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The study of the formation of radiolytic products, such as molecular hydrogen and nitrous acid, is of primary importance in the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and the storage of aqueous solutions containing radioactive materials. The radiolytic yields of molecular hydrogen, nitrous acid and nitrous oxide from alpha radiolysis of nitric acid solutions containing plutonium have been experimentally investigated. The results have shown that the yields of radiolytic products depends on the nitric acid concentration as well as the oxidation state of plutonium. However, the influence of plutonium oxidation state on radiolytic yields is less notable as the nitric acid concentration increases. Molecular hydrogen production decreases with increasing nitric acid concentration while nitrous acid and nitrous oxide productions increase. While radiolytic yields from plutonium(IV) nitric acid solutions have been previously investigated, this study provides radiolytic yields from alpha radiolysis of plutonium(III) and plutonium(VI) nitric acid solutions for molecular hydrogen, nitrous acid and nitrous oxide. These information provide insight into the role played by plutonium redox behaviour on the formation of radiolytic products.

International audience; The uranium and plutonium co-conversion process constitutes a continuous subject of interest for MOx fuel fabrication. Among the various routes considered, chemical coprecipitation by the salt effect has been widely investigated regarding its simplicity of integration between the partitioning and purification steps of the PUREX process, and the straightforward recovery of precursors that are easily converted into oxide phases by thermal decomposition. The present study focuses on the coprecipitation behavior of U–Th and U–Pu actinide peroxide mixed systems by examining the precipitation yields and settling properties for nitric acidity in the range of 1 to 3 M and hydrogen peroxide concentration in the range of 4.5 to 7 M. The precipitated solids have been characterized by powder XRD, IR and Raman spectroscopy, laser granulometry and SEM-EDS analyses revealing the synthesis of studtite and actinide(IV) peroxo-nitrates as aggregated particles. The actinide solid phases are uniformly distributed within the filtered cakes. The precursor thermal decomposition results in the formation of oxide phases at low temperature according to a sequential release of water molecules, peroxide ligands and nitrate ions. The calcination step has a limited effect on the morphology of the powders which remain highly divided. The high precipitation rate of actinides makes this chemical route potentially interesting as a co-precipitation process.

International audience; Fundamental knowledge about plutonium intrinsic colloids is a key issue for the prediction of plutonium transport and release rates in the environment. Recent studies demonstrated that the particle size and surface properties of intrinsic Pu colloids are strongly influenced by the preparation method. In this work, a combination of synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) with X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is used to characterize two kinds of stable plutonium intrinsic colloids prepared by hydrolysis of Pu(IV) ionic species and sonolysis of PuO2 in pure water. Despite their similarities, the multi-scale structural properties of these colloidal suspensions are found to be strongly influenced by the synthesis route. The hydrolysis approach leads to spherical nanoparticles of ca. 2.0 nm, whereas sonolytic colloids show elongated structures measuring 5.7 nm of thickness and >30 nm long. This difference results from the synthesis mechanism and can be attributed to nanoparticle aggregation in the absence of capping-ions. The results obtained by both SAXS and XAS approaches converge in the description of Pu(IV) intrinsic colloids as core–shell nanoparticles made up of a PuO2 core covered with a disordered Pu–O shell characterized by a splitting of Pu–O and Pu–Pu distances and an associated strong increase of associated DWF parameters. The local distortions of both Pu–O and Pu–Pu coordination spheres observed by XAS seem to be correlated with the nanoparticle shrinking probed by SAXS rather from the contribution of higher Pu oxidation states. The stabilization of the hydrolytic colloidal particles is further suggested from SAXS simulation to result from interaction with counter-ions from the medium.

International audience; The manufacture of new fuels for sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs) will involve powders derived from recycling existing fuels in order to keep on producing electricity while saving natural resources and reducing the amount of waste produced by spent MOX fuels. Using recycled plutonium in this way will significantly increase the amount of 238Pu, a high energy alpha emitter, in the powders. The process of shaping powders by pressing requires the use of a solid lubricant, zinc stearate, to produce pellets with no defects compliant with the standards. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of alpha radiolysis on this additive and its lubrication properties. Experiments were conducted on samples in contact with PuO2, as well as under external helium ion beam irradiation, in order to define the kinetics of radiolytic gas generation. The yield results relating to the formation of these gases (G0) show that the alpha radiation of plutonium can be simulated using external helium ion beam irradiation. The isotopic composition of plutonium has little impact on the yield. However, an increased yield was globally observed with increasing the mean linear energy transfer (LET). A radiolytic degradation process is proposed.

International audience; Concentrated nitric acid solutions subjected to radiation produce radicals of extreme importance in the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. Knowledge of the different rate constants of the reactions involved in this chemistry is needed to improve the efficiency of the process and to define safe operating practices. Pulse radiolysis measurements are performed to find the rate constant of the reaction between NO3˙ radicals and U(IV) in highly concentrated nitrate solution. The optimal stabilization conditions toward thermal oxidation are defined for the considered solutions at room temperature and at 45 °C by adding anti-nitrous agents such as hydrazinium nitrate (HN) and hydroxyl ammonium nitrate (HAN). The decay of the NO3˙ radical is monitored and its reaction rates with HN, HAN and U(IV) are found to be 1.3 × 105, 1.5 × 107 and 1.6 × 106 M−1 s−1 at room temperature. The latter value is more than 10 times lower than the one currently used in numerical codes for simulation of the long-term radiolytic degradation associated with the reprocessing and storage of spent nuclear waste. At 45 °C, conditions similar to the reprocessing of spent fuel, the values of the rate constants of NO3˙ radical toward HN, HAN and U(IV) increase and are found to be 2.6 × 105, 2.9 × 107 and 9.3 × 106 M−1 s−1.

