This report reviews the activities and operations of the Advanced Computing Research Facility (ACRF) from February 1990 through April 1991. The ACRF is operated by the Mathematics and Computer Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory. The facility's principal objective is to foster research in parallel computing. Toward this objective, the ACRF operates experimental advanced computers, supports investigations in parallel computing, and sponsors technology transfer efforts to industry and academia.

Highlights of the Chemical Technology Division's activities during 1990, including electrochemical technology and advanced batteries and fuel cells, technology for coal-fired magnetohydrodynamics and fluidized-bed combustion, methods for recovery of energy from municipal waste, and techniques for treatment of hazardous organic waste, the reaction of nuclear waste glass and spent fuel under conditions expected for a high-level waste repository.

This report describes the fabrication of a new boron-copper neutron absorbing material that was developed to meet the upgrading needs of the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) at Argonne National Laboratory. To increase the intensity of the neutron beams from the IPNS, the target uranium was changed from depleted uranium to uranium enriched to 77.5% U-235. To keep the multiplication factor, k(sub eff) (number of fissions in one generation/number of fissions in preceding generation) at a safe level, a new neutron absorber material was needed. The previous materials, boral and cadmium, could not meet the new requirements and a search of the literature showed that no currently available material was acceptable.

The results of the environmental surveillance program conducted at Site A/Plot M in the Palos Forest Preserve area for CY 1990 are presented. The surveillance program is the ongoing remedial action that resulted from the 1976-1978 radiological characterization of the site.