Purex Sludge Supernatant (PSS) contains significant amounts of /sup 137/Cs left after removal of strontium from fission product bearing Purex wastes. To remove cesium from PSS, an Ion Exchange Recovery system has been set up in Cells 17-21 at B Plant. The cesium that is recovered is stored within B Plant for eventual purification through the Cesium Purification process in Cell 38 and eventual encapsulation and storage in a powdered form at the Waste Encapsulation Storage Facility. Cesium depleted waste streams from the Ion Exchange processes are transferred to underground storage.

The PBXN-5 and PBX-9604 shock Hugoniots, longitudinal and shear sound velocities, and response to long and short duration shocks have been determined. At a density of 1.66 Mg/m/sup 3/, PBXN-5 requires a minimum copper flyer kinetic energy of 382 kJ/m/sup 2/ for initiation at a flyer velocity of 0.8 km/s. At a density of 1.49 Mg/m/sup 3/, PBX-9604 requires a minimum flyer energy of 201 kJ/m/sup 2/ for initiation at the same velocity.

The results of experimental work and economic analyses carried out during the first 12 months of this contract (Phase I) have led to Battelle's concentration on development of the zinc reduction of silicon tetrachloride on seed particles in a fluidized bed. A second year program (Phase II) has been initiated which consists of the design of a 25 MT/year experimental facility and supporting experiment effort. During this quarter, the effort in the plant design portion of the program has been devoted to the (1) preparation of a detailed process schematic diagram; (2) determination of material flow and energy requirements; (3) conceptual design of major equipment items, including those unique to the facility; (4) contacts with industrial companies on equipment and processes for which experience is available; and (5) initiation of contacts with Battelle pilot plant design specialists, a distillation consultant, and engineering firms. The effort in the experimental support portion of the program has included a continuation of the following studies: (1) operating parameter optimization in the miniplant, (2) reactor design, and (3) condenser system design, including supplemental condensation experiments. In addition, a new zinc feed system has been devised and evaluated, and the construction of a system sufficiently large …

The program consists generally of development of advanced conversion systems, with strong emphasis on a systems approach to find solutions of the problems of scale formation, corrosion/erosion of materials, spent brine disposal and solids handling, and development of reliable, efficient energy conversion systems with strong emphasis on development of the total flow concept. The status of the various parts of this program is reviewed briefly. (MHR)

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.

Progress is reported in the following LMFBR piping design studies: development of a long range plan to secure piping integrity, collection of piping failure and construction defect data, analysis of systems with prior successful operating history, evaluation of sensitivity of piping design margins to variability in materials and geometry, and high cycle fatigue behavior at elevated temperature.

The program is designed to investigate how certain metallurgical characteristics control the hydrogen absorption and desorption processes in intermetallic compounds. The status of the following studies is reported: hydrogen safety precautions, development of special equipment, preparation and characterization of hydride alloy materials, magnetic property measurements, and theoretical modeling of hydriding mechanisms. (LK)