations are made that DOE develop and implement guidelines to impose limitations on voluntary separation allowances, early retirement incentive payments, and inclusion of crucial employee classifications in voluntary RIFs.
Date: May 17, 1993
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
Evaluation of an x-ray fluorimeter for measuring lead in paint (open access)

Evaluation of an x-ray fluorimeter for measuring lead in paint

A laboratory analysis of key performance features of the Warrington Microlead I XRF Analyzer was conducted. This analysis included the determination of instrument accuracy and precision as measured against standard reference materials as well as the instrument`s ability to provide information for multiple layers of a lead-based paint.
Date: March 17, 1993
Creator: Klein, R. C.; Horn, F. T. & Wilson, R. D.
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library
System modeling for the longitudinal beam dynamics control problem in heavy ion induction accelerators (open access)

System modeling for the longitudinal beam dynamics control problem in heavy ion induction accelerators

We address the problem of developing system models that are suitable for studying the control of the longitudinal beam dynamics in induction accelerators for heavy ions. In particular, we present the preliminary results of our efforts to devise a general framework for building detailed, integrated models of accelerator systems consisting of pulsed power modular circuits, induction cells, beam dynamics, and control system elements. Such a framework will permit us to analyze and design the pulsed power modulators and the control systems required to effect precise control over the longitudinal beam dynamics.
Date: May 17, 1993
Creator: Payne, A. N.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Inspection of management of excess personal property at Rocky Flats (open access)

Inspection of management of excess personal property at Rocky Flats

Inspection revealed that immediate management attention is needed to properly control, store, and dispose of excess personal property at Rocky Flats. Current system of operation does not allow for efficient, timely, cost effective management; current storage and disposal practices are not consistent with contract requirements or DOE policies and procedures. Other deficiencies are pointed out. Results of inspection are divided into 4 sections: contract changeover issues, moratorium issues, additional excess property issues, and award fee observations. Recommendations are outlined.
Date: May 17, 1993
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Report
System: The UNT Digital Library