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Lab to work with Australian group on
new radwaste compression technology

A new technology to compress high-level radioactive waste in a remotely controlled hot cell will be developed in a cooperative research effort between Argonne and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO).

The project, based at Argonne-West, will provide the first remote demonstration of radioactive waste processes that use a technology called "hot isostatic pressing."

Hot isostatic pressing involves applying pressure in all directions on the heated waste and its container to compress them into a smaller volume and consolidate the waste into a rock-like material.

This technology is important for Argonne's work to develop a new ceramic form to immobilize radioactive wastes, as well as for ANSTO's "Synroc" waste form. Both waste forms are being considered for long-term disposal of high-level nuclear waste and plutonium.

Argonne's ceramic waste form stabilizes fission products and transuranic elements (those heavier than uranium) from the electrometallurgical treatment of DOE's spent nuclear fuel. The materials are captured in a zeolite-based material, combined with glass additive, and stabilized in a solid monolith produced in a hot isostatic press.

Argonne's ceramic waste form will result from the electrometallurgical treatment of DOE spent nuclear fuel that is otherwise unsuitable for direct disposal in a geologic repository. Electrometallurgical technology, which has been under development at Argonne for more than a decade, is being demonstrated with spent fuel from Experimental Breeder Reactor II at Argonne-West.

ANSTO's Synroc is an advanced ceramic composed of minerals chosen for their stability and ability to immobilize high-level nuclear waste. In commercial use, radioactive wastes would be mixed with these minerals and compressed under high pressure and heat to produce a dense rock suitable for long-term disposal.

Under the joint research agreement with Argonne, ANSTO will demonstrate its proprietary container technology for encapsulating high-level radioactive waste for hot isostatic pressing.

Argonne will provide the hot cell, a heavily shielded facility equipped with remotely controlled equipment, for the demonstration.

ANSTO has developed Synroc to commercial scale, but using non-radioactive substances. Extensive testing around the world has shown Synroc to have the high durability and low leaching characteristics required for long-term disposal of high-level radioactive wastes.

Funding for the 31-month, $200,000 joint research project is provided equally by ANSTO and the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy.

ANSTO operates Australia's only nuclear reactor, a research and radioisotope production facility, on the outskirts of Sydney. In addition to developing Synroc, it operates Australia's National Medical Cyclotron; works around the world in environmental management, especially in mining; and provides carbon dating and other advanced analysis services using its 8 MeV tandem accelerator.

Book fair raises $2,500 for appeal

Book lovers browsed through more than 6,000 donated books at the Argonne Combined Appeal (ACA) Used Book Fair last week.

Held Sept. 4-5 in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria, the sale raised nearly $2,500 to benefit the ACA.

Unsold books were donated to the DuPage Senior Citizens' Council Resale Shop in Lombard and the Cerebral Palsy Education Fund Drive.

Nazarali Merchant (CMT) won first prize a $25 gift certificate to Crown Books in the drawing held at the end of the fair. Second prize, a coffee and book basket, went to Fred Sienko (DOE). Other winners were Judy Kelly (DOE), Catherine Foster (OPA), Maria Martello (EMO) and Rodney East (XFD).

The combined appeal provides employees with a way to contribute to the Metropolitan Chicago United Way/Crusade of Mercy, United Way Will County and 18 other charities. This year's campaign will officially kick off in October with a clothing drive.

ANL-West to rally for United Way

Argonne-West's United Way "All Divisions Rallies" will be held Wednesday, Sept. 24, in Bldg. 752, L&O Conference room.

Rallies will be held at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The rallies will include prize drawings, music by Skip Wallace and speakers from the American Red Cross and the Domestic Violence Center.

Argonne-West's United Way drive began Sept. 11 with a barbecue. More events are planned throughout September and October, including a bake sale, car wash and silent auction.

Russian institute honors CMB's Huberman

Russia's most prestigious biology research center recently conferred an honorary doctorate on senior Argonne scientist Eliezer Huberman.

Huberman received the honor from the Russian Academy of Science's Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology during the 3rd International Engelhardt Conference on Molecular Biology, held aboard the M.V. Chaliapin on the Volga River in Russia.

Other distinguished biologists who received honorary doctorates at the conference included the former president of the French Academy of Sciences and director of the Institut de Biologie Physico-Chemique in Paris; the director of the Institut Jacques Monod in Paris; and the chairman of the department of biostructural chemistry at the University of Aarhus, Denmark.

The Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, located in Moscow, includes 40 scientific departments and more than 400 researchers.

Huberman has headed Argonne's Center for Mechanistic Biology and Biotechnology (CMB) since 1981. His current research interests include cellular differentiation, signal transduction, control of tumor growth, gene expression, carcinogenesis, and programmed cell death.

Rutgers professor named Mayer Scholar

Jolie Cizewski, professor of physics at Rutgers University, has been awarded the 1998 Maria Goeppert Mayer Distinguished Scholar Appointment at Argonne.

Argonne established this appointment, awarded annually, to recognize outstanding achievements by a woman scientist or engineer and to provide opportunities for her to conduct innovative research using Argonne's special environment and capabilities.

The appointment is named in honor of Maria Goeppert Mayer, the former Argonne physicist who shared the 1963 Nobel Prize in physics for her work on the shell model of the atomic nucleus.

Cizewski plans to conduct experiments at the Argonne Tandem Linear Accelerator System (ATLAS) in nuclear structure physics using gamma-ray techniques. She intends to take advantage of the Gammasphere a high-resolution gamma-ray detector soon to be stationed at ATLAS and the Fragment Mass Analyzer for nuclear structure studies.

Visitor badging returns to Bldg. 224

Beginning Monday, Sept. 22, Argonne-East visitor processing will move from the temporary facility in the East Area back to Building 224.

