ML19257D043

Twenty-Fourth Annual Progress Rept of Breazeale Nuclear Reactor,Jul 1978-June 1979.

ML19257D043
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Site:	Pennsylvania State University
Issue date:	07/31/1979
From:	Levine S, Totenbier R PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV., UNIVERSITY PARK, PA
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CONTRACT EY-76-C-02-3409.A004 T'4ENTT-FOURTH ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT OF THE PENNSYL7ANIA STATE UNIVERSITY BREAZEALE NUCLEAR REACTOR July 1, 1978 to June 30, 1979 Subed.tted to United States Department of Energy and The Pennsylvania State University by Sa=uel H. Levine, Director Robert E. Totenbier (Editor),

3reazeale Nuclear Reactor Department of Nuclear Engineering The Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania July 1979 PS3R 315-497992 8001310 2 b7

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The editor wishes to express his appreciation to all contributors for their timely research and project reports. Special thanks shculd be given to S. H. Levine -

for the Introduction, I. B. McMaster and J. R. McKea for the personnel section, J. L. Penkala for the Education and Training Utilization section and W. A. Jester for the Radionuclear Applications Laboratory summary. In addition, this report would not have been completed on time without the help of the nimble fingers of M. Beward and R. Fasick.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . .. . .............. iii TABLES AND FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . .............. v HIGHLIGKYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 I. INTRODUCTION . . . . .. . .. . .............. 3 II. PERSONNEL . . . . . .. . . . . .............. 5 III. FACILITY OPERATION . . . . .. . .............. 9 IV. EDUCATION AND TRAINING . .. .. .............. 15 V. RADIONUCLEAR APPLICATIONS LABORATORY ............ 21 VI. FACILITY RESEARCH UTILIZATION . . .............. 23 A. University Research Utilizing the Facilities of the Penn State Breazeale Nuclear Reactor ........ 24 B. Industrial Research Utilizing the Facilities of the Penn State Breazeale Nuclear Reactor ........ 48 APPENDIX A: Faculty, Staff and Students Utilizing the Facilities of the Penn State Breazeale Nuclear Reactor . . . . . . .............. 51 APPENDIX B: Formal Group Tours . . . . .............. 59 1841 146 iv

TABLES Page Table 6

1 Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...........

2 Breazeale Nuclear Reactor Operations Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... 10 3 Breazeale Nuclear Reactor Utilization

. . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 11 Statistics

. . . . . . . ............ 13 4 Cobalt-60 Statistics High School Nuclear Science Program ............ 16 5

FIGURES Figure Page 8

1 Organization Chart . . . . . . . . . ............

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HIGHLIGHTS The PSBR ptovided contart<.na.t<.on detection setvices and mweeu to questierts from numetous cortce,tned citi: ens in tJte aftermatJt of tite Thtee Mile Island incident.

Tite reactor was ased an avstage of 2.3311auu out af each 8 hour9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br /> s(tift fo.1 educaticnal pu,1pases.

Witit no change in t.ota.L hou,u of opetation, more samples wete Lttadiated for more sample Itou,ts tJtan during tite ptevious year.

FactLLty .tesearcJt involved 64 faculty and staf f m'embeu and 42 graduate studertts in 29 depaatments or sections from 7 colleges of tite Univeuity.

More titan 2400 visitors wete guided titrough .the. facxLLty on ovet i25 tours.

27 higli school . science classes involving 312 students wete involved in demonstration . type expetiments using tite .teactor and otitet facilities.

57 Hueteat Enginesting Laboratoty Classe,s involving 107 st.udents used tite faciiLty for 341 Itou,u.

The rtinth four week Nuclear Concepts and Enstgy Rescu,1ces IrtstLtute was Iteld for 44 Itigit school science teaciteu from 10 states.

Th, tee unannounced Nucleat Regulaf.org Comntission inspection.s .tevealed no items af non-compliance.

An Activa,ticn Analy. sis Worksitap aus attended by 17 .te, sea,tche,u.

Two utdastrial tta.ining programs we,te conducted for 12 poteuttw.l nuclear powet plant opetafors.

Four atiter Univeuttles used t.!te .teacto,1 facLLLties undet a 00E .sportsared

.teactor sha, ting program.

Tite .teactor staf f lias accumulated well ovet i25 man yeau of . safe .teli-able teactor opetating expe,tience.

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I. INTRODUCTION The Breazeale Reactor acted as a center of analysis and information dur-ing and after the accident at Three Mile Island. The local community was advised as to the potential hazards of this accident, and members of the staff helped in analyzing material and food for radiation contamination.

In addition, concerned citizens, returning from the Harrisburg area, were survey-d for radiation contamination. Needless to say, no radiation con-tamination was found, but it served to allay their fears.

The Nuclear Engineering Laboratories, NucE. 440, NucE. 441, and NucE.

502, utilized the facilities to teach students practical applications and in some cases allowed them to operate the reactor. A special nuclear engineering course correlating reactor theory with practical situations involved operation of the reactor by studencs. Other nuclear engineering courses also provide opportunities for students to operate the reactor and gain practical experience related to their theoretical course work.

In addition to the educational and research benefits, there are related economic benefits provided by the facility to the University as well as to the residents of Pennsylvania. Continued education activities are conduct-ed to provide students from high schools and other colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, the opportunity to use the Brea:eale Reactor.

It is also important to recognize that the reactor provides experi-mental facilities that are necessary in the performance of some contracts; otherwise, faculty and students would either conduct their reactor experi-ments out of the state at additional costs to them or eliminate this portion of the work from their contracts. During the past year 64 Penn State University faculty and staff and 42 graduate students made use of the facility for research.

This year has seen increased utilization of the services provided by the Radionuclear Applications Laboratory, both by University research personnel and by industrial organizations. The majority of these projects involved either analytical services using neutron activation analysis or tracer services using nonradioactive but neutron activatable tracers. An exciting area of new research, which has been initiated for studying the 3

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use of soma of the water tracer techniques was pioneered by faculty in the Nuclear Engineering Department to evaluate sites for acceptability as shallow land radwaste burial sites.

Groups totaling more than 2,400 people visited the facility on guided tours during the year. This total does not include visitors for business purposes, small groups, and many casual visitors who are also guided through the facility.

The Reactor Staff and the Nuclear Reactor Safety Committee continue to review the operation of the facility in an effort to improve the safety and efficiency of its operation and to provide conditions conducive to its utilization. With the advent of TMI, and the increased public sensitivity to nuclear radiation activity, the NRC is imposing more and more restrictive rules and regulations on these facilities. These rules and proposed rules consume enormous amounts of staff tbne and restrict movement within the facility by people not on the permanent staff. It is anticipated that these conditions will continue into the future. The Nuclear Reactor Safety Committee met four times to confer with the staff on unusual experiments, review operational records, and consult on special operational problems.

Three NRC inspections were conducted during the period covered by this re-port. These included compliance of activities conducted under the facility license and Special Nuclear Materials licenses, and physical protection and accountability of the materials held under these licenses.

The following sections of this report are intended to provide an outline of the various aspects of the cperation of the facility. Personnel, operat-ing and utilization, statistics and research are su=marized in the various sections that follow.

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II. PERSONNEL After nearly 15 years of service to the facility, J. H. O'Brien ternin-ated employment with the University to accept a position in industry. His duties have been temporarily absorbed by T. L. Flinchbaugh and R. C. Houtz with some duties distributed among the remainder of the staff. This vacaut position has been accepted by J. B. Bonner who reported for duty in June 1979.

P. P. Carier has been added to the facility staff on a part-time basis as a reactor operator trainee. It is expected that he will be licensed to operate the reactor sometime this summer. He will then assist the regular staff in reactor operations on a part-time basis. J. K. Shillenn has been reassigned to the reactor sr.aff to assist with tours and neutron activa-tion research.

G. M. Faeth of the Mechanical Engineering Deparrment continues as chair-man of the Nuclear Reactor Safety Committee. No changes were made in co=mittee membership during the year.

E. C. Augustine has been added to the university Health Physics staff as a full-time Health Physics Assistant.

Table 1, lists the personnel associated with the reactor facility.

The organization chart, Figure 1, reflects the present area of responsi-bilities of the permanent staff.

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Table 1 PERSONNEL Faculty and Staff J. B. Bonner -Reactor Supervisor / Auxiliary Operations Specialist

• • T. L. Flinchbaugh -Reactor Supervisor / Nuclear Education Specialist

• • R. C. Routz -Reactor Supervisor / Nuclear Education Specialist W. A. Jester -Associate Professor

• • S. H. Levine -Professor / Director J. R. McKee -Administrative Aide

• • I. B. McMaster -Research Assistant / Deputy Director

• • J. H. O'Brien (Resigned 3/9/79) -Reactor Supervisor / Auxiliary Operations Specialist

• • J. L. Penkala -Research Assistant K. K. S. Pillay -Associate Professor

• • D. C. Raupach -Reactor Supervisor / Reactor Utilization Specialist

• K. E. Rudy -Senior Engineering Aide-Mechanical Service Supervisor J. K. Shillenn -Energy Educa*/.on Specialist /

Technology Transfer

• • R. E. Totenbier -Research Assistant / Operations Supervisor

• D. S. Vonada -Electronics Designer Technical Service Staff P. P. Carier -Reactor Operator W. A. Davy -Custodian / Driver F. G. LeWando -Maintenance Worker R. O. Lowrey -Experimental and Maintenance Mechanic Clerical M. D. Beward -Facility Secretary R. M. Fasick -Secretary and Receptionist Licensed Operator r

• • Licensed Senior Operator 1841 153 6

Table 1 (Continued)

Graduate Assistants J. S. Brenizer -Graduate Assistant J. P. Colletti -Graduate Assistant G. M. Comparetto -Graduate Assistant R. K. Hanneman -Graduate Assistant R. F. Hoffman -Graduate Assistant H. Y. Huang -Graduate Assistant C. J. Jarvis -Graduate Assistant J. H. Wallace -Graduate Assistant Health Physics E. C. Augustine -Health ihysics Assistant N. M. Dougherty -Associate Health Physicist R. W. Granlund -University Health Physicist D. H. Hollenbach -Health Physics Assistant Nuclear Reactor Safety Committee P. Barton, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering G. M. Faeth, Professor, Mechanical Engineering (Present Chairman)

R. W. Granlund, Health Physicist R. E. Hendersou, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering E. H. Klevans, Professor, Nuclear Engineering W. P. Kovac1k, Westinghouse Research Laboratories S. H. Levine, Professor and Director, Breazeale Nuclear Reactor J. R. McKee (Secretary) Nuclear Engineering I. B. McMaster, Research Assistant and Deputy Director, Breazeale Nuclear Reactor W. M. Miller, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry K. K. S. Pillay, Assistant Professor, Nuclear Engineering i841 156 7

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III FACILITY OPERATIONS A comparison of the operation and utilization statistics for the past two years, as listed in Tables 2 and 3, indicates relatively small changes.

There was a slight decrease in the hours critical which is also reflected in a lower energy release and a correspondingly lower figure of grams of U-235 consumed.

Although there were twenty fewer eight hour shifts in the past year, by scheduling more simultaneous experiments, an increase in the number of users per shift was realized. For the same reason, there was an increase in both the number of samples and the number of sample hours. These in-creases were accomplished with no change in the total hours of operation.

