Abstract: A process for the decontamination of a medium comprising a particulate material contaminated with one or more metal species, the process comprising the steps of treating a body of the said medium with microbially produced sulfuric acid so as to solubilize the metal species as a metal sulfate; treating the leached metal sulfate by a bioprecipitation process which converts the said sulfate to an insoluble sulfide; separating hydrogen sulfide produced during the bioprecipitation from the insoluble metal sulfide; and oxidizing the separated hydrogen sulfide to form a reusable source of a sulfur-containing ingredient.

Abstract: A method of removing from the surface of an object a contaminating substance buried in an organic substance on the surface of the object, the method including directing a laser beam at the organic substance to cause chemical change of the organic material or direct removal of the organic material by laser generated chemical change.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling nuclear fuel rods, which include a mixed oxide fuel material, and for constructing fuel assemblies from the fuel rods, includes a store (9) constructed from radiation shielding material. The store includes a number of channels (10), each of which is adapted to receive a magazine (2) containing fuel rods. Removal and insertion of magazines from and into the channels is effected by a handling machine (29) which is remotely and automatically operated. Each of the channels is closed by a plug (11) which can be removed and inserted by the handling machine. The handling machine is able to remove a magazine from a selected channel and to deliver the magazine to either of two fuel assembly lines (16, 21). Each assembly line constructs a different type of fuel assembly from that of the other assembly line, and each assembly line is arranged in a separate shielded enclosure (15, 24).

Abstract: A logic circuit monitors the outputs of R, F and T probability generators, provides an output pulse, and increments or decreases a counter, the output of which is fed back to the T probability generator. R represents the rate or frequency of a random background, F represents the fraction of events in the random background R that will have associated coincident pairs, and T a respective die-away time. The parameters R, F and T are decided by the user. Such a pulse generator may simulate the output from a neutron well, and may be used to test neutron coincidence systems in a simple and rigorous manner.

Abstract: A method of treating a body of conducting material electrolytically which comprises the steps of placing the material to be treated in an aqueous oxidising electrolyte, passing an electric current through the electrolyte and the material to be treated and sparging the electrolyte with gas. The material to be treated is placed in a basket comprising a conducting frame having an insulating container fitted therein, the basket being insertable in and removable from the electrolyte as desired. The insulating container is removable from the conducting frame, the frame having retaining means for receiving the insulating container. The container includes a base having perforations to allow electrolyte to contact the material to be treated. The electrolyte is sparged with gas in the region where the material to be treated is in contact with it, the gas being supplied by a plurality of pipes (21, 22) extending across the electrolyte at a location beneath the perforated base of the insulating container.

Abstract: A filter for treating liquids comprises an elongate housing having a liquid inlet port, an outlet port for concentrated liquid and a permeate discharge port. Extending through the housing is a parallel array of filter tubes, each having a permeable wall so that permeate passes into a common chamber defined by the housing. Manifold members, located at each end of the housing, are provided with channel means which communicate with the ends of the tubes. In use, the channel means direct the liquid along at least three passes through the tubes, the volume of liquid being reduced between the first and final passes so as to maintain the desired flow velocity. Each pass comprises a group of tubes, and the liquid may pass through seven or eleven groups of tubes.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of a hydrated mixture of a salt which comprises an inorganic fluoride and hydrogen fluoride to remove water from the mixture wherein the salt mixture contains an excess of hydrogen fluoride, which process comprises forming a liquid phase of the said mixture by melting the salt therein and feeding an inert gas through the liquid phase of the mixture.

Abstract: A process for the decontamination of a medium including a particulate material contaminated with one or more organic species and one or more metal species, the process including the steps of: (1) treating said medium by breaking down the organic species by or through the action of microbial agents, (2) treating the medium with microbially produced sulfuric acid so as to solubilize and leach the metal species as a metal sulfate, (3) treating the leached metal sulfate by a bioprecipitation process which converts the said sulfate into one or more insoluble metal sulfides and hydrogen sulfide, (4) separating the hydrogen sulfide from the one or more insoluble metal sulfides and (5) oxidizing the separated hydrogen sulfide to form a reusable source of a sulfur-containing ingredient.

Abstract: A method for the decontamination of a cementitious or a metallic surface having contaminants is described. The method comprises the steps of supplying to said surface at least one microorganism under conditions conducive to growth of said at least one microorganism; maintaining said conditions conducive to growth of said microorganism and the generation of an acid or other metabolite to degrade said surface to a desired depth; terminating said conditions conducive to growth upon achieving at least said desired depth of degradation; removing the products of said degradation; treating said degradation products; and, disposing of said treated degradation products wherein the at least one microorganism is a citric acid generating microorganism.

