From abstract: "The circumstances are described pertaining to an explosion in a TNX evaporator during the concentration of a uranyl nitrate-nitric acid solution. TBP and Amsco diluent were probably present in the evaporator charge. A laboratory program involving small-scale atmospheric and closed-vessel distillations of various mixtures of UNH, HNO3, Amsco, TBP, and water indicate that an exothermic reaction between TBP and UNH, or between TBP and HNO3, or both, was responsible for the explosion. The danger areas of temperature, TBP concentration, pressure, and heating rate are defined and recommendations are made for safe evaporator operation.

From abstract: "An electrolytic refining process was developed to produce tritium of high isotopic purity with negligible loss. The operation is semicontinuous, with multiple stages in cascade. All tritium oxide is handled within the confines of a hermetically sealed enclosure. The mechanical operability of the process was demonstrated in a five-stage prototype line designed to process 15 gram-mols of feed per day. An average separation factor per stage of 5.3 was obtained with a feed of tracer-level tritium. The equipment is described in detail."

From abstract: "Ninety-two thorium slugs were irradiated in the Hanford piles to study the dimensional stability of the metal. The burnups that were incurred covered the range from 300 to 2800 ppm of the Th232. Slugs with burnups as high as 800 ppm were examined for visual and dimensional changes. The dimensional stability of these slugs was excellent, and no significant corrosion occurred on the aluminum cans. A cursory examination of slugs with burnups of greater than 800 ppm showed no gross dimensional instability."

Summary: "A corrosion test of aluminum components in a 4-ft. section of a fuel tube has been tested under conditions simulating plant geometry and, as nearly as possible, the operating conditions of water purity, temperature, and flow rate. Results: 1. None of the aluminum components, 63S fuel tube, 2S solid fillers and 43S spacers showed any corrosion effects beyond normal oxide film formation. This was carried out in flowing water, maintained at a specific resistivity greater than 1 x 10(6) ohm-cm, for four weeks. 2. No corrosion pitting was observed on any of the aluminum surfaces; all became covered with a uniform film of Al2O3.H2O. On the boat tails, where type 304 stainless steel fins were in galvanic contact with 2S aluminum, no pitting or preferential attack occurred."

From abstract: "The combined attack of HNO3 and HNO2 on tributyl phosphate - kerosene solvent used in the Purex process produces degradation products that cause abnormal quantities of zirconium to be extracted along with the plutonium and uranium and thus limits the decontamination."