This general report on radium summarizes the research work conducted by seven AEC contractors since 1943. The costs to concentrate and purify radium from refinery ore residues are discussed. Desriptions and flow sheets of several commercial processes are included to provide background information.

A comparison of the rates of fixation of Carbon 14 dioxide in algae for the processes of photosynthesis, photoreduction and the hydrogen-oxygen-carbon dioxide dark reaction has been made. For the same series of experiments, rates of incorporation of tracer carbon into the separate soluble components using the radiogram method have been determined. The mechanism of carbon dioxide uptake has been shown to occur via two distinct paths. In all cases studied, essentially the same compounds appear radioactive. The distribution with time, however, differs markedly.

It is desired at this time to present in summary form a factual history of the Building 234-5 operations, encompassing not only the immediate pre-start-up period from April to July, 1949, but including the major obstacles encountered in the succeeding interval to the end of 1949. This report is intended to serve not only as a review of 234-5 operations during this period but also as a documentary evidence of the difficulties experienced and the manner in which they impeded the start-up. This report presupposes a certain familiarity with the background of the 234-5 Building. To one unacquainted with the scope of this project, or for those desiring a background review, reference should be made to Document HM-253, ``234-5 Building Program Review``, by D.D. Streid, dated April 22, 1949. It must be realized that any attempt to discuss in detail all the circumstances and difficulties contributing to the start-up period would be disconcerting to the reader, and would very likely be repetitive. Therefore, although it is far from the writer`s intent that a cursory review will suffice, the presentation will be as nearly as practicable, chronological and comparative. For the sake of clarity it will be necessary to present several …

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It is desirable to place laboratory instruments in static storage so that they may be put into operation with only normal servicing. Such instruments may be subject to many forms of deterioration. There may be deterioration of metal parts due to chemical and electrolytic corrosion and the effects of moisture, excessive dryness, and microorganisms, i.e., mildew on organic parts. To preserve such instruments without disassembly or troublesome surface coatings, requires methods that will remove the major cause of deterioration - that is, excessive humidity, by reducing and maintaining the relative humidity of the air surrounding the item at 30 per cent or less. It is also necessary to eliminate or separate hygroscopic materials from the item since they will cause corrosion, by surface adsorption and condensation, even though a dry atmosphere is maintained. The methods and materials used must not only be efficient and economical but also require a minimun of maintenance, Protection against physical damage and temperature extremes is dependent upon the storage site and is not considered in this report.

Declassified 23 Nov 1973. It is assumed that the Grand Coulee Dam would be destroyed by one direct hit following detonation of an atomic bomb. Major effects of the explosion include flooding and isolation of Richland, flooding of Midway Substation, and flooding of surrounding areas. Maximum water elevations following a direct hit and indirect hits are estimated. Data are presented for flow through openings and flow through dam failure. (HLW)

This progress report discusses the activities of the P Division for the month of January 1950. The B, D, F and H pilan operated throughout the month except for outages listed under Area Activities. Power levels were as follow: B pile -- 275 megawatts (MW) D pile -- 305 MW, F pile -- 275 MW increased to 305 MW during the month, and H pile -- 275 MW increased to 330 MW during the month. The piles operated with a time operated'' efficiency of 88.8%. A total of 53.07 tons of metal at an average of 91.2% of the current goal concentration was discharged from the piles during the month. A new record canning yield of 93.9% for 4 inch canned slugs was established during January.

BS>The use of a lead-bismuth alloy as a coolant in the removal of heat from power-generating nuclear reactors was considered with the possibility that its ternary alloy with uranium or plutonium might be of use in a reactor of the circulating-liquid-fuel type. Information collected from the literature covering phase-equilibrium studies, physicalproperty data, and reactivity of this alloy toward other substances is presented. (auth)

Fission product distribution, fission product activities, and decontamination factors are terms of general usage in the Chemical Development Section. Specific values for some of these terms have been based upon data procured several years ago. In many cases more accurate basic numbers are now available. This report sets forth in tabular form detailed information on fission product activities as a function of decay time for certain conditions. It attempts to quality the use of the theoretical curie as a unit of activity to a unit having a more direct practical significance, the ``countable curie.``

This report is a suggestion offered for a design modification regarding the material and layout of control and shim rods for the proposed G pile under design. The author suggests considering solid 2 inch diameter titanium control rods, in place of gadolinium-steel hollow 3 inch diameter rods which have been considered to this point. From a material cost and weight standpoint, and with regard to the neutron absorption properties, this suggestion appears better or equal to the original design proposal.