Abstract: An electric pump 13 is mounted on a support 24 and can be raised and lowered using chains 25 driven by a motor.Supply cable 14 for the pump is stored on drum 15. Fluid is discharged by the pump through hose 17 stored on drum 18.A spray ring 20 attached to the pump is supplied with water through hose 21 stored on drum 22. The drums are rotated by hydraulic motors 32 and chains eg 36, 37. As the pump is raised at a uniform speed the drums are rotated to take up the slack hose and cable. The height of the pump is sensed from movement of the pump motor and the pressure supplied to the hydraulic motors is changed in discrete steps to maintain the wind up speed on to the drums despite the change in weight of unwound hose or cable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating toxic waste by the vitrification thereof are described, the method comprising the steps of providing said waste in the form of relatively small pieces; optionally adding vitrifiable material to said waste; bringing a high intensity light source to bear on said waste and said optional vitrifiable material; said high intensity light source being of sufficient power to cause melting and subsequent vitrification of said waste; and, cooling and storing said vitrified material.

Abstract: A method of extracting anionic species from a solid or liquid medium by contacting the medium with an extract solvent of supercritical carbon dioxide and a positively charged complexant ligand for solubilizing and extracting the anionic species form the medium.

Abstract: A fabricated metal stillage for storing and/or transporting a plurality of drums containing hazardous material, such as radioactive waste, comprising a rectangular planar base having a post extending upwardly from each corner. Each post is hollow and is provided with a support pad at an end remote from the base. The support pads lie in a plane substantially parallel to the base. Upper and lower tie plates extend between the four posts to define a perimeter around the stillage. Internal partition plates are provided to form a plurality of compartments for receiving the drums, the inner ends of the partition plates being attached to a central ring. The stillages can be arranged in a free-standing stack with the base of an upper stillage resting on the support pads of a stillage beneath it. Such a stack is able to withstand loads resulting from seismic events.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a selectively fluorinated organic compound, which process includes reaction of a precursor of said organic compound, the precursor containing at least one Group VI element selected from sulfur, selenium and tellurium, with a fluorinating agent and another halogenating agent and characterized in that the fluorinating agent is elemental fluorine.

Abstract: A method of treating a body of conducting material electrolytically which comprises the steps of placing the material to be treated in an aqueous oxidizing electrolyte, passing an electric current through the electrolyte and the material to be treated and sparging the electrolyte with gas. The material to be treated is placed in a basket comprising a conducting frame having an insulating container fitted therein, the basket being insertable in and removable from the electrolyte as desired. The insulating container is removable from the conducting frame, the frame having retaining means for receiving the insulating container. The container includes a base having perforations to allow electrolyte to contact the material to be treated. The electrolyte is sparged with gas in the region where the material to be treated is in contact with it, the gas being supplied by a plurality of pipes (21, 22) extending across the electrolyte at a location beneath the perforated base of the insulating container.

Abstract: A biosensor for detecting nitrate or nitrite ions is provided containing a nitrate reductase or nitrite reductase for nitrate or nitrite ions, respectively, a co-factor such as NADPH, a photoluminescent ingredient and a transducer having a photodetector. The NADPH is oxidized to NADP.sup.+ by reduction of nitrate or nitrite ions which directly or indirectly causes the photoluminescent ingredient to produce photons which are detected by the photodetector. The reductase and co-factor may be provided in an immobilized enzyme composition containing a co-enzyme such as alcohol dehydrogenase which produces the photons by inducing an oxidation reaction that converts NADP.sup.+ back to NADPH to maintain a supply of NADPH to permit further reduction by the reductase. In the oxidation reaction, an alcohol such as hexanol or octanol is oxidized to its aldehyde with alcohol dehydrogenase from Thermoanaerobium brockii, and the aldehyde is detected by oxidizing FMNH.sub.2 using luciferase.

Abstract: An energy conversion and storage device (1) which comprises a magnetic rotor (5) and a stator (7) comprising one or more electric coils whereby electrical energy may be applied to and extracted from the device (1) when the rotor (5) is rotating relative to the stator (7) and means (13, 14, 15, 17) for electromagnetically suspending the rotor (5) whilst rotating relative to the stator (7), wherein the rotor (5) comprises a tubular body portion formed of a composite of fiber reinforced material and magnetic material emnbedded within the fiber reinforced material and the stator (7) is disposed inside the rotor (5) co-axially with the rotor (5) and extends along at least a major part of the length of the said body portion of the rotor (5).

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the oxidation of uranium hexafluoride by injecting the uranium hexafluoride and an oxidant gas together into a reaction vessel to form a plume characterized in that a plurality of the said plumes are formed together in the same vessel, the plumes mutually contributing to a circulating product formation stream in the said vessel. The process may include the establishment of three or more plumes simultaneously contributing to the reaction between the gases in the reaction vessel. The oxidant gas may comprise steam. The process may be one in which the product is formed as a particulate solid. The product particles may initially be formed as dentritic particles which may be recirculated in the reaction vessel to promote seeding, growth, agglomeration and aggregation of the required product particles, the plumes thereby contributing to the product formation process in the vessel.

Abstract: A method of extracting metal species from a metal species containing medium which comprises contacting the medium with an extractant solvent which comprises a supercritical fluid and a complexant for solubilizing metal species in the said medium and also a conditioning agent for changing the oxidation state of the metal species.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of organic pentafluorosulphur compounds which comprises reacting an organic disulphide in a substantially inert solvent with elemental fluorine.