A new item appearing in Table 3, Educational Usage, reflects the average per shift use of the reactor for academic instruction and other educational purposes such as demonstration type experiments for high school science classes. The better than two hours per shif t usage shows the value of the reactor as an educational tool.

Because of delays in granting of funds by the Department of Energy (DOE), a computer program, TRICOM / SCRAM, was adapted to determine the amount of U-235 consumed in each fuel element in the reactor core and in storage racks. By reshuffling the fuel, using the less depleted elements near the center of the core, the core life was extended sufficiently to delay the need for additional fuel until the fall of 1979. This new core configura-tion was made in August 1978.

Durinb the past year there were three unannounced inspections by Nuclear Regulatory Commission agents. These inspections covered physical security, accountability of Special Nuclear Material and compliance with the facility technical specifications and the numerous rules in the Code of Federal Regulations. In all inspections, no items of non-compliance were found.

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Table 2 Breazeale Nuclear Reactor Operation Data June 1, 1977 - May 31, 1979 ,_ ,

1977-1978 1978-1979 A. Hours of Critical Time

1. Hours Critical 836.13 758.11

2. Approaching Critical 172.05 165.30

3. Adjusting Fuel 55.51 58.60

3. Number of Pulses 239 183 C. Number of Square Waves 45 62 D. Energy Release (MWH) 586.30 513.61 E. Grams U-235 Consumed 30.20 26.40 F. Number of Scrams

1. Planned as part of experiments 99 108

2. Unplanned - resulting from a) Personnel action

• 20 16 b) Abnormal system operation 13 5

• The majority of these resulted from operation by trainees.

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Table 3 Breazeale Nuclear Reactor Utilization Data (average per shift)

June 1, 1977 - May 31, 1979 1977-1978 1978-1979 A. Number of Users 1.97 2.38 B. Samples or Experiments

1. Pneumatic transfer samples 11.75 11.96

2. Total number of samples 14.00 16.36

3. Sample hours 9.25 19.04 C. Reactor Usage (hours)

1. Total operation 2.94 2.90

2. Shutdown in stand-by condition 1.12 1.20

3. Total usage 4.06 4.10

4. Subtotals a) Full power operati,n 1.98 1.62 b) Educational usagc --- 2.33 c) Reactor operator training 1.80 1.35 d) Calibration and maint.enance .87 .86 D. Number of 8 hour9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br /> shifts 284 262 1841 161 11

Cobalt-60 Utilization Table 4 shows a significant increase in utilization of the Cobalt-60 facility. Most of the increased usage occurred since January of 1979, and is continuing into the summer. Again this past year, most of the exposures.were for experimenters interested in biological effects. Al-though these exposures are usually of short duration, there were enough long term irradiations to roughly triple both the hours of facility use and the total sample hours.

Most of the long term irradiation periods extend overnight and over weekends which in effeet makes the facility available for use 365 days a year even thc..igh it is not staffed during these times. Since the per day averages are based on 365 days they are artifically low.

There have been no recent changes in this facility partially due to a change over in supervisory personnel.

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Table 4 Cobalt-60 Utilization Data June 1, 1977 - May 31, 1979 1977-1978 1978-1979 A. Time involved (hours) '

1. Set-up time 17 56

2. Total facility use 457 1,141

3. Total sample hours 858 2,586 B. Numbers involved

1. Samples run 636 633

2. Different experimenters 16 25

3. Configurations used 4 3 C. Per day averages

1. Experimenters 0.2 0.6

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IV. EDUCATION AND TRAINING The training and educational ability and adaptability of the Penn State Breazeale Reactor (PSBR) operating staff and the TRIGA Mark III reactor

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were manifest in the variety of formal laboratory courses, industrial train-ing programs, inhouse training, and continuing education functions which were provided during this past reporting period.

Typical of the cooperative effort provided by the PSBR operating staff was the guidance and supervision given to the fourteen Nuclear Engineering ,

Technology (NET) students as part of their Reactor Technology Laboratory course, Nuc.E. 814. Under the surveillance of senior operators I. B.

McMaster, R. E. Totenbier, D. C. Raupach, R. C. Houtz, J. H. O'Brien, T. L. Flinchbaugh, and J. L. Penkala, each of the NET students logged in a minimum of twelve safe and informative operating hours at the controls of the PSBR where they participated in all the routine operations which the reactor is capable of performing. The experimentation portion of the NucE. 814 course was taught by J. L. 2enkala, assisted by T. L. Flinchbaugh in the laboratory.

Rounding out the offerings of formal courses at the PSBR in the NET program, K. K. S. Pillay taught the Nuclear Technology Laboratory course, NucE. 812, in which the reactor was used to generata radioisotopes.

The inhouse training this past year consisted of a license requalifi-cation program that was completed in December of 1978 and a reactor opera-tor licensing program which is currently in progress. The annual requalifi-cation program consisted of an oral examination on abnormal and emergency procedures which was conducted by R. E. Totenbier. As in past years, all nine members of the PSBR operating staff successfully requalified for their NRC operating licenses.

The inhouse reactor operator licensing program is currently being con-ducted for P. P. Carier who began in late Fall 1978. It is anticipated that Carier will take an NRC operator license examination during the Summer of 1979.

The Nuclear Concepts and Energy Resources !astitute (NCERI) was offered as Nuclear Engineering 497 for the ninth consecutive year during the Su=mer of 1978. The NCERI, a four week institute, was attended by forty-four high school teachers from ten states, in addition to Pennsylvania. As a result 15 1841,165

Table 5 High School Nuclear Science Program 1978-79 High School Instructor No. of Students Altoona Mr. Beach 14 Beattie Tech Mr. Leseck 10 Bedford Mr. Turner 5 Bellefonte Mr. Young, Jr. 19 Blue Mountain Mr. Miller 10 Chestnut Ridge Mr. Popp 10 Council Occks Mr. Struble 11 Daniel Boone Mr. Tobias 19 Delone Catholic Sister Marie Aimee 11 Derry Area Mr. Feeny 8 Exeter Mr. Murray 8 Harbor Creek Mr. Peterson 9 Hollidaysburg Mr. Rhodes 10 Jersey Shore Mr. Allen 8 Lower Dauphin Mr. Lyter 19 Marion Center Mr. Petrosky 10 Mt. Union Mr. Shutawie 7 N. Schuylkill Mr. Welker 6 Penn Crest Mr. Good 10 Penns Valley Area Mr. Fuller 11 Reading Central Catholic Sister Marie Thomas 7 Ridgeway Mr. Koos 17 Smethport Area Mr. Fetter 7 Thomas Jefferson Mr. Farrell 15 Union City Area Mr. Obert 11 Warren Area Mr. Szul 30 Wyomissing Area Mr. Bell 10 Group Total 27 Participants Total 312 16 lh4l lhh

of their four weeks of intensive study, the participating teachers will re-turn to their respective school districts and offer a senior elective course in Energy Alternatives. The major portion of the NCERI laboratory experi-ments was supervised by T. L. Flinchbaugh and J. J. Bonner. D. H. Hollenbach and J. L. Penkala assisted in two of the laboratory exercises.

As in previous institutes, the participants in the NCERI were encouraged to return with their high school classes for a one-day field trip to the PSBR. This past year, as a result of previous NCERI's, 27 groups totaling 312 students participsted in a full day of experimentation, observatien, and touring at the PSBR. J. K. Shillenn handled the scheduling and supervision of the high school tour groups with assistance from J. L. Penkala and T. L. Flinchbaugh. Table 5 su=marizes the participation in the high school tour program.

The laboratory course NucE. 440 was taught in the Fall 1978 and Spring 1979 terms by M. A. Schultz with the valuable assistence of R. C. Houtz.

Three of the more Laportant experiments were conducted at the PSBR with major assistance from the reactor operating crew.

During the Fall 1978 and Winter 1979 terms, E. S. Kenney taught the

'ucE. 441 courses with the assistance of the reactor staff. Twenty-two students were registered for the NucE. 441 course.

The TRICA reactor was used extensively when S. H. Levine taught NucE.

502B, a graduate laboratory course, for fifteen students the past Winter term. E. S. Kenney followed up with the NucE. 502C laboratory course during the Spring Term 1979 for eight students. Both NucE. 502 courses received extensive cooperation from the PSBR operating staf f.

An elective nuclear engineering course which was designed to give the student an opportunity to correlate class room theory with actual reactor operation situations controlled by the student was offered a number of times this past year. The NucE. 444 course, Nuclear Reactor Operations Laboratory, was offered during Summer 1978, Fall 1978 and Spring 1979 Terms for 31 students by J. L. Penkala. Each student performed a minimum of ten reactor startups while logging approximately 30 hours3.472222e-4 days <br />0.00833 hours <br />4.960317e-5 weeks <br />1.1415e-5 months <br /> of operating experience at the PSBR control console.

Two industrial training programs were provided for 12 reactor operator license candidates for the Pennsylvania Pose nd L g t Company and 17

Cincinnati das and Electric Company. The entire senior reactor operating staf f participated in these industrial training programs.

Through funding provided by DOE, the PSBR is cooperating with other colleges and universities in a reactor sharing program. This past report-ing period, groups of students from Bucknell University, the University of Pittsburgh, Villanova University, Alliance College, and The Hazleton Campus of Penn State University were allowed to use the PSBR for experiments af ter appropriate background material was presented. Fifty-four students and their instructors were schooled in some of the basic reactor experiments in nuclear engineering. J. L. Penkala administered the reactor sharing program and executed the pedagogical duties with the four university groups this past year.

The PSBR and its operating staff continued to serve the nuclear engineering department in addition to other university departments and colleges in the following manner:

• Forty-seven of F. J. Remick's NucE 401 students were given a tour of the PSBR and a start-up and pulse demonstration.

• A number of G. E. Robinson's NucE 430 students were given the opportunity to schedule a 2 to 3 hour3.472222e-5 days <br />8.333333e-4 hours <br />4.960317e-6 weeks <br />1.1415e-6 months <br /> session on the console of tha PSBR during which each student was supervised by a senior operator through a reactor scart-up and pulse.

• The reactor was used for irradiation services and preparation of material for the eight students in K.K. S. Pillay's NucE 400/ Chem 405 Course.

J. B. Nesbitt's C E 574 class used Mn-56 tracer material to determine the hydraulic characteristics of a model settling basin. Fourteen students were involved in this study.

• Three groups totaling approximately forty University Police Services personnel were given training / retraining sessions by R. C. Hout: at the PSBR to ensure familiarity with the facilities.

• A workshop (sponsored by Edinboro State College) was conducted for thirty-one high sch'ool students by J. L. Penkala.

J. L. Penkala made the reactor and associated facilities available to twenty-four NucE 200 students during the Winter 1979 term.

• W. A. Jester conducted a workshop for twenty medical technicians from s

Harrisburg G$neral Hospital at the PSBR. )hk] }hh 18

With well over 125 man years of safe, reliable reactor operating experience, the staff of the PSBR is obviously fulfilling its obligation to "the general public" to disseminate information concerning the pros and cons, the do's and dont's, the how's and hov not's of reactor operations, irradiation services, and understanding of nuclear energy in general and nuclear applications in particular through the spectrum of educational and training vehicles described in this report.

