From abstract: "Several different techniques were used to introduce tracer quantities of plutonium into the lungs of rats. When aerosols were produced by atomizing aqueous solutions of the nitrates it was found that approximately 20 per cent of the dose was absorbed and deposited in the skelton [sic] with tetra-, hexa-, and trivalent plutonium. Thus with these compounds, the lungs represent a more dangerous portal of entry than either oral (0.05 per cent) or intramuscular (13 per cent) administration. Tetravalent Pu was eliminated most slowly from the lung, the average half-time during the first month being 15 days. But when citrate was added to complex the Pu, over 70 per cent was eliminated within 1 day. This was accompanied by a deposition of over 30 per cent in the skelton [sic] and over 20 per cent in the liver. Presumably citrate breaks up the insoluble colloid in which Pu exists in the lungs. Complexing with cupferron which, unlike citrate, produces a "fat soluble" compound, greatly diminished the extent of absorption from the lungs. Plutonium oxide smokes which were produced at high temperatures were eliminated more slowly from the lungs (average half time of 30 days during the first month) and …

Abstract: Various procedures for extracting uranium from fiberglass air filters have been tested and compared. Satisfactory results which involve the least amount of handling are obtained by simply washing the material with hot 1:1 hydrochloric acid.

Abstract: Tuballoy can be effectively separated from tantalum filaments by chlorination of the filaments and subsequent distillation and condensation of tantalum chloride. Apparatus for chlorination of filaments and distillation separation in one unit is under consideration. Chemical methods of separation of tuballoy from distillation residues are being tested.

The following report records the study of albino rats subjected to beta rays and analyzes the skin reactions and metabolic patterns.

Abstract. Samples of pile graphite, irradiated in a test-hole at Hanford for 15 months, have been assayed for radioactive C14, yielding 0.38 ± 0.04 microcuries per gram. At this level of activity, the pile graphite contains very valuable amounts of C14. The relation between the above assay and the probable average assay of pile graphite is discussed, and it is concluded that the latter is almost certainly above 0.3 uc/ gram. Controlled oxidation of this graphite, either with oxygen at ~ 750°C, or with chromic acid "cleaning solution" at room temperature, yields early fractions which are highly enriched in C14. Concentrations of 5-fold with oxygen, and 50-fold with CRO{sub3}, have been observed. The relation between the observed enrichment and the Wigner effect is discussed, and a mechanism accounting for the observations put forward. According to this, about 25% of the stable carbon atoms in the lattice have been displaced by Wigner effect, a large fraction of which have healed the migrating to crystal edges. All the C14 atoms have been displaced, and the same fraction of these migrate to the edges. The enrichment then results from surface oxidation, in the oxygen case. Predictions are made on the basis of this …

From introduction: "The concluding remarks of the report on the electron diffraction study of UF6 suggest two alternate explanations for the apparent discrepancy between the structure proposed for this compound as deduced from X-ray diffraction work on single crystals and from the electron diffraction investigation of the vapor. The second explanation is based on the premise that the difference may be due to essentially unlike methods of treating the diffraction data. In this report we shall analyze X-ray powder photographs following a scheme parallel to that used in the analysis of the electron diffraction data, to check whether this particular explanation is tenable."

Abstract: "The half-life of polonium has been measured by a calorimetric method using samples several thousand times larger than have been previously available. The value is found to be 138.3 +/- 0.1% days."

Technical report describing a procedure for the determination of lead in pitchblende. The procedure was determined as needed in the course of an investigation of the processing of pitchblende for the production of uranium. Summary: The volumetric dichromate method for the determination of lead was selected from among several methods investigated as being best suited for a rapid determination of lead in pitchblende. The method as described is accurate to within 1% and it does not require the application of an empirical factor as suggested by Willard and Diehl for this determination.

Abstract: This is basically a counting rate meter, with an alarm circuit, operating from four GM tubes as the detecting elements. The Hand Counter comprises four logarithmic counting rate meters working from four GM tubes mounted individually, with associated electronic circuits, in suitable shields with a metal mesh type of window. Both sides of both hands are sampled simultaneously. In the Foot Counter, two GM tubes are separately and mounted in a suitable mesh window shielded with the electronic circuit; the foot counter uses only two counting rate meters, and both feet are sampled simultaneously. Each circuit is built in two parts; two tubes are in the shield and the balance of the circuit is in the electronic unit which is a standard 17" x 13" chassis. Circuit diagrams are included.

