The objective of proposed research is development of catalysts with enhanced slurry phase activity and better selectivity to fuel range products, through a more detailed understanding and systematic studies of the effects of pretreatment procedures and promoters/binders (silica) on catalyst performance.

An aerosol reactor system has been designed and constructed for the systematic study of the mechanisms governing the possible synergistic capture of sulfur oxide and alkalis with aluminosilicates and lime (CaO). Actual particle dynamics found in coal combustor systems can be simulated, mass balances can be closed, and the system conditions are well controlled. The collection of hot reactive aerosol flows is performed utilizing an isokinetic probe.

This report discusses research being done in high energy physics at the University of Virginia in the following areas: charmonium; B mesons decay; B physics at the SCC; and symmetry and field theory. (LSP)

This document provides an insight into the future of national defense and the impacts of utilizing technology for improved defensive postures. (FI)

To determine the effect of alternate catalysts on the synthesis. This will include copper chromite catalysts impregnated with alkali metals such as potassium, rubidium and cesium as well as their use as homogenous catalysts in the form of methoxides or similar salts. The use of various copper chromite catalysts with different compositions will be studied: e.g. substituting barium for manganses in copper chromite catalyst has a beneficial effect. To determine the nature of the active catalysts in this reaction and the effect of deactivating agents such as CO{sub 2}, H{sub 2}O and CO. To determine the rate limiting steps in this reaction so that proper scale-up is possible. The effects of catalysts loading and reactor volume are of special importance. To develop mathematical models which can be used for prediction of rates of reaction and are suitable for scale-up of the reaction.

This progress report summarizes the research activities for the period July 1, 1990--June 30, 1991, the first year of a three-year renewal. The major accomplishments for the current year are: study of electronic structures and optical properties of several important ceramic crystals such as Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, MgO, MgAl{sub 2}O{sub 4}, ZrO{sub 2},V{sub 2}O{sub 3}, V{sub 2}O{sub 5} and all polycrystalline forms of SiO{sub 2}; theoretical study on superconducting oxides; first-principles calculation of total energies and structural phase transitions in oxides and nitrides; basic study on metallic glasses including calculation of transport properties; and theory of rare-earth and transition metal compounds. The major thrust for the next year's effort will be concentrating on the following: continuation of electronic and optical studies of important ceramic systems. Particular emphasis will be on the total energy calculations on complex crystals such as various polymorphic forms of SiO{sub 2}, ZrO{sub 2}, and Si{sub 3}N{sub 4}; fundamental studies on the structure and properties of different phases of Boron and B-related compounds; and further development of the OLCAO method such as application of self-interaction correction to wide gap insulators, spin-polarized calculations on the magnetic glasses and extraction of effective interatomic pair potentials for …

The Environmental Protection Department/Environmental Monitoring Section (EPD/EMS) administers the Savannah River Site's (SRS) Groundwater Monitoring Program. During second quarter 1991 EPD/EMS conducted extensive sampling of monitoring wells. EPD/EMS established two sets of flagging criteria in 1986 to assist in the management of sample results. The flagging criteria do not define contamination levels; instead, they aid personnel in sample scheduling, interpretation of data, and trend identification. Beginning in 1991, the flagging criteria are based on EPA drinking water standards and method detection limits. A detailed explanation of the current flagging criteria is presented in the Flagging Criteria section of this document. Analytical results from second quarter 1991 are listed in this report.

Due to the generation of a wide variety of pollutants during coal combustion, research on the development of a multifunction sorbent for adsorbing SO{sub 2} and alkali compounds simultaneously is ongoing at the University of Arizona. The current work focuses on the thermodynamic behavior of the reacting system for alkali adsorption especially in gas phase. The temperature and pressure effects on sodium species and on the system are intensively investigated under the simulated flue gas composition condition. The interaction of sulfur dioxide with sodium chloride vapor and some other system elements is also explored.

Although promoted cobalt and iron catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis of gasoline feedstock were first developed more than three decades ago, a major technical problem still limiting the commercial use of these catalysts today is carbon deactivation. This report describes recent progress in a fundamental, three-year investigation of carbon formation and its effects on the activity and selectivity of promoted iron catalysts for FT synthesis, the objectives of which are to: determine rates and mechanisms of carbon deactivation of unsupported Fe and Fe/K catalysts during CO hydrogenation over a range of CO concentrations, CO:H{sub 2} ratios, and temperatures; and model the rates of deactivation of the same catalysts in fixed-bed reactors. To accomplish the above objectives, the project is divided into the following tasks: (1) determine the kinetics of reaction and of carbon deactivation during CO hydrogenation on Fe and Fe/K catalysts coated on monolith bodies. (2) Determine the reactivities and types of carbon deposited during reaction on the same catalysts from temperature-programmed-surface-reaction spectroscopy (TPSR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Determine the types of iron carbides formed at various temperatures and H{sub 2}/CO ratios using x-ray diffraction and Moessbauer spectroscopy. (3) Develop mathematical deactivation models which include heat and mass …

We analyze two types of experiments that enhance our knowledge of the electron heat transport in femtosecond laser produced plasmas. The first involves layered targets and the fall off of substrate signal with increasing overlayer thickness. The experiment uncertainties are too large at present to definitively quantify the heat transport. The second involves the radiative output from thin foils. The behavior of the spectral response to foil thickness implies that our understanding of the transport within the foils is quite good. 12 refs., 11 figs.