Visitor badging has been temporarily located in a trailer in the East Area during construction of the new Argonne Information Center, formerly the Visitor Reception Center. Employees should inform their visitors of the change.

ECT offers classes in office software

Electronics and Computing Technologies Division will offer several classes in office computer software at Argonne-East during September.

All classes will be held in Building 221, Room A142 and taught by DDF Computer Training, Inc. Classes are limited to eight participants. To register, contact a Training Management System representative.

n Intermediate PowerPoint Version 7.0 (ECT308), Tuesday, Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This class will focus on techniques to enhance the look of a presentation. Topics include formatting characters, creating and editing graphs, inserting clip art pictures and using design templates. Prerequisites: Introduction to Windows 95 and Introduction to PowerPoint 7.0. Cost is $125.

n Word Version 7.0: Styles, Templates, Macros and Forms (ECT310), Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Participants will learn to add formatting features to a Word document, create and apply styles, templates, Macros and forms. Prerequisites: Introduction to Windows 95, Introduction to Word 7.0 and Formatting Documents. Cost is $125.n Intermediate Access Version 7.0 (ECT309), Wednesday, Sept. 17, 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. This class will cover enhanced query, table, form and report design. Users will create queries and work with filed properties and tables. Prerequisite: Introduction to Access. Cost is $175.

n Excel Version 7.0: Introduction to Macros (ECT311), Thursday, Sept. 18, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Participants will learn how to automate tasks by creating macros ("recorded" sequences of commands). Topics covered in this class include defining, recording, debugging and editing macros. Prerequisites: Introduction to Windows 95 and Introduction to Excel 7.0. Cost is $125.

Magellan Fund closure won't affect lab

The closure of the Magellan Fund to new retail investments will not affect Argonne retirement fund contributions.

Both existing accounts and new enrollments will be unaffected. For more information on Magellan or other Fidelity funds, call (800) 343-0860 or see Fidelity's World Wide Web site.

Challengers sought
to break ECT's lock
on 'McKee's Run'

The Argonne Running Club's annual Energy Technology Division Open, also known as "McKee's Run," will begin at noon on Thursday, Sept. 18, at the east entrance of Argonne-East's Building 212.

The event includes a five-kilometer run and two-mile walk. Scoring is cross-country style, with a division trophy awarded to the division with the lowest combined score of three or more runners. The Electronics and Computing Technologies Division has been the reigning champ for the past three years.

The fastest finishers will receive ribbons and other awards. Refreshments will be available after the race, and a raffle will be held for several prizes.

The run was begun more than a decade ago by John McKee of the former Components Technology Division. The Running Club took over when McKee neared retirement.

Men are scored separately from the women.

Rain date is Friday, Sept. 19.

Argonne Pioneers plan reunion dinner

The Argonne Pioneers will hold a reunion dinner on Sunday, Oct. 12, at the Orland Chateau restaurant, 14500 LaGrange Road, Orland Park.

The dinner is open to all current and former Argonne, Met Lab, Atomic Energy Commission and Credit Union employees who worked in these organizations between 1942 and 1967, and all current employees with 30 or more years of service. Spouses and guests are welcome.

Registration and friendship time will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., followed by dinner, music and dancing. A cash bar will be available.

Reservations must be made by Monday, Oct. 6. Checks should be made payable to "Argonne Pioneers Reunion" and sent to P.O. Box 8326, Argonne, IL 60439. Tickets will not be issued; canceled checks will serve as receipts. Refunds will not be made after Oct. 1.

Addresses sought

The Pioneers are seeking current addresses of all present and former employees who worked at Argonne, Met Lab, Atomic Energy Commission and the Credit Union between 1942 and 1967.

Send information to the Pioneers Reunion post office box or to Pioneers committee members: Evie Fagan (OPA), Ken Okolowitz, Lil Peak, Howard Kittel, Mary Ann Tomkins, Dave Walker, Harry Youngquist, John Chonko, Evelyn Rutkowski and Richard Horton.

The Pioneers are seeking addresses of employees who worked at Argonne, Met Lab, AEC and the Credit Union between 1942 and 1967.

Karate Club offers
beginner lessons
for men, women

The Argonne-East Shotokan Karate Club's beginner classes for men and women will start Tuesday, Sept. 16.

The $65 cost includes three months of classes, membership in Shotokan Karate of America, a student guide, a bi-monthly newsletter and kyu (rank) testing.

Classes will be held at Building 951 in Argonne Park Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. There is no charge for the first two beginner classes.

For more information, call Rich Lell (RA) at ext. 2-6373 or Paul Betten (ITD) at ext. 2-4962.

DOE science reports
now available via
'information bridge'

The U.S. Department of Energy has opened a new "Information Bridge" to make scientific and technical information available electronically without charge.

The database has 20,000 full-text documents and about 200,000 bibliographic citations starting from January 1996.

In addition to DOE reports, the contents will include bibliographic citations (and full text when available) of energy-related scientific and technical information obtained through international exchange agreements, other government agencies, and other energy related sources.

The Information Bridge will be updated daily.

Users will be able to electronically access, locate, search and download information. They can select easy or advanced search options, choose among three formats -- GIF, TIFF or PDF for downloaded data, and choose options on a variety of other features.

To take full advantage of the technologies incorporated in the DOE Information Bridge, users need a PC, Macintosh, or Unix workstation capable of running an Internet Browser. For all features to work properly, Netscape 3.0 or greater and either a PDF viewer or a TIFF image viewer are required.

To obtain access to and additional information about the DOE Information Bridge, call (423) 576-8401, (423) 576-0487 or e-mail: informationbridge@adonis.osti.gov.

 Made on a Mac.

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