Abstract: A process and an apparatus in a column arrangement for improving the separation of noble gases, particularly krypton, from a gas mixture containing such noble gases using an organic solvent as an absorption agent, utilizing a boiling point spacing of the charged absorption agent of less than or equal to 1.5.degree. C. below the boiling point of the pure absorption agent. The resulting pure absorption agent which is to be recycled, after heating it to a temperature corresponding to the boiling point at the associated operating pressure or up to 10.degree. higher is initially used as a heat exchange medium to regulate the evaporation rate of the charged absorption agent during the desorption of N.sub.2 and O.sub.2. The pure absorption agent is then used as a heat exchange medium to heat the cold absorption agent charged with Kr, N.sub.2 and O.sub.2 before the pure absorption agent is brought in contact with the gas mixture of N.sub.2, O.sub.2 and Kr entering the column.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for improving the effectiveness of the removal of zirconium from an aqueous, zirconium-containing nuclear fuel and/or fertile material solution in nitric acid in a liquid-liquid extraction process.Accordingly, the object of the invention is to improve the removal of zirconium from the reprocessing solutions and, at the same time, to simplify the course of the process. The invention seeks to improve decontamination of the uranium product and the plutonium product while, at the same time, reducing the outlay involved.According to the invention, this object is achieved in that, in a process step carried out before the first extraction of the nuclear fuels and/or fertile materials, the zirconium is converted from the dissolved state into a filterable or centrifugable solid phase by the use of an adsorbent from the group of inorganic ion exchangers and is removed from the aqueous solution together with the adsorbent.

Abstract: A protective coating for metallic substrates consists of a plurality of layers having a total thickness ranging from 0.1 to 10.mu., an individual thickness for each layer ranging from 0.5 to 40 nm, and a total number of layers which does not exceed 20,000, each layer being comprised of one kind of at least two kinds of crystalline hard substances and being arranged in a sequentially alternating order with respect to the others, the crystalline hard substances having phase interfaces with respect to one another which are at least crystallographically partially coherent. In an alternate embodiment, the protective coating is a single layer which is a superfinely dispersed mixture of the crystalline hard substances.

Abstract: In a neutron and/or gamma radiation detection system, a large reception surface for the radiation to be detected is formed on a body of scintillation material which is adapted to convert neutron or gamma radiation into light energy. A large number of fiber light conductors is embedded in the body of scintillation material such that the fibers extend essentially parallel and fully across the reception surface of the body of scintillation material. The light energy, upon propagation along the fiber light conductors, is coupled into the conductors along the surface of the fibers, which fibers are anisotropic.

Abstract: Superconducting fiber bundle which contains a multiplicity of carrier fibers such as, for instance, carbon fibers, boron fibers, steel fibers coated with a superconducting layer of a niobium compound of the general formula NbC.sub.x N.sub.y O.sub.z (x+y+z less than or equal to 1), characterized by the feature that the superconducting layer consists of fine-grained B1-structure niobium compound, the mean grain size of which is between 3 and 50 nm.

Abstract: A filter assembly includes a frame shaped generally as a circular cylinder and having an inlet opening at one end for orienting fluid axially; and a plurality of filter elements arranged in a circular array about the frame and being supported thereby. The filter elements are arranged for allowing passage of fluid therethrough radially outwardly. The circumferentially adjoining filter elements define a space therebetween. Angled spacer elements bridge and maintain the space between any two adjoining filter elements. Each filter element is sealed relative to the frame. The filter elements constitute interconnected blocks of a single filtering unit formed of a continuously folded strip-like filter material, and adjoining blocks of the filtering unit are angled to one another to present a polygonal pattern as a whole, whereby the flanking blocks of the filtering unit are in a contacting relationship and free ends of the filter material in the flanking blocks are bonded to one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for continuous or almost continuous separation of cesium ions from aqueous solutions having high concentrations of sodium and/or potassium ions by ion exchange with ammonium molybdophosphate (AMP).A quantitative cesium separation from aqueous solutions which are high in salts, especially from highly radioactive solutions which are strongly nitric and contain nitrate, is achieved, without having to consider bleeding of the AMP and/or undesirable local overheating in the exchanger.

Abstract: A process for denitrating aqueous, nitric acid and salt containing waste solutions, comprises mixing the waste solution at room temperature with ethyl alcohol, and heating the mixture to at least 75.degree. C.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for catalytically reducing noxious substances in flue gas wherein a heat exchanger is traversed from a top section to a bottom section by a plurality of heat storage elements which are separately movable and are charged by the flue gas transversely to their direction of movement. At least a portion of the heat storage elements are provided with a catalyst coating. Flue gas cooled downstream of a desulfurization system is conducted through the bottom section of the heat exchanger where it is preheated by the heat storage elements and is then heated to a predetermined reaction temperature by an external heating means. Ammonia is added and the flue gas is conducted at least once through at least one middle section of the heat exchanger for the catalytic reduction of the noxious substances. Then, the flue gas is conducted through the top section of the heat exchanger so as to cool it to a predetermined chimney entrance temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement and non-destructive material testing of laid pipelines in the form of a scraper moved through the pipeline and guided on the inner wall thereof, has at least one circular support with sensors arranged on the circumference thereof and at least one pressure-tight casing, which has devices for processing and recording the measured values and the power supply. In order to ensure that the sensors are always at the minimum constant distance and with a constant angular position with respect to the pipe wall, the support is constructed as a cylindrical sleeve made from a rubber elastic material and is provided with an axially, radially and circumferentially regular profile, whose protuberances are located on a cylindrical envelope surface with a somewhat larger external diameter than the internal diameter of the pipeline and in whose depressions the sensors are arranged on a surface concentric to the envelope surface.