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V. RADIONUCLEAR APPLICATIONS LiEORATORY The staff of the Radionuclear Applications Laboratory during this year consiated of W. A. Jester, K. K. S. Pillay, and D. C. Raupach. Several of Jester's and Pillay's graduate students assisted in conducting one or more of the projects associated with the laboratory. The purpose of the labora-is to provide consulting and technical assistance to University research personnel who wish to utilize some type of radionuclear technique in their work. While the bulk of these projects involve some type of neutron activation analysis procedure, the staff is prepared to provide services in such areas as nuclear medicine, radioactive tracer techniques, radiation gauging and radiation processing; in fact, they have provided services in these and other fields in the past.

This year has shown a considerable growth in the number of industrial customers who are now using the services of this laboratory or are consider-ing future use of these services. One important industrial service was provided to the Hershey Food Corporation as a result of the Three Mile Island incident. The laboratory was asked to analyze many samples of their products, collected at various production stages, for the presence of any radioactive fission products.

The two-day annual activation analysis workshop held on March 1, 2, 1979 was organized by D. C. Raupach. The purpose of this workshop is to instruct University research personnel in the use of activation analysis and acn-radioactive but neutron activatable tracers as research tools.

S. H. Levine and W. A. Jester, of the Nuclear Engineering Department, and R. W. Granlund, University Health Physicist, assisted by D. C. Raupach, conducted the workshop. A total of 17 researchers were in attendance.

In terms of new facilities, advanced planning is underway to set up a laboratory for the detection of low levels cf radioactivity in irinking water. When completed and certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this will be one of only two or three throughout the State that will be able to provide these services, which are now required by all municipal water companies under the Safe Drinking Water Act (P 673-523). It is anticipated that the laboratory will be made operational and receive EPA certification during this coming year.

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VI. FACILITY RESEARCH UTILIZATION Research continues to utilize the major portion of the available operation time of the reactor and the Cobalt-60 Facility. A wide variety of research projects are currently in progress as indicated on the follow-ing pages. For convenience, the University oriented research projects are arranged alphabetically by departments under the various colleges. Theses, publications and papers follow the research descriptions to which they pertain. In addition, a section is provided with examples of industrial research utilizing the facility.

The facility continues to serve as a research tool available to all faculty staff and graduate students of the various departments and colleges within the University. Sixty-four faculty and staff members and forty-two graduate students have used the facility in the past year for research.

This represents a usage by twenty-nine different departments or sections in seven colleges of the University. Names of the individual users are arranged alphabe*1c.lly undar their departmental and college affiliations in Appendix A.

The following list of current research projects (arranged in alpha-betical order using author's names) indicates the broad utilization enjoy-ed by the Breazeale Reactor Facility. The fif ty projects described involve one batchelor's thesis, twenty master's theses, ten doctoral theses, fifteen publications and four papers. The examples cited are not to be construed as publications or announcements of research. The publication of research utilizing the facility is the prerogative of the researcher.

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A. University Research Utilizing the Facilities of the Penn State Breazeale Nuclear Reactor COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE Agronomv Department Chemical and Microbiological Monitoring with Nutritional Bio Assay of Land Disposal of Sewage Sludge as it Affects Crop Production and Mineral Elements in the Food Chain D. E. Baker D. M. Jones Activation Analysis was performed on sewage sludge samples to test validity of other methods for determining mercury. The determination was part of a thesis probles to test soils and soil-sludge mixtures for the availability of mercury.

Dairv and Animal Science Department Rare Earth Markers for Animal Digestion Tracers E. J. DePeters This research involves rare earth markers such as samarium, lanthium, and dysprosium. There is presently an increasing interest in using these markers in animal research, particularly ruminant. These elements are not absorbed by the animal and appear to be strongly adsorbed onto feed partic-ulate matter as it passes through the digestive tract of the animal. They have been used in rate of passage studies and digestion trials in the liter-ature. Studies as these require much effort when using dairy or beef animals. Total collection of feces is difficult and time consuming, and there are presently few inert markers available which meet the criteria needed. The rare earth elements offer an alternative.

. The object of this research is to determine the feasibility of using samarium to calculate the digestibility of various feeds for a future thesis research project. Thus far, the standard collection methods and calcula-tions have been conducted and will be compared to the results obtained from the samariua data.

Food Science Department Effects of Physical Treatment on Mirex and Kepone Residues in Brown Trout M. Kroger D. A. Cin Brown trout taken from Spring Creek, Centre County, PA, are contaminated with two chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, Kepone (x = 0.116 ppm) and Mirex (x = 0.468 ppm). As part of the proj ect, minced fish tissue was and will be expoced to gamma radiation (1,3 and 5 mrad) . In previous work else-where it was shown that gamma radiation was capable of degrading some of the mirex in chicken eggs. In our preliminary experiments some of the mirex in the fish tissue has also been broken down by the Co-60 ga=ma radiation.

24 }hk

Food Science Department Master's Paper

" Effects of Physical Treatment on Mirex and Kepone Residues in Brown Trout," D. A. Cin, 1979, M. Kroger, advisor.

Plant Pathology Department Biology and Taxonomy of the Genue Fusarium P. E. Nelson N. L. Fisher Fusarium species grow well in artificial culture on a medium consisting of 2% water agar and small pieces of carnation leaves (3-6 mmF). In otder to get the best possible growth of the fungi the carnation leaf pieces must be sterilized by a method that leaves the nutrients in the leaf intact.

This can be done by cold sterilization with propylene oxide or with gamma radiation from Co-60. The latter method is by far the most satisfactory.

Irradiated carnation leaf pieces serve as an important ingredient in the medium used in all of our research on Fusarium species.

Master's Theses "Histopathology of Chrysanthemum, Cultivar Yellow Delaware, Infected with Fusarium Oxvsoorum f. sp. Chrysanthemi", G. Emberger, 1978, P. E. Nelson, civisor.

"Histopathology of the Tolerant Chrysanthemum, Cultivar Mandalay, In-fected with Fusarium 0xvsporum f. sp. Chrysanthemi", B. Steuhling, 1980, P. E. Nelson, advisor.

Veterinarv Science Department The Cells and Secretions of the Bovine Mammary Gland During the Early Dry Period and Their Relationship to Incidence of New Infection R. J. Eberhart G. J. Patronek The phagocytic cells (neutrophils and macrophages) present in the bovine udder are an important part of the anti-bacterial defense mecha-nisms operating within the gland. Udder infections are collectively re-ferred to as "Mastitis"; mastitis is a very serious problem for the dairy industry due to the deleterious effect on milk production and the general health of the animals. However, attempts to eliminate the condition in herds of dairy cattle have not been effective. Previous research has shown that phagocytic cells obtained from different cows vary in their ability to kill and ingest bacteria. It is the hypothesis of this study that observed differences in phagocytic ability of cells from different cows might be related to incidence of new infection.

Staohvlococcus Aureus was used as a test particle for phagocytosis in this study. In order to use this bacteria, it was necessary to prevent the organis=s from duplicating without destroying their structural integrity. This was accomplished using 2 x 10s rads of Co-60 radiation.

25 1841 176

Veterinary Science Department Master's Thesis "The Cells and Secretions of the Bovine Mannary Gland During the Early Dry Period and Their Relationship to Incidence of New Infection,"

G. J. Patronek,1979, R. J.' Eberhart, advisor.

Maternal Immunocompetence: In Vitro and In Vivo Analysis F. Ferguson F. L. Confer P. Gambel During pregnancy reproducible alterations occur in the maternal lymphoid organs including thymic involution and splenic enlargement. Since the effect of naturally occurring pregnancy-induced thysic involution has not been fully examined, studies in this lab compare the functional activities of maternal lymphoid cells at specific times during gestation, lactation, and post-weaning. Changes in the maternal i=munological network, particu-larly T cell function, may be important to the survival of the conceptus and may reflect maternal susceptibility to certain disease processes.

Assay systems include the mixed-leukocycle reaction (Y.R) and cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) generated from MLR. These systems measure the proliferative and the effector phases of the immune response. In either case, lymphoid cells under investigation serve as responder cells which, in turn, are incubated with stimulator cells which have been irradiated (2000 rads). Irradiation serves to prevent DNA replication and retain the anti-genicity of the stimulator cells thereby making the system undirectional.

In addition, F1 hybrid mice are irradiated (900 rads) to provide an In Vivo system analogous to the MLR+CML assay.

Changes in I=munological Activity of Lymph Nodes During Pregnancy F. Ferguson C. Drozdowics In outbred mammalian populations, a significant immunologic contradic-tion exists during pregnancy. A genetically dissimilar conceptus survives in the uterus of a mother, but almost invariably f ails to invoke conven-tional immunologic rej ection phenomenon.

Regional lymph nodes draining the uterus often are enlarged as a result of pregnancy. Although this is suggestive of an im=une response, i=mune capabilities of the draining lymph nodes or peripheral lymph nodes have not been fully evaluated during gestation, lactation, or post-weaning.

In this research, gamma irradiation was used in a manner similar to that in the previous report for evaluation of lymph node cells.

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Veterinarv Science Department Distribution of Cr-51 Labelled E. Coli Following Intratracheal Immunization A. Zarkower M. L. Eskew W. J. Scheuchenzuber Mice exposed to particulates (e.g. silica, fly ash) show a decreased antibody response following aerosol i=munization with dried E. coli. In' order to examine the distribution of E. coli following introduction into the lung, bacteria were labelled with Cr-51 and exposed to 2 x 10s rads from a Co-60 source to prevent replication. The bacteria were inj ected intra-tracheally and 5 days later organs were removed for gamma counting and evidence of antibody formation.

Ismune Response of Swine During Pregnancy and Lactation A. Zarkower J. M. Ritchie Pig white blood cells from a Duroc boat and a Yorkshire sow are mixed in culture. The immunological reaction of the sow's white birod cells to the foreign boar's cells is measured. In order to prevent the boar's reaction against the foreign sow's cells, the boar's cells are exposed to 3 x 10 3 rads from a Co-60 source so that *'e cells are living but can no longer proliferate.

This procedure is to be done during the sow's estrus cycle, pregnancy, and the beginning of lactation. We are currently studying the sow's cell reactions during her estrus cycle.

Studies to Determine the Toxicity of Olivine Inhalation

4. Zarkower W. J. Scheuchenzuber M. L. Eskew Olivine sand is proposed as a low toxicity substitute for the silica sand used in foundry operations. This project measures the effect of the inhalation of olivine and silica dusts on tzmunological functions using a murine model. A variety of tests are used which measure effects on both antibody producing and cellular i=mune responses. One of the tests used is the mixed lymphocyte reaction, in which lymphocytes from experimental animals are combined in culture with inactivated lymphocytes from allo-geneic animals. The procedure corresponds somewhat to an in vitro test of graft rejection. The inactivated lymphocytes are produced by irradiation at the Co-60 facility.

