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The large-scale recovery of uranium from materials which also contained great quantities of fluorides did not give a product which had a low enough fluoride content to be treated satisfactorily by the other extraction process. The objective of the investigations carried out in this laboratory was a method of reducing the amount of fluoride which accompanied the uranium. The material from which the uranium was recovered in the industrial process was a slag containing (in addition to uranium) magnesium fluoride, calcium and dolomitic lines, crucible dross, and other waste products from the reaction of magnesium metal and uranium hexafluoride. Most of the fluoride was removed from this mixture by heating the roasted and ground slag with sulfuric acid. The residue was mixed with water and much of the caclium sulfate and fluoride, magnesium fluoride, and hydrated ferric oxide and alumina was precipitated by reducing the acidity. After filtering off the precipitate, ammonium sulfate was added to the solution and uranium peroxide (UO{sub 4} {center_dot} 2H{sub 2}O) was precipitated by addition of hydrogen peroxide. The pH of the solution was maintained between 3.0 and 3.5 during the precipitation by addition of sodium hydroxide. The uranium peroxide, even after washing, contained between …

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Brief discussions of experimental methods, kinetics, and the catalysts used in the production of D{sub 2}O are presented (J.E.D.)

Uranium hexafluoride has the distinction of being the only stable gaseous compound of uranium known up to the present moment. Because of this property it is the only compound that can be used for processes of isotope separation, such as diffusion, thermal diffusion, centrifuge separation, distillation, and other of a similar nature. Here is a short description of the properties of UF{sub 6} and is intended for a reader interested only casually in this compound. UF{sub 6} is a very reactive compound and a very strong fluorinating agent. It is immediately hydrolized by water. In fluorinating reactions it is reduced to the green highly stable UF{sub 4}. It reacts instantaneously with hydrogen at room temperature. It fluorinates many metals; sodium and mercury are attacked in the cold, lead, zinc, tin and iron on heating; platinum and gold react only above 400 C. With organic compounds like alcohol, ether, benzene or toluene, immediate fluorination takes place with formation of HF and carbon or carbonaceous material. The compound forms colorless, very volatile, beautiful transparent crystals of high refractive index. Melting point = 69.5{sup o}; boiling point at 760 mm = 56.2{sup o}; D20{sup o} = 4.68. The crystals melt water pressure to …

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This letter from Compton to Fermi describes developments bearing on the establishment of ``site X`` (which, as of the letter date, is definitely determined as at the Tennessee Valley) for the construction of a pile and associated pilot plant buildings, describes the situation as of the letter date, and offers counsel as to how to proceed.

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The excellent performance of British ''red dot'' crystals is explained as due to the knife edge contact against a polished surface. High frequency rectification depends critically on the capacity of the rectifying boundary layer of the crystal. C. For high conversion efficiency, the product of this capacity and of the ''forward'' (bulk) resistance R{sub b} of the crystal must be small. For a knife edge, this product depends primarily on the breadth of the knife edge and very little upon its length. The contact can therefore have a rather large area which prevents burn-out. For a wavelength of 10 cm. the computations show that the breadth of the knife edge should be less than about 10{sup -3} cm. For a point contact the radius must be less than 1.5 x 10{sup -3} cm. and the resulting small area is conductive to burn-out. The effect of ''tapping'' is probably to reduce the area of contact.

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Metal Hydrides Incorporated was a pioneer in the production of uranium metal on a commercial scale and supplied it to all the laboratories interested in the original research, before other methods for its production were developed. Metal Hydrides Inc. supplied the major part of the metal for the construction of the first experimental pile which, on December 2, 1942, demonstrated the feasibility of the self-sustaining chain reaction and the release of atomic energy.

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This report is a memorandum sent on January 27, 1943 concerning the quality of the water of Columbia River. Topics included: ph value, water temperatures, hardness, and dissolved carbon dioxide contents.

This site description of the Hanford Reservation from February 1943 gives size, topography, geology, population, water supply, railroad, highway, power, meteorological, and valuation information. Maps are included.

Experiments were carried out for the purpose of increasing production, efficiency, and purity of uranium metal. The electrolytic method as described by Driggs and Lilliendahl for the preparation of uranium metal was followed with but little deviation. The yield of metal at the very best was only 50%. The metal powder produced, at times, was very pyrophoric. Methods were found whereby the metal, at least in part, can be made from the oxides with an average yield of about 90%. The small amounts of sludge and slag accumulated in this modified process can readily be re-used in the electrolysis pot and, therefore, an overall yield of 96% can be obtained. Information accumulated from these experiments has been compiled in such a manner as to be readily available for factory use, for patent purposes and for future publication.

The report addresses the density of solid hex near the Triple and the expansivity of the liquid from the triple point.

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This report contains data acquired during sampling of the Columbia River water on March 26, 1945. Topics of discussion include; the elevation of chlorine levels from 4 ppm to 20 ppm, what steps should be taken to remediate the problem, and the various processes that were taken into consideration for the clean up of this chlorine. Separation processes considered include; ion exchange, distillation, precipitation, heat exchange, and recirculation through a cooling tower.

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