Thermal stability and radiation resistance of trifluoromethyl phenyl sulfone in the presence of nitric acid

The effect of HNO3 on the thermal stability and radiation resistance of trifluoromethyl phenyl sulfone (FS-13) used as extractant diluent in high-level waste partitioning was studied. Heating of FS-13 in the presence of 14 M HNO3 is not accompanied by exothermic effects up to 160°С. The amount of gaseous products released in the course of heating the system consisting of FS-13 and HNO3 and the composition of the major radiolysis products of the system components at irradiation doses of up to 0.5 MGy were determined.