• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.10
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• pp.3808-3814
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• 2023

The thermal stability of nitric acid solutions after contact with non-irradiated and irradiated tributyl phosphate (TBP) and its solution in Isopar-M has been studied. It has been established that exothermic processes occur during heating due to the interaction of soluble radiolysis products and the decomposition of the extractant with nitric acid. Such processes can occur at temperatures below 100 ℃, but unlike a thermal explosion that occurs in seconds, they are longer in time and are accompanied by weak heat evolution. Their intensity depends on the composition of the extractant, the concentration of HNO₃, and the volume ratio of the organic and aqueous phases. The presence of extractant degradation products in raffinates does not pose a risk of a rapid evolution of gaseous products during evaporation, however, the presence of reducing agents can significantly increase the intensity of the exothermic decomposition of raffinates.