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COLLEGE OF EARTH AND MINERAL SCIENCES Ceramic Science Department NSF A15 Growth DMR78-10054 NSF Grant K. E. Spear C. F. Wan Neutron activation analysis was utilized for qualitative and quanti-tative analysis of chemical vapor deposited (CVD) samples as part of the characterization of their superconducting properties as well as analysis of the CVD process itself.

)

Doctoral Thesis

" Chemical Vapor Deposition of Nb 3Ge," C. F. Wan, 1979, Metallurgy, Material Sciences Department, K. E. Spear, advisor.

Geosciences Department Geochemical Exploration for Sandstone-Type Uranium Deposits A. W. Rose M. L. Keith L. J. Pilione C. Bell P. M. Tole We are testing for the existence and nature of weak uranium and thorium anomalies in sedimentary rock in the region near uranium deposits, using analyses of the rocks and of small amounts of the mineral zircon separated from the rocks. The delayed neutron activation equipment is used to carry out the analyses for the U and Th.

Doctoral Thesis

" Uranium and Other Elements in the Catskill Formation of East-Central Pennsylvania," S. Pirc,1979, Geochemistry Graduate Program, A. W. Rose, advisor.

Master's Theses

" Geology and Geochemistry of Uranium Deposits near Beaver Lake, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania," D. L. Mahar, 1978, Geochemistry Graduate Program, A. W. Rose, advisor.

" Uranium and Other Elements in Shales and Sandstones from Pennsylvania and Colorado," C. Bell, 1979, Geochemistry, A. W. Rose, advisor.

" Uranium and Thorium in Zircon from Pennsylvania as a Guide to Uranium Provinces," P. M. Tole, 1979, Geochemistry, A. W. Rose, advisor.

" Regional Geochemical Anomolies Associated with Sedimentry Uranium Deposits," C. Bell, 1979, A. W. Rose, advisor.

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Geosciences Department Radium and Other Uranium Decay Products as a Guide to Uranium Ore A. W. Rose L. J. Pilione E. R. Karasevich The nature' movement of radium, radon, and other uranium decay products away from uranium ore is poorly understood, but it appears that iron oxides formed by weathering may bssobilize many of the decay products. Iron oxides from a variety of localities are being analyzed to determine which elements are concentrated in them and whether they are a guide to ur,anium ore. Solutions are being analyzed for uranium by counting fission tracks in plastic film after irradiation with thermal neutrons.

Master's Thesis

" Radium and Other Uranium Decay Products in Limonite as a Guide to Uranium Ore," E. R. Karasevich, 1979, Geology Gradua.. "rogram, A. W. Rose, advisor.

Coal W. Spackman N. H. Suhr The reactor is being used as an aide in determining the amount of uranitm in various coal sampir.s from throughout the U.S.

The coal samples a , packed into polyethylene vials which are then loaded to polyethylene capsules ("robbits") and sent into the reactor's D20 tan by a pneumatic system. The D20 tank acts to slow down the fast and epithermal neutrons in the reactor so that only thermal neutrons are 11 radiating the sample. The neutron flux is about 1.3 x 10 neutron /cm2 -sec.

After a minute, the rabbit is returned from the D2 0 tank and positioned in a BF3 detector where, after a 5 second delay time, the neutron decay is measured. By comparing the amount of neutrons from the sample to the quantity given off by known standards, it is possible to obtain a U con-centration for the sample.

Materials Science and Engineering Department The Effect of Mass Perturbations on the Longitudinal Accoustical Mode of Polymers.

I. R. Harrison J. P. Runt Polyethylene (PE) single crystals possess a lamallae-like, chain-folded structure. These lamallae contain two phases: a central crystalline core sandwiched between top and bottom amorphous surfaces. The surface layers are thought to consist of chain folds (primarily) and cilia. The longitudi-nal accoustic (LA) mode found in Raman spectra of these crystals can poten-tially provide structural information. The LA peak frequency can be related to the crystalline core thickness and, if coupled with knowledge of the 1841 180

Materials Science and Engineering Department total lamalla thickness, one can obtain an estimate of the size of the amorphous layers. However, it has been postulated that mass perturbations (i.e. , the presence of surface groups) can significantly ef f ect the ob-served LA mode frequency. In order to check this, various amounts of bromine were chemically attached to the folds. The bromine concentration was determined by neutron activation analysis. The LA mode of each of the reacted samples was obtained and compared to that of the unreacted crystals. Peak shif ts were indeed observed, especially at high bromine concentration. These experiments therefore qualitatively confirm the theoretical predictions. Further work on the effect of surface modifica-tion on LA mode of PE single crystals is presently being conducted.

Doctoral Thesis "On the structure of Polyethylene Single Crystals," J. P. Runt, 1979, I. R. Harrison, advisor.

Publications "The Effect of Mass Perturbations on the LA mode in Polymers: Surface Bromination of Polyethylene Crystals," J. Macromol. Sci.,: Physics, sub-mitted for publication, 1979, J. Runt, W. Varnell, J. T. Wang, and I. R.

Harrison.

"The Effect of Surf ace Modification on the LA Mode of Polyethylene Crystals," presented at the Chicago Meeting of the American Physics Society, March 1979, J. Runt.

Mineral Engineering Decartment The Influence of Point Defects on Flotation Systems F. F. Aplan G. Simkovich E. Y. Spearin Gamma radiation is known to change the color of florite (CaF2 ) from white to purple by the creation of F centers (an electron occupying an anionic site) . We have also found that such radiation and color change controls the point-of-zero charge (PZC) of fluorite in solution and the flotation properties of the mineral.

White fluorite has a PZC at pCa N 4, i.e., it is positively charged in

~

solutions of 10 " M/L or greater and negative in solutions more dilute.

Fluorite irradiated several hours with a strong y source (Co-60) not only becomes purple but is positively charged at all pCa levels.

Doctoral Thesis "The Influence of Point Defects on Flotation Systems," E. Y. Spearin, 1979, F. F. Aplan and G. Simkovich, co-advisors.

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Mineral Processing Department A Study of the Breakage of Coals in the Hardgrove Ma *.1ne L. G. Austin P. T. Luckie J. Shah In studies of the breakage rates of material in grinding mills a major problem is to investigate the breakage of a small size in the mixture of sizes in the mill. It is not possible to distinguish between particles of a given size which were present in the mill feed from particles of that size produced by breakage of larger sizes. This problem was overcome by making a fraction of a given size in the feed radioactive. After grinding, a radiation count on each size fraction enables the rate of breakage and the primary daughter fragment distribution of the irradiated size to be calcu-lat ed. By irradiating fine material (minus 10um), grinding, and counting larger size fractions it was shown that fine particles do not agglomerate or pelletize into larger pieces.

This work was, of course, only a small part of a large program investi-gating grinding in laboratory and pilot plant mills.

Master's Thesis "A Study of the Breakage of Coals in the Hardgrove Machine," J. Shah, 1979, L. G. Austin, advisor.

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COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Chemical Engineering Department The Behavior of Carbon-Supported Metals as CO Hydrogenation Catalysts M. A. Vannice H. J. Jung The catalytic properties of carbon-supported iron are being determined in the CO-H 2 synthesis reaction. The reactor was used to measure Fe metal loadings by neutron activation analysis.

Doctoral Thesis "The Behavior of Carbon-Supported Metals as C0 Hydrogenation Catalysts,"

H. J. Jung, 1980, M. A. Vannice, advisor.

The Effect of Preparation Variables on the Dispersion of Supported Platinum Catalysts M. A. Vannice M. B. Palmer, Jr.

This research involved the use of chemisorption and x-ray techniques to determine platinum crystallite sizes in different catalysts. The reactor was used to ceasure platinum metal loading via neutron activation analysis.

Master's Thesis "The Effect of Preparation Variables on the Dispersion of Supported Platinum Catalysts", M. B. Palmer, Jr., 1979, M. A. Vannice, advisor.

Nuclear Engineering Decartment, Development of 7-Channel Dynamic Radiograph Guidance System A. M. Jacobs D. Atkinson The directional and positional control systems for the third genera-tion dynamic radiograph system for cardiac performance interrogation are currently under development. The new 7-channel device should prove to be clincally useful for studying ischemic heart disease.

Master's Thesis

" Guidance System for Dynamic Radiograph System," D. Atkinson, 1980, Bioengineering Program, A. M. Jacobs, advisor.

Transit Time Transaxial Tomography A. M. Jacobs S. A. Dansky The general new dynamic imaging technique of transit time transaxial tomography can be used as a non intrusive method for obtaining a self calibrated measurement of fluid flow velocity profiles in an enclosed channel. The technique can be adapted to the coolant flow loop of a PWR using N-16 as the flow infor=ation carrier. In this proof-of-principle 1841 183

Nuclear Engineering Denartment ef fort an external flow loop using reactor coolant N-16 was designed, con-structed and used to verify the 4T idea.

Master's Paper

" Fluid Velocity Profile Measurement by Transit Time Transaxial Tomography," S. A. Dansky, 1978, A. M. Jacobs, advisor.

Paper "Non Intrusive Transaxial Tomography Technique for Velocity Profile Measurement," SPIE Technical Symposium, 1979, A. M. Jacobs.

Fast Mechanical X-Ray Scanner A. M. Jacobs G. McGruer X-ray backscatter imaging of moving internals of opague objects is greatly facilitated by a fast mechanical scanning capability. This pro-j ect resulted in tha development of a f ast x-ray line scanner2 which when coupled to a multichannel detection system could yield 1 cm resolution at about 1 cycle per second.

Batchelor's Thesis

" Mechanical Scanning Backscatter X-Ray System," G. McGruer, 1979, Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, A. M. Jacobs, advisor.

X-Ray Backscatter Radiography A. M. Jacobs B. C. Towe X-ray backscatter radiography employs the field of radiation scattered by the internals of an object to obtain an inage of the internal configura-tions. A beam of desired image resolution diameter is raster scanned over the object and the maximum possible fraction of the scattered field is sensed. Scanning is accomplished either by mechanical movement of the obj ect or by electronically steering an electron beam in the x-ray genera-tor. Varying x-ray energy allows tomographic capabilities.

Doctoral Thesis "X-Ray Backscatter Imaging," B. C. Towe, 1979, Bioengineering Program, A. M. Jacobs, advisor.

A Comparison of Three Groundwater Tracers: the Use of Bromide, Iodide, and Chloride Ions in Soil and Fracture-Rich Systems with Post-Samp-ling Neutron Activation Analysis W. A. Jester W.

J.

R.

B.

Heald Urban

}h4} }Ok F. G. Haaser Three different segments of the groundwater system of the Mahantango Creek watershed, located near Klingerstown, Pennsylvania, have been studied 33

Nuclear Engineering Department using one or more nonradioactive but neutron activatable tracers. These systems include the deep groundwater system, the deep perched groundwater system, and a shallow soil system. Tracer breakthrough curves have been generated for 20 different sampling wells located at the study site. These curves have been used to determine groundwater velocities and hydraulic conductivities in these three systems. These results have been compared with the values obtained by the Auger Hole method employed at each well site.

Master's Thesis "A Comparison of Three Groundwater Tracers in Soil and Fractured Rock Systems," F. G. Haaser, June 1979, W. A. Jester, advisor.

Publication

" Tracing Underground Water Movements Using Three NAA Detected Halogen Tracers," Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 30, pp. 114-115 (1978), F. G. Haaser, W. A. Jester and W. R. Heald.

