Transuranium Processing Plant semiannual report of production, status, and plans for period ending June 30, 1977

During the period January 1, 1977, through June 30, 1977, the following amounts of transuranium elements were recovered from 12 irradiated HFIR targets: 0.1g /sup 243/Am, 21g /sup 244/Cm, 29.5 mg /sup 249/Bk, 288 mg /sup 252/Cf, 1.48 mg /sup 253/Es, and 0.7 pg /sup 257/Fm. One batch of high-purity /sup 248/Cm (approximately 50 mg) was separated from /sup 252/Cf. Twenty-three shipments were made from TRU during the period; recipients and the amounts of nuclides are tabulated. Five HFIR targets, each containing 8 to 9 g of curium, were fabricated. During the next 18 months, we expect to obtain totals of 92 mg of /sup 249/Bk, 910 mg of /sup 252/Cf, 3.8 mg of /sup 253/Es (in a mixture of isotopes), 615 ..mu..g of high-purity /sup 253/Es, and 1.6 pg of /sup 257/Fm; we also expect to make available 250 mg of high-purity /sup 248/Cm. No process or equipment changes were made during this report period. Five neutron sources were fabricated during this report period, bringing the total fabricated to date to 97. Two sources that had previously been returned to TRU were reassigned. Special projects included the following: (1) the enrichment of the /sup 244/Pu concentration in 100 mg of plutonium by irradiation to burn out the lighter isotopes, (2) the separation of 245 pg of /sup 254/Cf from 39-hr /sup 254m/Es that was produced by irradiation of 5 ..mu..g of /sup 253/Es, and (3) an experimental separation of cerium from the other rare-earth elements in a TRU process waste solution. The values that we are currently using for transuranium element decay data and for cross-section data in planning irradiation-processing cycles, calculating production forecasts, and assaying products are tabulated in the Appendix