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Definite identification has been made of an isotope of the element with atomic number 98 through the irradiation of Cm{sup 242} with 35 Mev helium ions in the Berkeley Orocker Laboratory 60-inch cyclotron. The isotope which has been identified has an observed half-life of about 45 minutes and probably has the mass number 244. The observed mode of decay of the 98{sup 244} is through the emission of alpha-particles, with energy about 7.1 Mev, which agrees with predictions, and other considerations involving the systematics of radioactivity in this region indicate that it should also be unstable toward decay by electron-capture. The chemical separation and identification of the new element was accomplished through the use of ion exchange adsorption methods employing the resin Dowex-50. The element 98 isotope appears in the eka-dysprosium position on elution curves containing 4.6-hour Bk{sup 243} (formed by a d,n reaction in the same bombardment) and the bombarded Cm{sup 242} as reference points; that is, it preceded berkelium and curium off the column just as dysprosium precedes terbium and gadolinium. The experiments so far have revealed only the tripositive oxidation state of eka-dysprosium character but practically no attempts at oxidation to possible IV and V states have …

The recent production by Thompson, Ghiorso, and Seaborg of a radioactive isotope of berkelium (atomic number 97) makes it possible to investigate the chemical properties of this transuranium element by means of the tracer technique. This isotope has been prepared through the bombardment of Am{sup 241} with about 35 Mev helium ions in the 60-inch cyclotron of the Crocker Laboratory and is believed to have the mass number 243, or possibly 244. This Bk{sup 243} has a half-life of 4.6 hours and decays by electron capture with about 0.1% branching decay by alpha-particle emission. In the present tracer chemical experiments, the radiations accompanying the electron capture process were used as a means of detection and were counted in two ways. Where the sample deposits on the platinum plates were essentially weightless, as was the case following the evaporation and ignition of the elutriant solutions in the column adsorption experiments, a high efficiency was obtained by using a windowloess proportional counter to count the Auger electrons. The thicker samples from the precipitation experiments in which carrier materials were used were counted close to the thin window (3 mg/cm{sup 2} mica) of a bell type Geiger counter filled with 10 cm. xenon …

Recent attempts to displace fixed plutonium from the body by zirconium therapy have made an analytical method for the determination of zirconium in urine salts advisable. Standard chemical analytical methods for zirconium in rock were not adaptable to urine salts. The poor results obtained from these standard methods necessitated the development of a modified analytical procedure. The results of this work are reported herein.

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It is recommended that the actual intensity existing today above the liquid be measured before recommendations are made on cutting through the concrete seal. A detailed statement of work on this problem follows. The calculations have been filed. In the study of the feasibility of cutting through the concrete seal on the center riser of the waste storage tank the radiation intensity that would be encountered is critical because director operator contact would be required. The question of the radiation intensity to be expected was approached from two standpoints: (a) a study of previous measurements of sludge level and activities in the storage tanks; and (b) direct calculation.

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A study of the design of the DR Water Plant made for the purpose of estimating the feasibility of effecting an expansion of capacity has shown the following: (1) The Charles T. Main Company design has incorporated spare spaces and other provisions to permit a relatively simple increase in capacity to 42,000 GPM without undue additional design or procurement being required. (2) An increase in capacity to 44,000 GPM would require considerable re-design of the 183-DR, 190-DR and interconnecting pipe lines and would incur costs which may be out of proportion to the small increase in flow attained. In view of the urgency for the completion of the design and construction of this Water Plant, further consideration of an expansion to 44,000 GPM is not recommended.