CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY DIVISION UNIT OPERATIONS SECTION MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT, FEBRUARY 1958

Calibrations have resulted in conflicting data for the yield of neutrons from a teflon-polonium solution interface. The installation of the continuous DRUHM reaction system is approximately 60% complete. The Fluorox fluidized bed reactor was operated continuously for 12 hr, producing 1.6 Kg of UF/sub 6/. In homogeneous reactor studies, installation of a mock-up for in-pile slurry bomb heat removal tests was completed. From material balances, about 21/2 g of plutonium remain in loop P-1 after repeated washing and descaling treatments. A Sharples Model P-4 Super-DCanter was adequate for continuously discharging ThO/ sub 2/ cake and clarified supernate. In ion exchange studies, data were obtained on the complex ion equilibria in uranyl sulfate solutions. A continuous self- sustaining Darex dissolution and stripping run of 46 hr duration was made. In a hydrochlorination run of 35 hr duration, 97.4% of a 4.39 kg section of a STR subassembly was reacted with anhydrous HCI gas with a uranium loss to the sublimate of 0.095%. The studies of the dissolution of duminy zirconium fuel elements in fused salt with HF were continued at increased HF velocities. In waste processing studies, the design of an adiabatic self-sintering experiment is 90% complete and the construction of the field facilities is 50% complete. (For preceding pericd see CF-58-1-137.) (auth