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'Ethyl metaphosphate' or tetrapolyphosphate esters are a potentially useful starting material for the preparation of polynucleotides. The kinetics of the reactions of the esters with excess water and ethanol have been measured by means of p{sup 31} n.m.r. and IR spectroscopy. Upon the addition of specific amounts of water or ethanol, substances could be prepared which consist mainly of linear tetrapoly-, tripoly- or pyrophosphate esters containing smeller amounts of other polyphosphates and orthophosphates in an equilibrium composition. Diethyl hydrogen orthophosphate reacts with cyclic polyphosphate esters to open the ring; with linear esters it reacts to form polyphosphates with a lesser degree of condensation. This latter reaction also proceeds to an equilibrium. No reactions between linear and cyclic polyphosphate esters were observed at room temperature, which implies that the rates of the disproportionation of the linear polyphosphate esters were low. Some organic solvents previously employed for the dehydrating polymerization of sugars, amino acids or nucleotides destroy the tetrapolyphosphate esters. The various substances now available from tetrapolyphosphate esters by the action of water or reactive solvents will differ in their capabilities of producing the dehydrating polymerization reaction. Thus, one may expect that very different products might result from very small differences in …

Using infra-red spectroscopy, the equilibrium exchange times have been determined for a series of ketones, aromatic aldehydes, and {beta}-ketoesters reacting with oxygen 18 enriched water. These exchange times have been evaluated in terms of steric and electronic considerations, and applied to a discussion of the exchange times of chlorophylls a and b and chlorophyll derivatives.

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EARLIER investigations have demonstrated that di-cyandiamide (DCDA), the dimer of cyanamide, can successfully promote the dehydration condensation of: (1) glucose and orthophosphate to give glucose-6-phosphate; (2) adenosine and orthophosphate to give adenosine-5'-monophosphate; (3) orthophosphate to give pyrophosphate; (4) alanine to give alanylalanine and alanylalanylalanine. These reactions were carried out in dilute aqueous solutions in the dark. (It was also demonstrated that the combination of ultra-violet light and dicyandiamide could promote the synthesis of dipeptides. This observation has since been confirmed by other investigators.) These experiments were designed to demonstrate one possible means by which such compounds could have been formed on the prebiotic Earth, thus providing materials needed for the origin of living systems. Dicyandiamide itself could have been, present on the primitive Earth as was demonstrated with the ultra-violet irradiation of cyanide solution.

The vapors of potassium, rubidium, and cesium have been photoionized with light absorbed in the discrete region of the atomic spectrum. The energy threshold for the ionization process has been determined and the ions produced identified by mobility measurements. The data give lower limits for the dissociation energies of K{sup +2}, Rb{sup +2} and Cs{sup +2}. Each of these molecular ions has a bond energy approximately 50% greater than that of the corresponding neutral molecule. In addition, lower limits for the electron affinities of the alkali atoms and approximate values for the mobilities of Rb{sup +} and Rb{sup +2} in rubidium vapor are given.

How did life come to be on the surface of the earth? Darwin himself recognized that his basic idea of evolution by variation and natural selection must be a continuous process extending backward in time through that period in which the first living things arose and into the period of 'Chemical Evolution' which preceded it. We are approaching the examination of these events by two routes. One is to seek for evidence in the ancient rocks of the earth which were laid down prior to that time in which organisms capable of leaving their skeletons in the rocks to be fossilized were in existence. This period is sometime prior to approximately 600 million years ago. The earth is believed to have taken its present form approximately 4700 million years ago. We have found in rocks whose age is about 1000 million years certain organic molecules which are closely related to the green pigment of plants, chlorophyll. This seems to establish that green plants were already fluorishing prior to that time. We have now found in rocks of still greater age, namely, 2500 million years, the same kinds of molecules mentioned above which can be attributed to the presence of living …

The calcined-waste containers produced during the Hot Cell Pilot Plant experiments in 1962 and 1963 have generated a maximum pressure of 3 psig. Design verification tests with the prototype spray calciner showed satisfactory performance when producing high melting point powders. Later tests on other feeds showed poor atomization and cake buildup in the calciner. Design of the prototype equipment is complete. Procurement and fabrication of prototype equipment is done except for a few cleanup items and final field-fitting of jumpers. Design verification tests on the pot storage station indicated satisfactory calorimeter performance. A GE-412 computer was successfully used in design verification tests for data collection, calculation, and correlations. Studies continued on fixation of sulfates from acid condensates generated in a glass-making process. Lead sulfate-borax melts produced by a continuous feed melter at 900/sup 0/C appear to be quite fluid, but exhibited a high (22%) evolution of sulfate. Studies were initiated on incorporation of the neutralized condensate into asphalt. Release rates of up to 2%/hr for /sup 137/Cs from a simulated phosphate ceramic waste material were observed from exposures to temperatures up to 1200/sup 0/C. Release rates of other isotopes which appear to be a thousand-fold lower than for cesium established …

A limited program of evaluation of the ML-1 technology as related to the design of the calandria/pressure vessel assembly was completed. This work included: a photoelastic experimental program which resulted in the conclusion that values recommended by Langer and O'Donnell for the effective elastic constants employed in the analysis of ligament stresses in the ML-1 type tube sheets in the past results in a good approximation of the bending constants but in a value of the tensile elastic modulus which is about 40% too high; several modifications to the TSA computer code for stress calculations which improved the precision and flexibility of the code; and a very preliminary evaluation of the properties of candidate materials for use in a high-performance, advanced ML-1 type pressure vessel.

