Identification and formation mechanism of decomposition products of TRI-n-butylphosphate extraction systems in aliphatic hydrocarbons

Identification of the radiation-chemical decomposition products of tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP) extraction systems, which are used in reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, is of great interest in explaining the degradation of the extraction processes associated with accumulation of part of the decomposition products in the recycled extracant. Radiation-chemical decomposition products of the extractant and diluent that accumulate owing to γ-radiation in the organic phase of TBP-H2O, TBP-HNO3 (3.0 M), 30% TBP-n-tridecane-H2O, and 30% TBP-n-tridecane-HNO3 (3.0 M) extraction systems and that contain P are identified. A generalized scheme of the radiation-chemical conversion of TBP and diluent on irradiation of a TBP-n-paraffin-aqueous HNO3 extraction system is presented