Evaluating Soil Macro-Pore Systems From Tracer Breakthrough Curves W. A. Jester A. R. Jarrett J. S. Brenizer Several low level radioactive waste disposal sites have had problems with movement of radionuclides into environmental monitoring wells. The velocities observed were much faster than predicted by theoretical models based on laboratory determined parameters. The faster unpredicted veloc-ities may be due to errors in the experimental procedures used to determine the site characteristic parameters. However, in many cases, field data ob-tained when tracers were utilized indicates that groundwater movement may be a factor of ten times more rapid than predicted. This knplies that path-ways exist which allow very rapid movement of the subsurface water and corresponding transported radionuclides.

Several of the recent papers in the soils literature have concluded that, in many cases, there exists a dual-pored system in the soil. The first system is comprised of interped voids which promote flow according to classical Darcy theory. The other is comprised of cracks and fissures which are not included in most steady-state uniform flow models.

Thus, the major problem in predicting subsurface water movement appears to be not the flow through a homogeneous porous media but the channeling cf this water through imperfections in the soil such as cracks, fissures, sand lenses, etc., which allow the water to flow more easily through the soil and reach the water table much more quickly than would otherwise be possible.

7 Over the last eleven years, Dr. W. A. Jester and his colleagues have Ub ben developing techniques for using nonradioactive but neutron activatable tracers for studying the movement of surface and groundwaters. When using neutron activatable tracers to follow subsurface water flow through a fractured media, breakthrough curves with detailed structure are obtained.

The structure of the breakthrough curve seems to indicate various pathways available in the media for subsurface water flow. Unfortunately, to this 1841 185

Nuclear Engineering Department date no extensive studies have been made on the various factors which affect the shape of breakthrough curves and the modeling based on this technique is still quite crude.

In order to better determine the relation between the structure ob-served with the activatable tracer breakthrough curves and the pathways available for subsurface water flow, a laboratory experiment has been initiated. The experiment will involve a large soil column (0.91 meters in diameter by 1.524 meters high) through which groundwater tagged with a radioactive tracer (bromine-82 with a 35.34 hr. half-life) flows. Water will be pumped from the bottom of the column and the tracer activity of the outflow measured to determine the breakthrough curves. By examining the resulting breakthrough curves and analyzing their structure, an attempt will be made to correlate the various types of structure with the non-homoge-neities introduced into the system. In addition, an overall effective permeability for each of the various sand distributions will be calculated ar.d, when used with several computer flow models, predictions of tracer arrival times will be made.

The reactor facility will be used both in the making of the bromine-82 trace" and in the counting of the activity breakthrough curves.

Doctoral Thesis

" Evaluating Soil Macro-Pore Systems From Tracer Breakthrough Curves,"

J. S. Brenizer, 1980, W. A. Jester, advisor.

An Investigation of Simultaneous Bromide and Chloride Ion Movement Through Soils W. A. Jester A. R. Jarrett J. S. Brenizer S. Morrison Techniques have been developed for using nonradioactive but neutron activatable tracers for studying the movement of surface and groundwaters.

During the course of these studies, the best water tracers have been found to be the halogen ions, with the best of these being the bromide and chloride ions. In a U.S. Geological study at the Amaragosa tracer stu>j site, the bromide ion and tritium reacers gave the same breakthrou sa curves.

Dr. Jester's work to date has indicated that both the chloride and bromide ions move with the groundwater. However, a recent paper

• indicated that while the chloride ion moved with the groundwater, the bromide ion was sorbed. Thus, the object of this study is to investigate the simultaneous movement of the bromide and chloride ions through several soils, using the procedures described in this paper. A soil column was constructed in the reactor machine shop and set-up in a laboratory room in the reactor facility. The short half-life of the chlorine necessitated the use of activatable tracers. The soil column effluent samples were irradiated us-

• "Use of Baker's Yeast to Trace Microbial Movement in Groundwater", Ground-water, Vol. 16, No. 6, pp. 398-403, 1978, W. W. Wood and G. G. Ehrlich.

35 1841 186

Nuclear Engineering Department ing the reactor pneumatic transfer systes. The gnmma spectrums were then analyzed to determine the concentrations of the bromide and chloride ions.

The results thus far show that under simulated field conditions (i.e.,

using groundwater and untreated soils), the bromide and chloride ions move simultaneously through soils with the groundwater over the pH range expect-ed to be encountered under natural conditions.

Minimization of Groundwater Contamination in Surface Mine Backfills W. A. Jester D. C. Raupach L. B. Phelps J. S. Brenizer The object of this project is to develop backfill methods for strip mining which will cause minimum contamination to reconstructed groundwater systems af ter mining. The laboratory phase of the study will ecamine the permeability of certain strip mining spoil materials which might be used as acquicludes and therefore be selectively placed to encompass toxic spoiled materials.

The bromide ion water tracer technique developed by Dr. Jester will be employed to evaluate the success of these materials in preventing the toxic materials from coming in contact with groundwater.

Doctoral Thesis

" Minimization of Groundwater Contamination in Surface Mine Backfills,"

L. B. Phelps,1981, Department of Mineral Engineering, L. W. Saperstein, advisor.

Determination of Arsenic Content in Fresh Water Fish Samples W. A. Jester D. R. Raupach K. K. S. Pillay G. M. Comparetto Penn State University was contracted by Pennsylvania Power and Light Company to determine the arsenic content in 29 fish samples. The method used was that one developed by K. K. S. Pillay involving a radiochemical separation and distillation procedures. We are now in the process of researching new and different methods which may either be quicker or yield a greater amount of information in toxic elements on fish and aquatic vegetation.

Master's Thesis

" Activation Analysis for Toxic Elements in Fish and Aquatic Vegetation,"

G. M. Comparetto, 1980, W. A. Jester, advisor.

Report

" Neutron Analysis for Arsenic in 29 Biological Samples" Final Report Submitted to PPSL by W. A. Jester, D. C. Raupach, and G. M. Comparetto.

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Nuclear Engineering Deoartment Analysis of Food Samples for Fission ?roducts W. A. Jester K. K. S. Pillay D. C. Raupach C. Y. Wong As a result of the Three Mile Island incident, Hershey Foods Corporation sent a series of food samples collected at various processing stages of their products to be analyzed for the presence of fission products. Liquid scintillation counting was performed on about 100 milk samples while gamma ray spectroscopy was performed on 20 composite food samples. No signifi-cant amount of fission products were detected in any.of these samples above background conditions.

Establishment of a Radiological Laboratory for the Monitoring of Drink-ing Water for Low Level Radioactivity W. A. Jester D. C. Raupach S. Trivellas The safe drinking water act (P.L.93-523) requires that all municipal water supply companies have their water monitored quarterly for radio-activity as well as for other potentially toxic constituents. For the last year work has been undertaken to establish a radiological laboratory as part of the radionuclear applications laboratory which could provide these services to Pennsylvania water utilities. This laboratory will be one of only two or three in the state which will have the ability to perform these analyses. Work has proceeded in the setting up and calibration of a low background alpha-beta detection instrument. The laboratory furniture hr.s been purchased and will be installed shortly. It is anticipated that w thin the next year EPA certification will be obtained so that the water monitor-ing services can be offered to Pennsylvania water utilities.

Fast Neutron Oxygen Analysis of Silicon Carbide and Silicon Nitride W. A. Jester D. C. Raupach R. E. Tressler K. McHenry J. Wallace A. R. Kahveci An oxygen analysis capability was established using the pool side fast '

pneumatic transfer system. Oxygen is analyzed by the 0-16(n,p)N-16 reaction. Calibration was accomplished using chemical compounds having known oxygen content. A technique was developed to analyze for oxygen down to the 1% level. A series of silicon carbide and silicon nitride samples .

were then analyzed for their oxygen content. Work is continuing to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of this technique, i841 188 37

Nuclear Engineering Department Evaluation of Eberline PING-2 Iodine Monitor W. A. Jester J. Wallace The ability of commercial airborne radio iodine detectors varies with the chemical form of the iodine and the hunidity of the air being sampled.

Iodine-128 labeled I2 and CH3I were prepared from reactor-irradiated ammo-nium iodide crystals. Amounts of I-128 were determined by counting as a point source in a calibrated Ge(L1) multichannel analyzer system. The I2 or CH3 1 thus prepared was introduced into a controlled humidity air sample stream of the comaercial detector. Variations in detector efficiency and filter breakthrough were then determinci as a function of chemical form and air humidity.

Master's Thesis "A Method af Evaluation of Commercial Airborne Radiciodine Detectors,"

J. H. Wallace, 1979, W. A. Jester, advisor.

Multipoint Thermometry Using " Johnson Noise" E. S. Kenney C. Charlier With a view towards reactor application, a multipoint Johnson Noise ther=ometer has been designed and constructed based upon a tuned RLC cir-cuit sensor system. The concept examined allows bandpass selection of a given sensor's temperature by measuring the noise in frequency increments characteristic of the pre-tuned resonant ranges of the sensors. Aside from the expected advantage of reading several sensors with a single amplifier, two other advantages were determined in the research. Specifically, the resistor ohmic value could be substantially reduced by proper impedance matching in the input sensor circuit. Also, the resistor value changes normally associated with temperature variation and aging were nearly eliminated in their effect on output noise values.

The reactor facility provided the base from which the idea was evolved.

That is, examining temperature measuring requirements in reactors led to the development of this concept. The ideal temperature system would be able to scan down each fuel element and record temperature continuously with a mini-mum number of sensor leads going to the core.

Master's Thesis "Multipoint Thermometry Using Bandpass Selected Johnson Noise,"

C. Charlier, 1979, E. S. Kenney, advisor.

Application of High Speed Plastic Phosphors to the Development of a Beta-Gamma Imaging Camera E. S. Kenney S. Pandey A scintillation camera using fast plastic scintillators has been built

[j'as a high-speed, two-dimensional, position-sensitive detector for both weak-

" 'l an'd strongly ionizing radiation. The experimental model is similar to an l ,,

Nuclear Engineering Denartment Anger camera but capable of achieving counting rates of more than 1 MHz.

This increase in speed was achieved through the use of plastic scintilla-tors, instead of the conventional sodium-iodide crystals, and high-speed electronic circuitry.

Two detectors were examined. In the first, a single thick plastic scintillator, loaded with lead to increase the photon detection efficiency, was employed for photon imaging, as in an Anger camera. In the second, a beta / alpha scintillation camera using a pure plastic phosphor was employed as a test device for possible extension to a converter screen. In the con-verter screen, a weakly ionizing radiarien like a neutron or a photon is first converted to a strongly ionizing radiation such as a beta or an alpha particle. The resulting radiation is then detected in the beta / alpha scintillation camera. The advantage of the converter screen is that it can be used for both neutron and photon imaging. The converter screen thereby overcomes the low detection efficiency of plastic scintillators in such imaging work.

Conventional electronic amplifiers were not suitable for highspeed work in the MHz frequency range. It was therefore necessary to design the preamplifier and amplifier circuits used in this research. The design of the amplifiers was based on the use of operational amplifiers because of their low cost and the ease of their use in circuit design. Flat frequency response up to 3 MHz and good linearity of gain were achieved by proper selection of wide-band operational amplifiers and their associated com-ponents.

