The ORNL Chemical Technology Division, 1950-1994

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10122219· OSTI ID:10122219

Jolley, R L; Genung, R K; McNeese, L E; Mrochek, J E

This document attempts to reconstruct the role played by the Chemical Technology Division (Chem Tech) of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in the atomic era since the 1940`s related to the development and production of nuclear weapons and power reactors. Chem Tech`s early contributions were landmark pioneering studies. Unknown and dimly perceived problems like chemical hazards, radioactivity, and criticality had to be dealt with. New chemical concepts and processes had to be developed to test the new theories being developed by physicists. New engineering concepts had to be developed and demonstrated in order to build facilities and equipment that had never before been attempted. Chem Tech`s role was chemical separations, especially uranium and plutonium, and nuclear fuel reprocessing. With diversification of national and ORNL missions, Chem Tech undertook R&D studies in many areas including biotechnology; clinical and environmental chemistry; nuclear reactors; safety regulations; effective and safe waste management and disposal; computer modeling and informational databases; isotope production; and environmental control. The changing mission of Chem Tech are encapsulated in the evolving activities.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 10122219
• Report Number(s): ORNL/M-2733/R1; ON: DE95006495; TRN: 95:002253
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Oct 1994
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
ORNL
DIVERSIFICATION
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
NUCLEAR FUELS
PROCESSING
SPENT FUELS
REPROCESSING
BIOTECHNOLOGY
ISOTOPE PRODUCTION
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
SOL-GEL PROCESS
REACTOR SAFETY
CALIFORNIUM
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
050800
052000
070100
220600
SPENT FUELS REPROCESSING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
PHYSICAL ISOTOPE SEPARATION
RESEARCH
TEST
TRAINING
PRODUCTION
IRRADIATION
MATERIALS TESTING REACTORS