A theoretical expression for the stripping differential cross section is derived and prepared for computer evaluation. Input information is provided for the code B53DWC, which calculates this cross section, and the codes B53GOR, B53SIX, and B53RIM, which evaluate 3-J, 6-J, and 9-J coefficients. (RWR)

This report is the seventeenth in a series of progress reports of the advanced high-temperature gas reactor - 710 program. This report describes the work performed and progress made from September 1 to October 31, 1965 on the following current tasks in the 710 program: Development of Refractory-Metal Fuel Elements; Critical Experiments of Fast-Spectrum, Refractory-Metal Reactors; Experimental Reactor Preliminary Design and Development; Test Facilities Design and Evaluation; and Investigations of the Application of the 710 Reactor Concept to Space Power Systems.

This report discusses the vertical bowing measurements for the Hanford B Reactor for July 1, 1965. Only one table is included.

The Separations Research and Development Program consists of five identifiable activities in four general areas of effort. The five activities are: Chemical processes (Current processes and Innovations and new business); Chemical safety; Process equipment and control (equipment and instrument development); and By-products (recovery and purification). The proposed levels of funding for each of the five activities are listed. For each activity, the major accomplishments of the last year are listed, together with the proposed goals for the next two years. Significant trends in the program are noted.

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An evaluation of Hanford reactor process water treatment practices was made in an effort to ascertain the reasons for variations in the effluent activity between reactors. Recommendations are made for improvements in unit processes as well as for the over-all treatment process based on field inspection of the water treatment plants. In addition, a research program is proposed to supplement the recommendations. The proposed research is designed to uncover methods of more efficient filtration as well as other procedures which might eventually lead to significant effluent activity reductions. The recommendations and research results will be applied toward process optimization.

This is an addendum to the unclassified document entitled, ``An Evaluation of Hanford Water Treatment Practices.`` All classified data pertinent to the above document have been included here for reference. Data tables include chlorine demand (1964); chlorine contact times for reactor areas; calculation of flocculation; flow velocity in flocculation basins; overflow velocity; and particle removal efficiency; and filtration and backwash flow rates.

This report discusses research and development programs of the Irradiation Processing Department in FY-1965.

Two half-plant tests were conducted at D reactor to evaluate the effect of process water pH on corrosion of aluminum process tubes and fuel elements. The first test demonstrated that a reduction in coolant pH from 7.0 to 6.6 reduced aluminum corrosion by a factor of between 2 and 3. Fuel weight loss data from the second test indicated that reducing coolant pH from 6.6 to 6.2 would result in an additional factor of 2 to 3 reduction in aluminum corrosion. This report presents the results of ex-reactor process tube measurements an thermocouple probe annular temperature measurements made on six new process tubes irradiated during the second test. These results were combined with similar data obtained from six new process tubes irradiated during the first test. The combined results were used to estimate the effect 7.0, 6.6, and 6.2 pH on corrosion of aluminum process tubes.

This report details activities of Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory as compiled by the department managers for the month of December 1965.

This test was performed to investigate the effects of increased reactor flow upon the downcomer pressures and water levels. Recent theoretical studies had confirmed earlier ones that indicated a relatively weak downcomer approach box structure with an allowable working pressure of 4 psig. Since a flooded approach box would yield pressures in excess of 4 psig on the lower approach box plates and since downcomer flows approaching the flooding point were planned, experimental values of the downcomer pressures as the reactor flaw is increased were obtained. The initial test results indicated that concern was justified. Therefore, under Design Change {number_sign}1052, the approach box walls were stiffened to withstand a working pressure of 10 psig and a maximum allowable pressure of 15 Psig, In addition minor modifications were made to the approach box baffling and to the downcomer orifice plate, Additional test results were obtained after the completion of this design change with still further increases in reactor flow. However, only about 40 per cent of the planned reactor flow increase was attained. Further flow increases will be delayed several months until the completion of the thoria irradiation program. Therefore, this interim report summarizes the test results to date and discusses …

This document provides the reactor daily reports for January 1, 1965 through December 31, 1965. (FI)

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This report covers the activities with regard to on-site customer irradiations as of February 13, 1965. The report covers the status of material undergoing irradiation, awaiting disposition, material shipped during the month, and current status of all reactor test holes.