Abstract: A cross flow microfilter comprises a filter housing having a flow chamber wherein a fluid is introduced on one side and a concentrate is removed on the opposite side a collection chamber from which a filtrate is removed, and at least one microporous membrane over whose one surface the fluid to be filtered flows in a parallel stream and whose other surface is oriented toward the collection chamber, the membrane having pores of a width between about 0.1 micron and 30 micron, the improvement wherein the pores of the membrane have slit-shaped cross-sections and given profiles, and are formed by a plurality of webs arranged in rows with predetermined spacing and by terminating plates which cover the webs, and the webs are applied onto one of the two plates by X-ray lithographic means, X-ray depth lithographic-galvanoplastic means, or molding and galvanoplastic means.

Abstract: A method of reprocessing neutron-irradiated contaminated boron carbide, including the steps of:dissolving the contaminated boron carbide in a mixture of sulfuric and nitric acids at an elevated temperature, to convert the boron carbide to boric acid, and to form an exhaust gas of nitric oxide and carbon dioxide;introducing water or tritiated, boric acid-containing water in liquid form under the surface of the hot acid mixture of the dissolving step, to produce steam;steam distilling the boric acid developed in the dissolving step with the aid of the steam generated in the introducing step, to separate the boric acid from nonvolatile radioactive and nonradioactive corrosion and irradiation products;condensing the boric acid-containing steam from the steam distilling s tep to yield boric acid and a condensate containing water or .sup.3 H-containing water;evaporating the condensate from the condensing step to dry and calcine the boric acid to form boron oxide and water vapor of .sup.

Abstract: A process for purifying flue gases by conducting the hot gases through a dry purification stage, and then through a pebble bed evaporator containing pebbles and a liquid. The flue gases then exit the pebble bed evaporator and are washed in a wet washing step. Waste liquid containing dissolved material from the wet washing step is then used as the liquid in the pebble bed evaporator; as this liquid evaporates in the pebble bed evaporator, solid precipitate forms on the pebbles. This solid precipitate is removed from the evaporator and is stored. Vapor from the pebble bed evaporator is condensed and used in the wet washing step. The purified flue gases exiting the wet washing step pass through a filter stage and are discharged.

Abstract: A process for the stripping of cesium ions from an aqueous solution in which a precipitation agent is added to the aqueous solution and the resulting precipitate, containing the CS.sup.+ ions is stripped from the solution. Sodium or lithium tetraphenylborates, carrying electron-attracting substituents on the phenyl rings are employed as precipitation agent.

Abstract: A liquid-liquid two-phase extraction process in which a feed solution is introduced into an intermediate stage of a multistage extraction apparatus. The solution is water and one or more valuable material to be recovered by extraction. An organic extractant is introduced into one end of the apparatus. The extractant is a solvent and flows through the apparatus. The valuable material is extracted from the feed solution to provide a charged organic phase. An aqueous extractant having water is introduced into another end of the apparatus to wash the charged organic phase. The aqueous extractant flows through the multistate extraction apparatus countercurrent to the extractant and contributes to the aqueous phase. The organic extractant is divided into at least two streams prior to introducing the organic extractant into the apparatus. Each stream is introduced into the apparatus at different stages, both ahead of the intermediate stage.

Abstract: A method of producing a passive optical device having optical components including at least one reflection grating, at least one port for polychromatic light and a plurality of ports for monochromatic light. The method includes producing the optical components of the device utilizing X-ray depth lithography so that the grating lines of the reflection grating are parallel to the direction of X-ray radiation emitted as part of the X-ray depth lithography.

Abstract: Device for holding together the fractured ends of a bone in a living body, including an elongate holding member arranged to be secured to the bone and provided, for this purpose, with openings for holding connecting elements, with a certain elasticity being retained, and reinforcement members forming a unit with the holding member, extending in the length direction of the holding member and disposed along opposite sides of each opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining various characteristics of particles suspended in a liquid, e.g., the deformability or other values of red blood corpuscles. The particles are transported by a method similar to the Coulter method through a measuring channel having sections which are constricted or widened over the length of the measuring channel in, e.g., a foil. The change of certain electrical characteristics of the liquid is measured during passage of each particle, which furnishes a measure of the desired particle characteristics. The volume, as well as the deformability and other characteristics, of a particle can be determined during one passage through one and the same measuring channel. This is accomplished by forming a measuring channel composed of alternate constricted and widened portions in a step-like configuration which are a plurality of cylindrical channel sections, throughout the length of the channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the qualitative and quantitative measurement, by means of microwave spectrometry, of the hydrogen isotopes, protium, deuterium and tritium, in a sample which contains hydrogen, water or a mixture thereof, and to an apparatus for implementing the method. Because it is a prerequisite for the use of microwave spectrometry that the isotopes be present in the form of water, and it is advantageous to have impurities in the sample in the form of active or inactive foreign molecules that do not interfere, the present process converts the sample into the gas and/or vapor form. The water vapor component of the sample is subjected to microwave spectrometry and a first measured value compiled, the hydrogen component of the sample is converted to water and then subjected to microwave spectrometry and a second measured value is compiled, whereupon the two measured values are summed to provide the total isotope spectrum. Only the non-condensable gases must be removed.

Abstract: Process for producing formed bodies with improved homogeneous properties, high resistance to oxidation and corrosion, great hardness and firmness, good mechanical workability, and high resistance to abrasion, made out of an initial power material which contains two elemental metals; or one or more alloys; or one or more elemental metals and one or more alloys; or a combination of one or more elemental metals and/or one or more alloys with one or more metalloids and/or one or more non-metallic substances, except for formed bodies made of NiTi, of Nb.sub.3 Sn, of stoichiometric, binary intermettalic yttrium-cobalt compounds and gadolinium-cobalt compounds, and of Ni.sub.60 Nb.sub.