The results obtained with the beta / alpha scintillation camera were found very encouraging. Inherent resolution of better than 7 mm for P-32 sources (average beta energy of 694 kev) has been demonstrated. This reso-lution is comparable to presently available scintillation cameras. The detection sensitivity for P-32 beta particles was %13% with a 5.38 mg/cm 2 detector window. However, the resolution in the Anger camera mode for gamma photons was not as good as expected.

In this scintillation camera work, the reactor provided radioisotope sources by direct irradiation and from the stock of calibration sources.

Electronic shop facilities as well as machine shop work and other logistical support was provided.

Doctoral Thesis "A Study of Plastic Phosphors in the Development of a High Speed Scintillation Camera" S. Pandey, 1978, E. S. Kenney, advisor.

Publication "A High-Speed Scintillation Camera Using Plastic Phosphors," ANS Transactions, Vol. 30, pp. 145-146, November 1978, S. Pandey and E. S.

Kenney.

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t Nuclear Engineering Department Fuel Management of the PSBR S. H. Levine R. E. Totenbier A. T. Ali The simple analytical program TRICOM / SCRAM, has been slightly modified and used to study the depletion of fuel elements and the core performance characteristics, i.e., kegg and normalized power, as a function of core operation. The results provide, among other useful data, a complete list-ing of the burnup and position of each TRIGA fuel element.

Gamma Dose Measurements in the TRIGA Core by Plastic Detectors L. J. Pilione K. K. S. Pillay R. C. Houtz Gamma dose measurements are of great significance to many applications and research work involving radiation-induced processes. Gnmma irradiation f acilities at The Pennsylvania State University are routinely used for research work in Biological Sciences, Medical Science and Radiation Process Chemistry. While intense sources of Co-60 are generally used as ga=ma sources, there are many applications in which a research reactor in the shut-down mode could be readily used for providing high gamma doses. The need for a more reliable means of gamma dose measurements has prompted us to utilize a technique employing optical density changes in plastic film, recently developed at the National Bureau of Standards for the measurement of gnema doses in the range of 1-25 M Rads.

The technique uses "Cronar" graphic film 7 mil (0.1778mm) thick as the detector. One of the advantages of this technique is that it allows the use of detectors cut into various sizes and shapes and can be isolated frem the environment by proper packaging.

Paper "Ga=ma Dose Measurements in the TRIGA Core by Plastic Detectors," (To be presented), 1979 ARS Conference on Reactor Operating Experience, Arling-ton, Texas, August 6- 8, R. C. Houtz.

Examination of the Coagulation of Boron in a Fuel Storage Pool at a Reactor Facility K. K. S. Pillay At the request of a manufacturer of fuel storage racks this problem was examined using neutron activation analysis. The cause of the problem was identified as due to the inadvertant incorporation of a cleaning agent used in metal surface preparation. It is recognized that this problem can be eliminated by better quality control and good housekeeping practices.

This recommendation was given to the manufacturer.

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Nuclear Engineering Deoartment Examination of Milk and Milk Products for I-131 K. K. S. Pillay After the Three Mile Island incident various food processors approached Penn State for radioanalytical services. Where possible these services were provided. One such large effort was to esamine about sixty five milk samples for Iodine-131. A few samples of milk found to contain traces of Iodine-131 was used as the basis for action to prevent contaminated milk from reaching the consumers. As part of this effort, milk collected from-the University's cattle herds and a variety of farms in Centre County were continually examined during the emergency.

An Overview of DOE's Technology Development Programs for Nuclear Waste Management K. K. S. Pillay The U.S. Department of Energy has in recent years placed nuclear waste management programs in prominent status by the organization of an office of nuclear waste management. The division of waste products under this office is assigned the task of developing alternate technologies for the long-term management of various types of nuclear wastes generated both during defense production activities and in the commercial sector. As part of this effort, the present status of the technology development programs for the management of nuclear wastes were reviewed and a report was submitted to the Department of Energy. The report covers technology development activities for the low-level, high-level, airborne and transuranic wastes.

Publications "An Analysis of DOE's Technology Development Programs for Nuclear Waste Management" (NE/ET-78-01), pp. 16, 1978, K. K. S. Pillay.

" Development of Alternate Waste Forms for the Long-Term Management of Commercial High-Level Nuclear Waste," A contribution to the GEIS for the long-term Management of Nuclear Waste, U.S. Department of Energy (1979),

K. K. S. Pillay, Greg McCarthy, et. al.

The Establishment of Baseline Levels of Radioactive and Nonradioactive Wastes Associated with Uranium Mill Tailings K. K. S. Pillay R. C. Baldwin J. Shillenn Neutron activation analysis of tree rings from plants grown near a large uranium mill tailing dump in Salt Lake City, Utah are being examined for leachable materials migrating from these dumps. This program is now analyz-ing a variety of environmental samples collected from Utah.

Development of Electrochemical Methods for the Preconcentration of Low Level Water-borne Fission Products K. K. S. Pillay C. Jarvis jg4l g 41

Nuclear Engineering Department This is a continuation of the program to develop practical methods to quickly monitor low level radioactivities that are likely to be present in secondary effluents from nuclear power plants. During earlier investiga-tions, it was desonstrated that although methods such as ion exchange and liquid-liquid extractions had greater efficiencies in extracciag radio-nuclides from aqueous media, in the case of secondary cooling water contain-ing very high concentrations of Ca and Mg salts, these methods had serious limitations. Various modifications of electrochemical methods were examined during this investigation. It seems that among these methods, on anodic dissolution and precipitation method showed considerable potentials. Vari-ous parameters are being optimized to maximize the recovery of various fission products and fuel residues in extremely low concentrations.

Neutron Activation and Dendrochronological Analysis of California Redwoods K. K. S. Pillay H. D. Knoble J. Jempson Earlier investigations at Penn State have demonstrated that certain tree specimens are capable of revealing pollution history around the tree via neutron activation analysis of trace elements within its tree rings.

This concept was applied to some unique specimens of California redwood trees to determine the environmental levels of trace elements over the past 12 centuries. Through the courtesy of the California Parks and Recre-ation Department, we received three samples of fre 91y cut cross sections of redwood trees ranging in age from 500 to about 1250 years. These speci-mens were carefully dated via dendrochronological measurements. Samples from about one hundred carefully selected tree ring segments were extracted and subjected to multiple neutron activation and multiple counting using high resolution Y-ray spectrometry.

The results of these analyses are still being interpreted. It is how-ever recognized that redwood trees are capable of keeping a pollution almanac and these results are being carefully analyzed and interpreted.

Master's Thesis

" Neutron Activation Analysis and Dendrochronological Measurements on California Redwoods," J. Jempson, 1979.

Investigations of the Trace Element Profiles in the Hair of Cancer Patients K. K. S. Pillay D. Lawrence A. Lipton S. P. Moo In recent years, there has been considerable interest in the potential use of trace element data from human tissues for the detection and diagno-sis of health problems. Because of the extensive investigations done at s ,

Penn State over the past several years on human hair, we undertook to

+

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Nuclear Engineering Department examine the trace element pro #11es of some of the cancer patients from the Hershey Medical Center of The Pennsylvania State University. At the present time, the results of these investigations are being carefully compared with data from normal population to determine whether there is a potential for using human hair trace element data for the early detection or diagnosis of cancer in humans.

Examination of the Physical Chemical and Radiochemical Characteristics of Boron Carbide Polymeric Composite Used in Fuel Storage F. K. S. Pillay L. H. MacMillan Some of the characterization of a composite of boron carbide and pheno-lic resin used in lining fuel storage racks was undertaken in association with the Materials Research Laboratory of the PSU. This work is part of a major effort to study the long-term changes in this neutron absorber materi-al by the manufacturer, Carbonundum, Inc. of Niagara Falls, New York.

K-Infinity Measurement Meter M. A. Schultz S. H. Levine W. F. Witzig H. O' Campo The purpose of the project is to develop a method for measuring the k ,

of spent fuel elements prior to placing them in a high density fuel element storage pool. Two obj ectives are being studied:

1) analytical development of a computer program to relate count rates in a suberitical configuration (k(eff) < .95) to the k, of the fuel assembly and

2) verification of the analytical techniques by performing similar multiplication experiments with the Penn State TRIGA reactor.

The k, measurements are based on the well known subcritical multiplica-tion formvla l-k eff) where Cr = count rate from the detector output S= neutron sour; aission rate k(eff) = effective multiplication factor jg4j a= factor which may depend on geometry, packing array, etc.

Some of the parameters in the above formula vary as a function of k,.

Thus, it is necessary to establish a set of relations between the depen-dent parameters and k,. To prove the validity of these relationships, two subcritical experiments have been performed utilizing the Breazeale Nuclear Reactor.

The changes in k ,were achieved by interchanging 12 wt% and 8.5 wt%

TRIGA fuel elements in the inner rings of the fuel arrays. Several arrays were arranged to simulate a typical power plant fuel array. The subcriti-cal multiplication of a Cf-252 neutron source (located in the central 43

Nuclear Engineering Deoartment thimble) wts measured at dif ferent positions at the periphery of the con-figuration. By this means the variation in k , gin a subcritical assembly similar to the one to be used in the spent fuel storage rack, with change in detector count rate can be measured and ccmpared with the analytical techniques.

At the present the data obtained are being analyzed by using computer codes to emulate the physical behavior of neutrons in the given fuel config-urations.

Master's Thesis

" Determination of the Shape of the Fission Neutron Flux Near a Reactor Core Through the Use of a Radiation Leakage Pipe and an External Detector,"

S. P. Meyer, 1978, M. A. Schultz, advisor.

Publications

" Obsidian Sources in Guatemala: A Regional Approach," American Antiquitv, 43(3) 424-435 (1978) L. H. deMendoza and W. A. Jester.

" Neutron Activation Analysis of Contemporary Pottery and Pottery Materials from the Valley of Guatemala," The Ceramics of Kaminaljuvu, P.S.U. Press Monograph Series, 543-590 (1978), D. E. Arnold, P. M. Rice, and W. A. Jester, et. al.

" Tracing Underground Water Movements Using Three NAA Detected Halogen Tracers," Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, 30, 114-115 (1978), F. G. Haaser, W. A. Jester, and W. R. Heald.

" Physical Migration of Radioactive Material in Soil," Transactions of the American Nuclear Societv_, 31 (1979), A. R. Jarrett, W. A. Jester, and J. S. Brenizer.

" Activation Analysis of Tungsten in Al203 Using a D 20 Thermal Column,"

Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, 31 (1979), W. A. Jester, D. C. Raupach, I. B. McMaster, and D. Dube.

" Migration of Radioactive Material in Soil" (tutorial) American Nuclear Society Education Division Tutorial Publication-2 (ANS/ED/TP-2), 90 (1979)

W. f.. Jester (editor) .

" Optimum Design of Suberitical Neutron Multipliers Using Cf-252 Neutron Sources," Accepted for publication in Nuclear Technology, 6. Lee, 5. H.

Levine and W. A. Jester.