The research described here is directed towards an investigation of mechanisms governing the capture of alkali metals and SO{sub 2} by injection of clay based sorbents into a combustor environment. While the species of interest are products of coal combustion, the earlier parts of these investigations will use a gas flame doped with relevant levels of Potassium, Sodium and Sulfur dioxide typical of a coal flame environment. This ensures that the particles so sampled from the combustor are from the injected sorbents and not mixed with coal ash. The approach here is to translate results from bench scale studies into evaluating governing mechanisms at a practical combustor level scale in which there exist both temperature variations and flow mixing characteristics. The research will thus consist of two tasks: (1) Detailed experimental studies for Alkali metals K, Na and toxic metal Cr in the presence of SO{sub 2} in which effect of parameters such as Speciation, Temperature profiles, Injection temperatures, residence time, bulk concentration levels, sorbent particle size and sorbent injection rates will be evaluated. (2) Theoretical modeling: Both equilibrium thermodynamics and reaction kinetics models will be used to correlate the experimental data. For these experiments the Sorbent type is Kaolinite …

Coal gasification by steam is of critical importance in converting coal to gaseous products (CO, H[sub 2], CO[sub 2], CH[sub 4]) that can then be further converted to synthetic natural gas and higher hydrocarbon fuels. Alkali and alkaline earth metals (present as oxides) catalyze coal gasification reactions and cause them to occur at significantly lower temperatures. A more fundamental understanding of the mechanism of the steam gasification reaction and catalyst utilization may well lead to better production techniques, increased gasification rates, greater yields, and less waste. We are studying the gasification of carbon by steam in the presence of alkali and alkaline earth oxides, using carbonates as the starting materials. Carbon dioxide gasification (CO[sub 2] + C --> 2CO) has been studied in some detail recently, but much less has been done on the actual steam gasification reaction, which is the main thrust of our work. In particular, the form of the active catalyst compound during reaction is still questioned and the dependence of the concentration of active sites on reaction parameters is not known. Until recently, no measurements of active site concentrations during reaction had been made. We have recently used transient isotope tracing to determine active site concentration …

The Dahlem Conference on controlling CO{sub 2} in the atmosphere focused on research needs broadly defined. The RD D needs discussed tended to be social-institutional rather than technically oriented perhaps because of the propensity of most attendees, but many important ideas emerged, including those related to questions on technology adoption by both developed, emerging, or transition economics. The European attendees appeared to be strongly devoted to reducing emissions, and doing it soon using efficiency improvement and ultimately renewables. The importance of efficiency improvement was universally accepted, but the extent to which it can be relied upon is a major uncertainty for everyone except the most zealous. There was no detailed discussion of what could be done to encourage the more rapid adoption of renewables. Most attendees seemed to have discounted nuclear, but, at any rate, the problems of reviving nuclear worldwide were not discussed in detail.

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether a municipal court of record must impose court costs upon a juvenile offender who participates in a "teen court" program (RQ-761)

Due to the generation of a wide variety of pollutants during coal combustion, research on the development of a multifunction sorbent for adsorbing SO{sub 2} and alkali compounds simultaneously is ongoing at the University of Arizona. The current work focuses on the thermodynamic behavior of the reacting system for alkali adsorption especially in gas phase. The temperature and pressure effects on sodium species and on the system are intensively investigated under the simulated flue gas composition condition. The interaction of sulfur dioxide with sodium chloride vapor and some other system elements is also explored.

This analysis is to assess comprehensively the risks from fire within the new lined landfills, provided by W-025 and designated Trench 31 and 34 of Burial Ground 218-W-5; they are located in the 200 West area of the Hanford Site, and are designed to receive low-level mixed waste.

This document provides a preliminary report of plasma arc vitrification testing by a vendor in support of the Hanford Tank Waste Remediation System Low-Level Waste (LLW) Vitrification Program. Phase I test conduct included 26 hours (24 hours steady state) of melting of simulated high-sodium low-level radioactive liquid waste. Average processing rate was 4.9 kg/min (peak rate 6.2 kg/min), producing 7330 kg glass product. Free-flowing glass pour point was 1250 C, and power input averaged 1530 kW(e), for a total energy consumption of 19,800 kJ/kg glass. Restart capability was demonstrated following a 40-min outage involving the scrubber liquor heat exchanger, and glass production was continued for another 2 hours. Some volatility losses were apparent, probably in the form of sodium borates. Roughly 275 samples were collected and forwarded for analysis. Sufficient process data were collected for heat/material balances. Recommendations for future work include lower boron contents and improved tuyere design/operation.

The Environmental Protection Department/Environmental Monitoring Section (EPD/EMS) administers the Savannah River Site`s (SRS) Groundwater Monitoring Program. During second quarter 1991 EPD/EMS conducted extensive sampling of monitoring wells. EPD/EMS established two sets of flagging criteria in 1986 to assist in the management of sample results. The flagging criteria do not define contamination levels; instead, they aid personnel in sample scheduling, interpretation of data, and trend identification. Beginning in 1991, the flagging criteria are based on EPA drinking water standards and method detection limits. A detailed explanation of the current flagging criteria is presented in the Flagging Criteria section of this document. Analytical results from second quarter 1991 are listed in this report.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether the State Board of Education is authorized to enact a regulation providing for the reduction of a school district's debt to the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Texas School for the Deaf from available school fund payment to the school district (RQ-585)

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether a county must maintain a special and separate account for cash bail bond funds that the county receives pursuant to article 17.02 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and related questions (RQ-565)

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether section 291.007 of the Local Government Code authorizes a county commissioner court to set a security fee of not more than five dollars to be taxed as court costs in each civil case filed in probate court, as well as in a county court, county court at law, and district court and related questions (RQ-613)