A ball mounting fixture for a roundness gage is disclosed. The fixture includes a pair of chuck assemblies oriented substantially transversely with respect to one another and mounted on a common base. Each chuck assembly preferably includes a rotary stage and a wobble plate affixed thereto. A ball chuck affixed to each wobble plate is operable to selectively support a ball to be measured for roundness, with the wobble plate permitting the ball chuck to be tilted to center the ball on the axis of rotation of the rotary stage. In a preferred embodiment, each chuck assembly includes a vacuum chuck operable to selectively support the ball to be measured for roundness. The mounting fixture enables a series of roundness measurements to be taken with a conventional rotating gagehead roundness instrument, which measurements can be utilized to determine the sphericity of the ball.

Two portions from a single sample of Hanford scrap plutonium oxide (12% Pu{sup 240}), account HRA-40, were dissolved in the Separations Technology Laboratory as requested. Test conditions, including oxide-to-solvent ratio were very similar to those used in the process. Both test portions dissolved quite readily in 14M HNO{sub 3}-0.2 M HF in a boiling water bath. Efficient agitation of the oxide in the solvent was instrumental in ensuring quick, thorough dissolution.

Cobalt activation calculations will be reviewed, and similar comparisons of sulfur activation interior to electrical insulators on power transmission lines will be discussed. The relationship between neutron tissue kermas one to two kilometers from hypocenter and the particular activations of cobalt and sulfur are reviewed. At present, measured and calculated quantities agree within associated uncertainties, which are substantial. Additional work to shrink these uncertainties will be discussed. Particular cobalt activation topics will include: the sensitivity to thermal neutrons outside the pillar; calculated values using actual Nagasaki concrete composition; and calculational advances to improve modelling of the actual configuration. Particular sulfur activation topics will include: absolute comparisons of measured and calculated ratios of dpm/gm of /sup 32/P at all measured ranges, based on approximate experimental values for insulator attentuation and source radiations; the relationship between sulfur activation within a kilometer of hypocenter and kermas at two kilometers; and calculational advances to improve modelling of the actual configuration.

Much of the tritium found in soil and leaf litter near a chemical separations facility is incorporated into soil organic matter in a stable non-exchangeable form. Formation of this ''bound'' tritium seems to result from the uptake of molecular tritium (HT) by living pine needles. Soil and litter microbes convert HT to HTO more rapidly, but no measurable organic tritium is formed. This report discusses this study.

A process is claimed for the production of substantial amounts of ethylene and other hydrocarbon compounds, such as benzene from coal. Coal is reacted with methane at a temperature in the approximate range of 500/sup 0/C to 1100/sup 0/C at a partial pressure less than about 200 psig for a period of less than 10 seconds, and preferably at a temperature of approximately 850/sup 0/C, and a partial pressure of 50 psig for a period of approximately 2 seconds. Ethylene and other hydrocarbon compounds may be separated from the product stream so produced, and the methane recycled for further production of ethylene. In another embodiment, other compounds produced, such as by-product tars, may be burned to heat the recycled methane.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) authorized DOE to implement an energy-conservation program for major household consumer products. Included in this legislation is a mandate to establish minimum energy-efficiency standards for each type or class of covered consumer product. In order to assure compliance by all manufacturers, procedures must be developed and implemented to permit DOE to verify that each manufacturer's products meet or exceed the prescribed efficiency standard. Vitro Laboratories performed analysis to assist DOE in developing a Certification/Enforcement Program for Consumer-Product Efficiency Standards meeting the requirements of EPCA. The specific work performed was defined by three tasks under the orginal contract and five tasks under a subsequent modification of the contract. Each task is described.