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COLLEGE OF THE LIBERAL ARTS Anthrocology Department Measuring Nutritional Stress in a Prehistoric American Population J. W. Hatch R. Geidel Positions of status in societies organized according to ranked kinship groupings are known to be either ascribed by birthright or achieved during one's lifetime. Certain cultural anthropologists (notably Sahlins, 1972) have argued that the economic redistribution characteristics of such soci-eties involves altruistic behavior among chiefs since, due to their lack of institutionalized power, they retain their positions at the discretion of the populace. Hatch and Willey (1974) have suggested that the relationship between tall adult stature and high status in the prehistoric Dallas society of eastern Tennessee is a function of better nutritional histories derived from the self-serving manipulation of food exchanges by chiefs.

In an archaeological setting, Hatch (1976) has shown that tangible symbols of status often accompany the deceased (in the form of elaborate tombs or rich grave offerings) and that a population of graves will mani-fest the network of status relationships once operating in the coanunity.

Traditionally, however, researchers have not investigated attributes of the skeletons themselves for clues to the fine structure of the social system and the impact of status on an individual's health and nutrition.

This research proposes a three-pronged study of skeletal attributes known to be sensitive indicators of nutritional and disease histories in humans.

With the previously researched social structural framework as a backdrop, it will outline the impact of social structure on individual reletionships in Dallas society and test the notion of the altruistic chief.

The quantification of trace elements known to be sensitive indicators or either meat rich (In and Sr) or vegetable rich (Mg, Mn, and Cu) diets can be used to assess nutritional history (Brown, 1973; Gilbert, 1975).

The levels of all elements except strantium should be positively correlated with the rank of the individual, reflecting as they do either protein or total caloric mal- or undernutrition. A high relative percentage of Zn or Sr will also be expected to vary with high rank, since meat rich diets are known to traditionally characterize elite households.

Samples of bone from 200 Dallas Culture burials are being analyzed to determine the relative percentage of each of these elements. Preliminary results indicate a fluctuation in meat and vegetables rich elements in conjunction with episodes of social change and political consolidation.

Master's Paper

" Measuring Nutritional Stress in a Prehistoric American Population" R. Geldel, Fall 1979, J. W. Hatch, advisor.

Paper

" Status-Specific Nutritional Variation in a Mississippian Chiefdom,"

presented at 44th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, April 23, 1979, Vancouver, B.C., J. W. Hatch.

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COLLEGE OF SCIENCE Biology Department Role of the Skin in Sodium and Water Exchange of Aquatic Snakes Placed in Seawater W. A. Dunson The skins of marine snakes are impermeable to Na, but show varying de-grees of water permeability. Fasting marine and estuarine snakes placed in seawater undergo gradual dehydration due to a net water loss, and an in-crease in plasma and body Na content. Freshwater snakes, in contrast, typically lose weight and gain Na much more rapidly. This apparently leads to drinking, followed by catastrophic weight loss and death characterized by extremely high plasma Na concentrations and body Na content. Initial water influx and efflux (largely dermal) in freshwater snakes prior to seawater drinking are within the range measured in marine snakes. Na influx is much higher in the freshwater snakes, even immediately af ter being placed in sea-water. It appears that essentially all of the measurable but minute Na influx in marine forms is due to leakage into the mouth. The skin is virtu-ally Espermeable to Na in both in vivo and in vitro tects. Skins of fresh-water snakes show a low but significant degree of perueability to Na. How-ever dermal Na influx is a small fraction of the total influx (less than 57.

in Natrix sipedon). Thus a slight oral uptake of seawater (Na influx be-bween 100 and 200 vmol/g h) may be the proximate f actor leading to death in these freshwater snakes. The unreliability of the standard Ussing cell for measurement of epithelial membrane Na fluxes has been confirmed. Na influx across freshwater snakes skins was considerably reduced by use of a glass cell sealed by silicone grease instead of pressure exerted by a clamp.

Doctoral Thesis

" Permeability of Native and Reconstituted Keratin to Water and Electro-lytes," G. Stokes, 1979, W. A. Dunson, advisor.

Publications

" Role of the Skin in Sodium and Water Exchange of Aquatic Snakes Placed in Seawater," Am. J. Physiol. 235, R151-9,1978, W. A. Dunsen.

" Control Mechanisms in Reptiles in: Mechanism of Osmoregulation in Animals, R. Gilles (ed.). Wiley-Interscience, N. Y., p. 273-322, 1979 W. A. Dunson.

The Permeability of Reptilian Keratin to Water and Electrolytea W. A. Dunson G. Stokes This research involves the relative permeability of keratin sheets to water, oxygen, sodium, potassium, and bromine. One purpose of these studies is to further our understanding of mechanisms of osmoregulation, especially in marine reptiles. An additional goal is to evaluate the practical use of keratin membranes in reverse osmosis applications. The reactor has been used to activate samples of sodium, potassium, and bromine needed to measure the permeability of membranes.

o4 46 h0kl 19j

Microbiology and Cell Bioloey Denartment ,

Mechanism of Action of Clostridium Perfringens Enterotoxin J. L. McDonel This research involves studying the mechanism of action of Clostridium Perfringens ente;otoxin which is responsible for one of the most common types of food poisoning in the United States today. Studies were conducted on how this enterotoxin affects the intestine to cause the characteristic symptcms of the disease, namely, diarrhea. To do this, intestinal tissue was isolated to perform transport studies. The reactor has been utilized by providing Na-24 which was used to trace the transport of sodium by the ent ero t oxin-treat t, intestinal tissue. These studies will help to under-stand wnat the toxin does to the intestine to cause the disease symptoms that have been noted.

Physics Denartment Energy Levels in Y-86 W. W. Pratt Energy levels in the yttrium isotopes involve states of unusually high spin due to the possibility of different coupling modes of the g 9/2 protons and neutrons. Various nuclear reactions can be used to produce these states, and the study of these reactions has the potential to give a great deal of information about the properties of these states. States in Y-88 have been studied previously in the reactions: Sr-87(Ge-3,d), Sr-88(He-3,t),

Y-89(p d) , Y-89(d, t) , Y-89(He-3,a) and Zr-90(d,a) . States in Y-87 have previously been studied in the reactions: Y-89(p, t) , Zr-90(p ,a) ,

Sr-86(He-3,d), Sr-86(p,y) and Sr-86(d,n) as well as the radioactive decay of Zr-87. The energy level structure of Y-86, on the other hand, is almost completely unknown except for a few states found in the radioactive decay of Z -86. We are carrying out measurements in another laboratory using the reactions: Sr-86(p,ny), Rb-85(a,3ny) and Sr-86(d,n) as well as in the radioactive decay of Zr-87. The Breazeale Nuclear Reactor is being used for auxiliary calibration experiments in connect. ion with these studies.

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B. Industrial Research Utilizing the Facilities of the Penn State Breazeale Nuclear Reactor The facilities of the Penn State Breazeale Nuclear Reactor (PSBR) are made available to state, federal, and industrial organizations for use

~in their research and development programs. Some typical examples follow:

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.

Robert B. Miller In the past year, the Draper Laboratory has used the Breazeale nuclear reactor facility to investigate how neutron environments effect the func-tional and parametric characteristics of transistors and, integrated cir-cuits. The results of this research have provided greater insight in understanding neutron sensitive desage mechanisms in semiconductor cir-cuits. In addition, the studies undertaken have provided data to determine damage coefficients which will be useful for predicting circuit responses to neutron environments.

The cooperation and performance of the reactor staff over the past five years has contributed substantially to the success of our tast programs.

We expect that our relationship with the reactor facility will continue in the future.

E. I. DuPont De Nemours and Company Norman W. Henry, III, Research Chenist Acuatic Waste Water Facility Monitoring. The purpose of this project is to investigate the feasibility of monitoring ground water 'rell samples for bromide anion by neutron activation analysis in order to determine leakage in our aquatic waste water lagoon. Currently, background well water samples are being collected monthly and analyzed quarterly by neutron activation analysis for bromide anion concentrations by the Radionuclear Applications Laboratory of the Penn State Breazeale Nuclear Reactor. The monitoring program is scheduled until October,1979. At that time back-ground bromide anion levels will be evaluated in order to determine the amount of bromide to be added to the lagoon as a tracer. Results of this program hopefully will provide us with a vaste lagoon leak monitoring technique and also satisfy regulatory requirements for insuring Jagoon liner integrity.

Raytheon Company Robert N. Diette The services provided by the staff of the Penn State Breazeale Nucleac Reactor Facility have been utilized in assessing neutron damage to elec-tronic components. The facility is favored by the Raytheon Survivabil'_ty and Valnerability personnel because the reactor spectrun is well character-ized and reliable exposure to specified fluence levels has been consistent-ly demonstrated. Electrical tests, nre and post neutron exposure, of de-vices provides data required for analysis of the nuclear vulnerability of electronic systems. Raytheon has applied this analytical approach to various systems destined for applications ranging from land based commun-ications to strategic missile systems. The use of the reactor facility

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Industrial Research Utilization (Continued) has been frequent during the past year and Raytheon's projected contractual requirements indicate continued use of irradiation services provided by its staff.

GTE Sylvania, Inc.

Robert A. Long, Manufacturing Superintendent Determination of Low Levels of Tungsten in Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate The host material for producing calcium halophosphate lamp phosphors for fluorescent lighting is calcium hydrogen phosphate. As such this material has verv tight specifications on impurity levels. Recently we have been using a phosphate source resulting from a pollution recovery system which is contaminated to a slight extent by tungsten. We have utilized neutron activation analyses at the Breazeale Reactor Facility to precisely measure the tungsten level in this material. Through improvements in the pollu-tion recovery system we were able to lower the level of the tungsten impurity. The neutron activation analysis is the only method known for determining such low levels of tungsten in a cost ef fective way.

Westinghouse Electric Corporation John Bartko, Radiation and Nucleonics Between May 1978 and May 1979 neutron irradiation experiments were conducted on semiconductor power devices, principally thyristors. We were interested in determining the effects of fission neutrons on parameters, such as, forward voltage drop, switching speed, reverse recovery charge and blocking voltages of devices with different power ratings. Also of interest was the effect of elevated temperatures on these parameters during the experiments. In some of the experiments, we heated the devices to 2500 C in a specially fabricated cannister during the irradiation. We found, as expected, that considerable annealing occurred. Unexpected was the f act that the switching speed and reverse recovery charge annealed mnre rapidly than the f>tward voltage drop. This investigation is being continued with the help ur deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). The overall purpose of the experiments is to identify the devices which might be suitable for certain specialized applications.

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APPENDIX A Faculty, staf f and students utilizing the f acilities of the Penn State Breazeale Reactor.

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE Agronomy Baker, Dale E., BS, MS, PhD Professor of Soil Chemistry Heald, Walter R. , BSc, MS, PhD Adjunct Professor of Soil Science Jones, Denna M.

Graduate Student Centralized Biological Laboratory Confer, Florence L.

Research Aide Gamble, Phillip Graduate Student Dairv and Animal Science DePeters, Edward J.

Graduate Assistant Food Science Cin, David A.

Ctaduate Student Kroger, Manfred, BS, MS, PhD Professor of Food Science Plant Pcthology Esberger, Gary Graduate Student Fisher, Nancy L.

