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Influence of irradiation on the structure and thermo-kinetic behavior of tri-n-butyl phosphate

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Abstract

Tri-n-butyl phosphate is the primary extractant in the PUREX extraction process of uranium and plutonium. Despite its efficiency as an extractant, its reaction with nitric acid in the presence of irradiation and metal nitrates poses hazards. This study evaluates the effect of γ radiation on tributyl phosphate’s structure and observes its thermal behavior in an accelerating rate calorimeter. The bound water molecules in tributyl phosphate were gradually removed with the increase in radiation dose. The degradation products analyzed by spectroscopic methods revealed breakup of structure of TBP into dibutyl phosphate, monobutyl phosphate and hydrocarbons. It was observed that the effects of irradiation on TBP were minor and could be less hazardous in the absence of acid.

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Acknowledgements

This study was sponsored by the Safety Research Committee of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Mumbai, through a grant in aid project to Cell for Industrial Safety and Risk Analysis (CISRA), CLRI. One of the authors VSS wishes to acknowledge CSIR—New Delhi, for the SRF fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 020, India

    Samuel Varakumar Jala, Smitha Velayuthan Sreekantan, Surianarayanan Mahadevan & Asit Baran Mandal

  2. Safety Research Institute, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Kalpakkam, India

    Hariharan Seshadri

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  1. Samuel Varakumar Jala
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  2. Smitha Velayuthan Sreekantan
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  3. Surianarayanan Mahadevan
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Correspondence to Surianarayanan Mahadevan.

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Jala, S.V., Sreekantan, S.V., Mahadevan, S. et al. Influence of irradiation on the structure and thermo-kinetic behavior of tri-n-butyl phosphate. J Therm Anal Calorim 124, 1525–1534 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-015-5043-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-015-5043-9

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