Aqueous radioactive wastes from Savannah River Site separations processes are contained in large underground carbon steel tanks. Tank conditions are evaluated by inspection using periscopes, still photography, and video systems for visual imagery. Inspections made in 1990 are the subject of this report.

A novel high dose radiation dosimeter was developed employing NMR spectroscopic quantitation of the radiolytic products of methanol. Chemical shifts of product resonances relative to the solvent allow quantification using NMR techniques. Due to expected dynamic range limitations of NMR instrumentation, deuterated methanol is used with a presaturation suppression sequence to reduce the solvent proton signals. Methanol's {sup 13}C-coupled proton resonances is used as an internal reference to normalize product signals otherwise subject to spectrometer variability. Data on reproducibility, dose response, and temporal stability were acquired. System reproducibility for a sample at 1 kGy is {approx}10%. The dose response is linear in the range between 200 Gy and 50 kGy. No significant signal degradation was observed during a six month period. Advantages of this type dosimeter system include ease of use, large dynamic range, and temporal stability. An additional characteristic of a methanol based system is the LET dependent response in the chemical yields of formaldehyde and ethylene glycol. 70 refs., 15 figs., 9 tabs.

This progress report discusses two areas of research, namely the sputtering of Co-Ni-Cr films onto single crystal underlayers and the production of Co-Sm thin films with high coercivity. Included are a listing of papers submitted for publication, proposed research for year II (August 1991--July 1992), and the year II budget. (JDL)

This report documents the results of the Environmental Monitoring Program at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and presents summary information about environmental compliance efforts for 1989. To enable evaluation of the effect of LLNL operations on the local environment, measurements were made at both the Livermore site and nearby Site 300 of direct radiation and a variety of radionuclides and chemical pollutants in ambient air, soil, sewage effluent, surface water, groundwater, vegetation, and foodstuff. Evaluations were made of LLNL's compliance with all applicable guides, standards, and limits for radiological and nonradiological emissions to the environment. The monitoring data demonstrate that LLNL was in compliance with environmental laws and regulations concerning emission and discharge of materials to the environment. In addition, the monitoring data demonstrate that the environmental impacts of LLNL are minimal and pose no threat to the public or the environment. 98 refs., 40 figs., 77 tabs.

Several pyrite depressants have been evaluated for their effectiveness in depressing coal pyrite. A novel reagent, NVT, has been synthesized and shown to be selective for the separation of coal from coal pyrite by froth flotation. This organic reagent contains no sulfur group in its structure and exhibits a stronger affinity toward pyrite than toward coal. The effects of a number of parameters such as pH, reagent concentration and flotation time on flotation response were investigated in a microflotation cell and a bench-scale Denver flotation cell. The reagent has demonstrated good performance at relatively low concentrations when compared to the commercially available sulfur-based pyrite depressants. 8 figs.

Test runs for the immobilization of radioactive wastes in glass are now underway at the TNX Facility of the Savannah River Site. The wastes are immobilized by the Integrated Defense Waste Processing Facility Melter System (IDMS) process. The IDMS makes a borosilicate glass. To make the glass, certain quantities of boron and silicate must be maintained in the melter. The silicate is added to the melter in a substance called frit. To determine the amount of frit to add, it is necessary to calculate the percent silicate in the frit. The present method of determining the silicate content of frit has yielded inconsistent results. The focus of this project was to develop and implement a new process for determining the silicate content of frit. The author chose to achieve this goal using a colormetric method.

The purpose of this research is to investigate and develop methods that exploit the power of bacterial transposable elements for large scale DNA sequencing: Our premise is that the use of transposons to put primer binding sites randomly in target DNAs should provide access to all portions of large DNA fragments, without the inefficiencies of methods involving random subcloning and attendant repetitive sequencing, or of sequential synthesis of many oligonucleotide primers that are used to match systematically along a DNA molecule. Two unrelated bacterial transposons, Tn5 and {gamma}{delta}, are being used because they have both proven useful for molecular analyses, and because they differ sufficiently in mechanism and specificity of transposition to merit parallel development.