Graduate Student Klotz, Lois Research Assistant Nelson, Paul E., BS, PhD f h[r i 202 Professor of Plant Pathology Steuhling, Barbara Graduate Student Switkin, Connie Research Assistant Toussoun, T. A., BS, PhD Professor of Plant Pathology 51

School of Forest Resources Baldwin, Robert C. , BS, MS, PhD Assistant Professor of Wood Science and Technology Veterinary Science Drozelowics, Carla Graduate Student Eberhart, Robert J., AB, VMD, MS, PhD Associate Professor of Veterinary Science Ferguson, Frederick G., BS, MPH, DVM, PhD Associate Professor of Veterinary Science Patronek, Gary J.

Research Assistant Ritchie, Joan M.

Graduate Student Zarkower, Arian, DVM, MS, PhD Professor of Veterinary Science COLLEGE OF EARTH AND MINERAL SCIENCES Ceramic Sciences Section McHenry, Kelly Graduate Student Spear, Karl E., BSc, PhD Associate Professor of Ceramic Science Tressler, Richard E., BS, MS, PhD Associate Professor of Ceramic Science Coal Research Section Spackman, William, Jr. , BS, MS, PhD Professor of Paleobotony Geochemistry Section Bell, Christy Graduate Student Keith, MacKenzie L., BSc, MSc, PhD Professor Emeritus of Geochemistry Mahar, D. L.

Graduate Student Pire, Simon Graduate Student f }- } }

Tole, Peter M.

Graduate Student Geosciences Karasevich, Ellen R.

Graduate Student 52

Geosciences Rose, Arthur W., BS, MS, PhD Professor of Geochemistry Materials Science Harrison, Ian R., BSc, MS, PhD Associate Professor of Polymer Science Simkovich, George, BS, MS, PhD Professor of Metallurgy Metallurev Section MacMillan, Norman H., BA, MA, PhD Assistant Professor of Metallurgy Wan, Chang-Feng Research Assistant Mineral Constitution Laboratories Cong, Henry Project Associate Suhr, Norman H., AB, MS Professor of Geochemistry Mineral Engineering Aplan, Frank F., BS, MS, ScD Professor of Metallurgy and Mineral Processing Phelps , L. Barry Graduate Student Saperstein, Lee W., BS, DPhil, PE Associate Professor of Mining Engineering Spearin, Elliott Y.

Graduate Student Mineral Processing Section Austin, Leonard G., BSc, PhD Professor of Fuels and Mineral Engineering Luckie, Peter T., BS, MS, PhD Professor of Mineral Engineering Shah, Jyotrinda Graduate Student Solid State Science Section 8 1 204 Runt, John P.

Graduate Student Varnell, William D.

Graduate Student 53

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Agricultural Engineering Jarrett, Albert R., BS, MS, PhD Assistant Professor of Agricultural Engineering Bioengineering Atkinson, Dennis Graduate Student Towe, Bruce C.

Graduate Assistant ,

Chemical Engineering Jung, Hyun-Jong Graduate Assistant Palmer, Malcolm B., Jr.

Graduate Student Vannice, M. Albert, BS, MS, PhD Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Nesbitt, John B., BS, SM, ScD Professor of Civil Engineering Engineering Science and Mechanics McGruer, Greg Graduate Student Nuclear Engineering Ali, Ahmad T.

Malaysia Atomic Energy Department Brenizer, Jack S., Jr.

Graduate Assistant Comparetto, Gary M.

Graduate Assistant Charlier, Christian Graduate Student Diethorn, Ward S., BS, MS, PhD Professor of Nuclear Engineering Dansky, Steven A.

Graduate Assistant Foderaro, Anthony, BS, PhD Professor of Nuclear Engineering Flinchbaugh, Terry L.

Nuclear Education Specialist l g jj l Haaser, Frederic L.

Graduate Assistant 54

g as Nuclear Engineering (Cont'd)

Houtz, Robert C.

Nuclear Education Specialist Jacobs, Alan M., BS, MS, PhD Professor of Nuclear Engineering Jarvis, Christopher Graduate Assistant Jempson, James R.

Graduate Student Jester, William A., BS, MS, PhD Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering Kahveci, Ali R.

Graduate Student Kenney, Edward S., BS, PhD Professor of Nuclear Engineering Klevans, Edward H., BS, MS, PhD Professor of Nuclear Engineering Levine, Samuel H., BS, MS, PhD Professor of Nuclear Engineering McKee, John R., BS Coordinator, Energy EL ' cation Programs McMaster, Ira B., ES Research Assistant Meyer, S. P.

Graduate Student Moo, Siew Pheng Malaysia Atomic Energy Department Morrison, Steve Undergraduate Student Pandy, Sudhakar Graduate Assistant Penkala, John L., BS Research Assistant Pillay, K. K. Sivasankara, BSc, MSc, PhD Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering Raupach, Dale C., BS Reactor Utilization Specialist Remick, Forrest J., BS, MS, PhD i84l 206 Professor of Nuclear Engineering Robinson, Gordon E., BS, MS, PhD Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering 55

• ~

Nuclear Engineering (Cont'd)

Schultz, Mortimer A., BS Professor of Nuclear Engineering Shillenn, James K.

Energy Education Specialist Sulcoski, Mark Graduate Student -

Totenbier, Robert E., BS Research Assistant Trivellas, Sotirios Graduate Student Wallace, Jonathan Graduate Assistant Witzig, Warren F. , BS, MS, PhD, PE Professor of Nuclear Engineering COLLEGE OF THE LIBERAL ARTS Anthronology Geidel, Richard Graduate Student Hatch, James W., BA, MA, PhD Assistant Professor of Anthropology COLLEGE OF SCIENCE Biology Dunson, William A., BS, MS, PhD Professor of Biology Stokes, Glenn Graduate Student Microbiology and Cell Biology McDonel, James L., BSEd, PhD Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Cell Biology Physics Pilione, Lawrence J., BS, MS, PhD Associate Professor of Physics - Altoona Pratt, William W., BS, PhD

. Professor of Physics INTERCOLLEGE RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES b 0f Center for Air Environmental Studies Eskew, Mary Lou Junior Laboratory Assistant 56

Center for Air Environmental Studies Scheuchenzuber, W. J.

Research Aide Computation Center Knoble, Herman D., BS,'

Research Associate Health Physics Office Granlund, Rodger W., BS University Health Physicist Hollenbach, Donald H.

Health Physics Assistant Materials Research Laboratorv Krishnaswamy, S. V.

Research Associate THE MILTON S. HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER Oncology Lipton, Allen, MD Professor of Medicine & Microbiology 1841 208 37

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APPENDLX B Formal Group Tours Participants 1978 May 27 Nuclear Engineering Graduation Reception 75 June 23 Reactor Facility Open House 106 26 Westinghouse - Explorer Scouts 7 28 4 H Group 6 July 5 Conservation Leadership Camp 34 10 Conservation Leadership Camp 29 11 Argonne University Association 30 12 Edinboro State College Workshop 11 13 Harrisburg Hospital Medical Technicians 20 19 Conservation Leadership Camp 34 19 Pittsburgh Explorer Scouts 7 21 Nuclear Concepts Institute 44 24 Conservation Leadership Camp 32 Aug. 7 Nuclear Concepts Sponsors 19 15 Soil Conservation Service 12 21 Visitors from Texas 6 31 Police Services 5 Sept. 7 Nuclear Engineering 440 29 7 Nuclear Engineering 405 15 21 Bio Engineering 401 13 27 Environmental Resources 413 28 29 Environmental Resources 413 46 29 Altoona Nuclear Technology Class 4 Oct. 9 Physics 100 14 10 Physics 100 38 10 Higher Education 101 13 11 Food Science 521 7 12 Geological Sciences 303 17 11 Physics 100 10 13 Power Systems Engineers 42 17 Society of Physics Students 8 19 Science Technology and Society 19 59

Formal Group Tours (Continued) 1978 Participants Oct. 19 Industrial Professional Advisory Council 6 25 Hazleton Campus 8 24 Metallurgy 412 19 26 Geological Sciences 303 11 31 Engineering 5 24 Nov. 2 Happy Valley C. B. Club 15 3 International Fellows 10 7 Franklin and Marshall College 11 7 Biological Sciences 3 26 9 Recreation Department 12 13 Delone High School 11 15 Wyomissing High School 10 15 Altoona High School 6 16 Alternative Program - State College High School 6 29 Lower Dauphin High School 19 Dec. 11 Police Services 28 21 Smethport High School 7 1979 Jan. 3 Nuclear Engineering 200 24 5 Bucknell University 7 8 Pennsylvania Power and Light Company 9 18 Police Services 5 22 Nuclear Engineering 200 26 25 Life Science Interest House 11 31 Engineering 5 106 Feb. 1 Geological Sciences 303 30 7 Society of American Military Engineers 16 16 Tyrone Cub Scouts 5 21 Cub Scouts 6 17 Entomology Class 19 14 Jersey Shore High School 8 20 Westerly Parkway Jr. High School 7 21 Westerly Parkway Jr. High School 8 1841 211

Formal Group Tours (Continued) 1979 Participants Feb. 26 Daniel Boone High School 19 Mar. 2 Activation Analysis Workshop 17 2 Cub Scouts 4 3 Cub Scouts 6 8 Penn Crest High School 10 8 Council Rocks High School 11 8 Cub Scouts 7 9 Beatty Technical High School 10 15 Penns Valley High School 11 20 Nuclear Engineering 440 14 20 Ligonier Valley High School 27 22 Hollidaysburg High School 10 23 Villanova University 22 23 Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps 25 29 Physics 597 14 April 2 Pittsburgh Explorers 9 3 Selingsgrove High School 54 4 English 117 5 6 Penn Cambria High School 15 9 Physics 101 18 10 Physics 101 40 11 Ridgway High School 17 11 Physics 101 14 12 Physics 101 14 12 Bellefonte High School 19 16 Biological Sciences 3 22 17 Mercyhurst College 8 18 Environmental Health 420 15 18 Scouts 13 19 BlueMount High School 10 19 Geological Sciences 303 38 20 Exeter Township High School 1841 212 8 20 Environmental Health 420 26 61

For=al Group Tours (Continued) 1979 Participants April 23 Pittsburgh Explorer Scouts 9 24 Higher Education 101 23 25 Alliance College 9 27 Robb School - Lock Haven 47 May 1 Plant Breeding - Horticulture 444 10 2 Plant Breeding - Horticulture 444 10 2 High Education 101 8 3 Warren Area High School 30 3 Harbor Creek High School 9 4 Union City High School 11 8 Nuclear Engineering 440 11 9 Thomas Jefferson High School 15 9 Physics 406 10 10 Marion Center High School 10 10 Central Cambria Middle School 31 11 Bedford High School 5 14 Nuclear Engineering 401 31 14 Reading Central Catholic High School 7 14 Nittany 24 10 14 Engineering 5 2 15 Sinclair High School 10 16 Mount Union High School 7 17 Derry Area High School 8 17 North Schulykill High School 6 18 Mercyhurst College 7 22 Chestnut Ridge 10 25 Tyrone Elementary School 90 26 Nuclear Engineering Graduation Reception 94 TOTAL 2,413 1841 213

,,