Samples were collected during the A/M Area Crouch Branch (Cretaceous) Aquifer Characterization (Phase I) Program. The samples were analyzed for chlorinated VOCs by the Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC) and MicroSeeps Ltd. All samples were sealed in the field immediately upon retrieval of the core and subsampling. A total of 113 samples locations were selected for analysis. The Environmental Sciences Section (ESS) of SRTC analyzed all locations in duplicate (226 samples). MicroSeeps Ltd was selected as the quality assurance (QA) check laboratory. MicroSeeps Ltd analyzed 40 locations with 4 duplicates (44 samples). The samples were collected from seven boreholes in A/M Area in the interval from 200 feet deep to the total depth of the boring (360 feet deep nominal); samples were collected every 10 feet within this interval. The sampling zone corresponds approximately to the Crouch Branch Aquifer in A/M Area. The overall A/M Area Crouch Branch Aquifer characterization objectives, a brief description of A/M Area geology and hydrology, and the sample locations, field notes, driller lithologic logs, and required procedural documentation are presented in WSRC (1993).

Work this quarter included equipment installation, shakedown testing, and the beginning of the detailed testing program. With the exception of ongoing Task 4: Sample Characterization, Tasks 1 through 8 are now complete. Task 10: Detailed Testing and Task 12: Sample Analysis began this quarter and will consume all available time during the 5th quarter. Installation and testing of the process equipment, mechanical systems, as well as the electrical systems were completed. The shakedown process uncovered several necessary modifications to the circuit which were subsequently completed. Most of the changes concerned piping and valving modifications which allowed for better material flow and sampling. The circuit was operated with coal to determine the time for each unit to reach steady state. The primary objective of the proposed work is to design, install, and operate an advanced fine coal processing circuit combining the Microcel{trademark} and Multi-Gravity-Separator (MGS) technologies. Both of these processes have specific advantages as stand-alone units. For example, the Microcel column effectively removes ash-bearing mineral matter, while the MGS efficiently removes coal-pyrite composites.

The assembly of photonics devices such as laser diodes, optical modulators, and opto-electronics multi-chip modules (OEMCM), usually requires the placement of micron size devices such as laser diodes, and sub-micron precision attachment between optical fibers and diodes or waveguide modulators (usually referred to as pigtailing). This is a very labor intensive process. Studies done by the opto-electronics (OE) industry have shown that 95% of the cost of a pigtailed photonic device is due to the use of manual alignment and bonding techniques, which is the current practice in industry. At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, we are working to reduce the cost of packaging OE devices through the use of automation. Our efforts are concentrated on several areas that are directly related to an automated process. This paper will focus on our progress in two of those areas, in particular, an automated fiber pigtailing machine and silicon micro-bench technology compatible with an automated process.

The reverse osmosis (RO) system at the Effluent Treatment Facility (ETF) at the Savannah River Site, Aiken, South Carolina has experienced fouling from trace quantities of inorganics (Al, Fe, and Si) and l.E5-l.E7/ml bacteria. The bacteria are primarily produced in an upstream Hg-removal resin bed/activated carbon bed process. The bacteria adhere to the colloidal inorganics that are in the membrane feed at their solubility limits (having been precipitated and removed upstream by a ceramic microfilter system). The resulting bacterial/inorganic foulant adheres to the membrane surface and results in high feed pressures and poor salt rejection. The feed pressure increases because the membrane system at the ETF is designed to produce a constant rate of treated water, or permeate. This is accomplished by increasing the membrane feed pressure whenever permeate flow drops. These performance losses have been attributed to bacteria present in the feed, and several potential solutions have been proposed and demonstrated here at the Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC). Advanced hybrid plate-and-frame modules have been developed that increase the applicability of membrane systems by using hydrodynamics rather than pretreatment to prevent membrane fouling.