The Weatherization Residential Assistance Partnership,'' or WRAP program, is a fuel-blind conservation program designed to assist Northeast Utilities' low-income customers to use energy safely and efficiently. Innovative with respect to its collaborative approach and its focus on utilizing and strengthening the existing low-income weatherization service delivery network, the WRAP program offers an interesting model to other utilities which traditionally have relied on for-profit energy service contractors and highly centralized program implementation structures. This evaluation of the WRAP program is designed to: (1) Review the continuing relevance of the demand-side management option screening methodology for determining program configuration for services delivery, including rural populations; (2) locate and analyze recent additions to the energy conservation literature, data and information that bear on design of the WRAP program; and (3) through interviews assess participant impressions of the collaborative process used to plan, develop and implement the WRAP process.

A review is presented on the currently available technologies for nuclear reactor analyses by computer. The important distinction is made between traditional computer calculation and advanced computer simulation. Simulation needs are defined to support the design, operation, maintenance and safety of isotope production reactors. Existing methods of computer analyses are categorized in accordance with the type of computer involved in their execution: micro, mini, mainframe and supercomputers. Both general and special-purpose computers are discussed. Major computer codes are described, with regard for their use in analyzing isotope production reactors. It has been determined in this review that conventional systems codes (TRAC, RELAP5, RETRAN, etc.) cannot meet four essential conditions for viable reactor simulation: simulation fidelity, on-line interactive operation with convenient graphics, high simulation speed, and at low cost. These conditions can be met by special-purpose computers (such as the AD100 of ADI), which are specifically designed for high-speed simulation of complex systems. The greatest shortcoming of existing systems codes (TRAC, RELAP5) is their mismatch between very high computational efforts and low simulation fidelity. The drift flux formulation (HIPA) is the viable alternative to the complicated two-fluid model. No existing computer code has the capability of accommodating all important processes in …

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 overview of research conducted at ORNL in 1991 presents information on the subjects of biology, physics, and the environment. Specific topics include gene mutations in kidney disease, technology assessments in thermonuclear fusion, submarine hunting technology, ozone-safe refrigerants, optical data storage via surface enhanced raman spectroscopy, and waste mitigating microbes. (GHH)

This report discusses: light scattering at the crystal-melt interface; morphological instability and pattern selection; and sidebranching.

This report discusses: torus structure in higher dimensional hamiltonian systems; particle heating and stochastic web diffusion; scaling behavior of coupled conservative nonlinear systems; box counting algorithm and dimensional analysis of a pulsar; and universality of coupled nonlinear systems. (LSP)

During this reporting period, we have continued with our study of the chemistry of C{sub 6}-C{sub 3} plant monomers with montmorillonite clay (K-10). We have examined the reaction of K-10 with methyleugenol. Indane dimers (2 and 3) were observed. These same two dimers are formed in the reaction of K-10 with methylisoeugenol. Consequently, it seems likely that 1 is isomerized to 4 in the acidic environment of the K-10. Of particular interest in this reaction are the two new dimers 5 and 6. The structure of the anthracene dimer 6 has been confirmed by comparison of its ultraviolet spectrum with that of the dimethyl analog 7. Finally, while no presently known, naturally occurring lignans or lignins have structures related to 5 and 6, the formation of at least the anthracene ring system from 1 may be of significance, since anthracene units are known to occur in coal. We have also examined the photochemistry of 4. The original question that lead us into this area of lignan chemistry was whether 4 might be induced to undergo Diels-Alder dimerizations to form the natural products galbulin or isogalbulin.

The next step in our systematic examination of the radical cationinitiated dimerization of plant monomers from the D{sub 6}-C{sub 3} pool of shikimic acid metabolites was to study the dimerization of cinnamic acid and its derivatives. In order to do this we needed a radical cation initiator that has a reduction potential greater than that of BAHA (E{sub red} = 1.30 volts), since the electron-withdrawing carboxylate functional group of cinnamates renders them inert to oxidation with BAHA. This problem was solved with the observation that DBAHA tris-(2,4-dibromophenyl)aminium hexachloroantimonate, E{sub red} = 1.74 volts, intiated the radical cation dimerization of methyl 3,4-dimethoxycinnamate.

This Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) informational report reviews in detail the occupational injury and illness experience of metallic mineral mining in the the United States for 1989. Data reported by operators of mining establishments concerning work injuries are summarized by work location, accident classification, part of body injured, nature of injury, occupation, and principal type of mineral. Related information on employment, worktime, and operating activity also is presented. Data reported by independent contractors performing certain work at mining locations are depicted separately in this report. For ease of comparison with other metal and nonmetallic mineral mining industries and with coal mining, summary reference tabulations are included at the end of both the operator and the contractor sections of this report. 3 figs., 46 tabs.

