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Synthesis and characterization of red-oil from tri iso-amyl phosphate/n-dodecane/nitric acid mixtures at elevated temperature

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Abstract

Red-oil is a mixture of nonspecific composition consisting of extractant, degradation products, nitrated solvent and unidentified red-coloured nitro-organics. Red-oil formation is coupled with decomposition of extractant and diluent into gases of explosive nature. If ignited or incinerated, these gases may cause rapid pressurization and endanger the integrity of containment. Such an event occurred at Tomsk-7 facility in 1993. To ensure safe operation, red-oil formation has to be avoided in the fuel cycle facilities by a careful combination of several independent measures like strict control over temperature, limiting organic entrainment in the aqueous streams (which are to be concentrated by evaporation) and control over acidity of aqueous phases. Since tri-iso amyl phosphate (TiAP) has much lower aqueous solubility as compared to TBP, it is visualized as alternate solvent for PUREX process. In this work, TiAP red-oil was synthesized and characterized.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kalpakkam Reprocessing Plant, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Facilities, Kalpakkam, 603102, India

    Biplab Das

  2. Reprocessing Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, 603102, India

    Shekhar Kumar, U. Kamachi Mudali & R. Natarajan

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, India

    P. Mondal

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  1. Biplab Das
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  2. Shekhar Kumar
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  3. P. Mondal
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  4. U. Kamachi Mudali
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  5. R. Natarajan
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Correspondence to Shekhar Kumar.

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Das, B., Kumar, S., Mondal, P. et al. Synthesis and characterization of red-oil from tri iso-amyl phosphate/n-dodecane/nitric acid mixtures at elevated temperature. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 292, 1161–1171 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-1671-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-1671-8

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