From abstract: "An apparatus for analysis of metal samples for oxygen content is described. Vasuum [sic] fusion in a graphite crucible which is insulated by porous carbon in an all pyrex glass apparatus is used to remove the oxygen as carbon monoxide. Temperatures over 2000°C. are attainable with a 6 K.V.A. Ajax converter for induction heating. Successful operation depended upon a preliminary vacuum heating of the carbon parts at 2100°C. to remove hydrocarbon tars so that cracking of the pyrex glass will not occur due to deposit of tar. An operating temperature of 1750°C. - 1800°C. has been found satisfactory for uranium when using a platinum bath. The platinum bath is the most suitable bath because of its low volatility, its satisfactory carbon solubility, and because of the decrease of 'getting errors' due to volatility of reactive metals. Most metals form stable compounds with platinum and are therefore strongly held by the platinum bath and can not vaporize and thus react with the excaping [sic] CO gas..."

Report describing improvements upon the design of a 8 and 32 inch diffusion pump combination. Design specifications and functionality data are included in the report.

The following report describes the methods of chemical conversion of uranium fluoride to uranium trioxide.

From introductory paragraph: "This is the first quarterly report of the Biology Division of the Argonne National Laboratory. During the three-month period covered by this report, a large share of the time of many investigators has been spent in collating work done under the Biology Section of the Metallurgical laboratory for publication in the Plutonium Project Record. The large amount of work done under wartime pressure has made this, as in other divisions and projects, an important part of the transition to the post-war period."

With discussion under way concerning power production by chain reacting piles, it becomes pertinent to consider the ration of the temperature of the hottest spot in the pile to the average exit temperature of the cooling stream. This is important because the temperature of the hottest spot in the pile is one of the limiting factors in determining the maximum power at which a pile can be operated. However, the higher the temperature of the emerging cooling stream, the more efficient can be the thermal engine operated by it. Thus the ideal situation is to have the average exit temperature of the cooling stream as near as possible to the hottest temperature of the hottest spot in the pile.

From introduction: "These insoluble residues have also been subjected to a continuous fusion process with sodium bisulfate being used as the flux. The results obtained with this method and a detailed description of the procedure employed have been recorded in two reports."

Abstract: The geometrical structure of the uranium halides has been studied from a theoretical viewpoint. This theoretical consideration tends to indicate that the pentavalent uranium halides are geometrically but not energetically capable of existence except as double halide compounds of hexavalent and tetravalent uranium.

Report discussing a methods for recovering tuballoy (uranium) from beta salvage residues. Two methods were discussed: high temperature fluorination and reaction with NaAlCl₄.

This report deals solely with the systematic diagnosis and location of the cause of instability of an assay mass spectrometer. It is based around a chart that illustrates the general practices followed in the laboratory.

Introduction: "The product of a special run made in XAX was submitted to the Assay Department for a determination of the residual content of the 235 isotope. The charge material on this run was impoverished, with a ratio of approximately 1:2,000. The sample was submitted in the form of purified T3O8."

Introduction: "The ionization region in the Nier mass spectrometer is customarily constructed of copper. Various other metals were tried for this purpose; among them tantalum and molybdenum, with both metals it was found that a spectrum of the fluoride of the metal appeared when uranium hexafluoride was admitted. It was thus possible to produce tantalum fluoride with comparative ease and to make a critical examination of the mass spectrum to set an upper limit of abundance of tantalum isotopes. For positive identification, a line must appear in all ion positions in the same abundance, relative to the main line. It must be shown that any lines which appear are not contributed by other elements or compounds."

Summary: "An apparatus is described which applies alternate pulses from two ion beams to a galvanometer network. The isotopic ratio is read directly from a potentiometer. The comparison is independent of ion beam intensity. This method is not practical for application to the standard Nier assay instrument because of the low ion currents normally used. It is suggested that this comparison method may have utility in a spectrometer utilizing a high intensity ion source such as capillary ore or condensed spark."

The following report discusses ohmic characteristics in resistors, including methods for determining the polarization characteristics of high megohm resistors that may determine the suitability of these resistors for spectrometric measurements.

From Abstract: "The use of the oxalic acid method for the separation of uranium from mixed thorium-uranium peroxides has been investigated, and appears to be the most satisfactory of the obvious methods of separation. One oxalic acid leach removes nearly all of the uranium from the thorium with approximately one mg Th/L remaining in the uranium solution phase."

Abstract: "A method for the determination of small quantities of thorium in the presence of large quantities of uranium is presented. Solid samples are dissolved in an appropriate acid. Reducible metals are removed by means of a mercury cathode. Excess acid is removed by fuming to dryness. The residue is dissolved in water and made alkaline with saturated ammonium carbonate solution, thus complexing the uranium and permitting the precipitation of thorium hydroxide with the aid of an aluminum hydroxide carrier. Thorium is determined colorimetrically with thoron."