Nature of Project

The Plant and processes described herein and their description herein, are based upon information developed through research by the University of Chicago and others, and furnished to the Contractor at the instance of the Government. The specific process components and types and sizes of equipment selected for use have been recommended by the Contractor, concurred in by the University of Chicago and accepted by the Government, on the basis of what are believed to be the best available data; it being understood that changes may be made from time to time as more research data are acquired and as detailed design, construction, and operation of the Plant proceed.

Under the Contract the Contractor will attempt to design, construct and operate a Plant for the production of a new chemical element by transmutation of an existing element, uranium, to the new element. The new element has been named "Plutonium". The Plant to be provided under the Contract will have an estimated output when in normal operation at rated capacity, of about one pound of Plutonium per day. About four-millionths (0.000004) of a pound of Plutonium has been made to September, 1943. This quantity of Plutonium has been made by laboratory methods not adaptable to large-scale operation and different from the transmutation process to be used in the Plant to be provided under the Contract. The first experimental demonstration of the transmutation process was made on December 2, 1942. The quantity of Plutonium produced to date by such experimental demonstrations is so small as to make impracticable its chemical separation and recovery in tangible amount from the uranium used in the demonstrations.