We have measured the fusion excitation function and gamma-ray multiplicities, M{sub gamma}, for the {sup 28}Si + {sup 154}Sm system. We have also measured M{sub {gamma}} for the {sup 16}O + {sup 166} Er system that leads to the same compound nucleus, {sup 182}Os. This is used to calibrate the connection between M{sub {gamma}} and the first moment of the spin distribution of the compound nucleus, {l angle}{ell}{r angle}. We find that the deduced {l angle}{ell}{r angle} in {sup 28}Si + {sup 154}Sm agrees reasonably well with theoretical expectations, and in particular exhibits the barrier bump expected when another degree of freedom is strongly coupled to the relative motion. 17 refs., 2 figs.

This report covers the sixth quarter of the subject contract. The primary objective of this quarter was modifying the software and testing the hardware of the transportable computer-aided particle tracking apparatus to be used at the Morgantown Energy Technology Center. While the data acquisition programs have been described in the last report, the program names were changed and the method for input to these programs was modified for convenient use. The hardware settings and arrangement were checked in order to obtain the optimum operating condition. 4 figs.

The product of several advanced physical coal cleaning processes is a dry ultra-fine coal (DC), in the order of 10 microns mean mass diameter. To utilize this fuel commercially, cost-effective, environmentally safe systems must be provided for the storage, transport, and handling of this finely divided form of fuel. The objective of the project described herein is the development of total logistics systems for DC, including experimental verification of key features. The systems to be developed will provide for safe, economic, and environmentally protective storage and delivery of DC for residential, commercial, and industrial uses. (VC)

CeCu{sub 4}A{ell} and CeCu{sub 2}Zn{sub 2}A{ell} are heavy fermion systems with extremely enhanced C/T (specific heat divided by temperature) values of 2.3 and 1.8 J/K{sup 2} respectively as T {yields} 0 K. The field dependence of the low temperature specific heat is also extreme; 11 T reduces C of CeCu{sub 4}A{ell} by more than a factor of five, 12.5 T suppresses C of CeCu{sub 2}Zn{sub 2}A{ell} about seven times. Magnetic field caused changes of the specific heat of CeCu{sub 4}A{ell} are consistent with a single ion Kondo model. Magnetic correlations are at least partially responsible for the enhanced low temperature specific heat of CeCu{sub 2}Zn{sub 2}A{ell}.

The major goal of this research project is to establish the feasibility of a power conversion technology which will permit the direct synthesis of computer programmable pulse power. Feasibility has been established in this project by demonstration of direct synthesis of commercial frequency power by means of computer control. The power input to the conversion system is assumed to be a Faraday connected MHD generator which may be viewed as a multi-terminal dc source and is simulated for the purpose of this demonstration by a set of dc power supplies. This consolidation/inversion (CI), process will be referred to subsequently as Pulse Amplitude Synthesis and Control (PASC). A secondary goal is to deliver a controller subsystem consisting of a computer, software, and computer interface board which can serve as one of the building blocks for a possible phase II prototype system. This report period work summarizes the accomplishments and covers the high points of the two year project. 6 refs., 41 figs.

This report discusses: Theory of turbulent flame speed; flame extinction by periodic flow field; influence of swirl on the structure and extinction of premixed flames; propagation and extinction of nonsteady spherical flame fronts; geometrically invariant formulation of the intrinsic dynamics of premixed flames; nonlinear dynamics of oscillatory regime of premixed combustion; and pattern formation in premixed flames. (LSP)

This document presents our proposal to continue the activities of Boston University researchers in eight projects in high energy physics research: Colliding Beams Physics; Accelerator Design Physics; MACRO Project; Proton Decay Project; Theoretical Particle Physics; Muon G-2 Project; and Hadron Collider Physics. The scope of each of these projects is presented in detail in this paper.

The project objectives are (1) to synthesize permselective ceramic membranes by chemical vapor deposition of SiO{sub 2} and other oxides within the walls of porous support tubes, (2) measure membrane permeability and thermal stability to various gases at 200--700{degrees}C and (3) develop a mathematical model for the chemical vapor deposition of the permselective oxide within the porous support tube.