Actinide research at the nanoscale is gaining fundamental interest due to environmental and industrial issues. The knowledge of the local structure and speciation of actinide nanoparticles, which possibly exhibit specific physico-chemical properties in comparison to bulk materials, would help in a better and reliable description of their behaviour and reactivity. Herein, the synthesis and relevant characterization of PuO

International audience; Radiolysis of water adsorbed on PuO$_2$ surface has been the subject of several studies but still remains poorly understood. The present study brings new experimental results helping to further understand the phenomena occurring at PuO$_2$ surface. Radiolysis of adsorbed water on PuO2 surface leads to the reach of a steady state in hydrogen content when relative humidity is kept constant implying an equilibrium between generation and consumption of hydrogen. The influences of specific surface area, relative humidity, PuO$_2$ dose rate and composition of the atmosphere (Ar vs air) on hydrogen generation were investigated. A significant evolution of the hydrogen generation kinetics was observed upon PuO$_2$ surface aging. This result might be related to an evolution of the surface physicochemical state induced by a long-term storage in H$_2$O/H$_2$/O$_2$ atmosphere. The surface evolution modifies the equilibrium between generation and consumption of hydrogen. Several annealing thermal treatment were necessary to retrieve H$_2$ accumulations kinetics similar to the ones obtained with the same sample as freshly prepared. This indicates an important evolution of PuO$_2$ surface and subsurface. A mechanism is described to explain the surface evolution and its effect on H$_2$ accumulation through radiolysis of adsorbed water.

International audience; Actinide research at the nanoscale is gaining fundamental interest due to environmental and industrial issues. The knowledge of the local structure and speciation of actinide nanoparticles, which possibly exhibit specific physico-chemical properties in comparison to bulk materials, would help in a better and reliable description of their behaviour and reactivity. Herein, the synthesis and relevant characterization of PuO2 and ThO2 nanoparticles displayed as dispersed colloids, nanopowders or nanostructured oxide powders, allow to establish a clear relationship between the size of the nanocrystals composing these oxides and their corresponding An(IV) local structure investigated by EXAFS spectroscopy. Particularly, the probed An(IV) first oxygen shell evidences an analogous behaviour for both Pu and Th oxides. This observation suggests that the often observed and controversial splitting of the Pu-O shell on the Fourier transformed EXAFS signal of PuO2 samples is attributed to a local structural disorder driven by a nanoparticle surface effect rather than to the presence of PuO2+x species.

Samples of butanal oxime in aqueous solution have been irradiated with the helion ( 4 He 2+ ) beam of the ARRONAX (Nantes) and the CEMHTI (Orleans) cyclotrons. The consumption yield of butanal oxime has been measured by gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Yields of gaseous products (mainly H 2 ) have also been measured by micro-gas-chromatography. Butanal oxime can react with H ∙ radicals by abstraction mechanism to enhance H 2 production. Yields of liquid phase products (hydrogen peroxide and nitrite ion) have been measured by colorimetric methods. Butanal oxime acts as a scavenger of OH ∙ radical to inhibit the production of H 2 O 2 . The observation of the radiolytic products allows then to discuss a degradation mechanism of butanal oxime in aqueous solutions.

PuO2 is considered an important material for current and future nuclear fuel; however it is a very refractive compound towards dissolution. Among other techniques, its reprocessing can be performed via complexing dissolution in concentrated and boiling nitric acid containing hydrofluoric acid, or via oxidant dissolution in the presence of reagents with redox couples having high potentials such as Ce(iv)/Ce(iii), or Ag(ii)/Ag(i). Reductive dissolution can be performed under softer conditions and is considered an alternative to these methods which may suffer from several drawbacks (corrosion, effluent management, compatibility with nuclear waste disposal, etc.). In this study, a sonochemical and reductive approach is investigated for PuO2 dissolution under relatively mild conditions. At the first stage, the experiments are performed with CeO2 as an inactive surrogate for PuO2. The quantitative dissolution of both oxides can be achieved under ultrasound (20 kHz, 0.35-0.70 W mL(-1)) in 0.5 M HNO3/0.1 M [N2H5NO3]/2 M HCOOH sparged with Ar at 33-35 °C in the presence of Ti particles as a generating source of reductive species. Ultrasound enables the depassivation of the Ti surface (usually strongly passivated in nitric solutions) through acoustic cavitation which then allows further generation of the intermediate Ti(iii) reductive species. Dissolution rates and yields can be further increased with the injection of dilute fluoride aliquots (NH4F or HF) in the sonicated solution to favor Ti chemical depassivation. The rapid and complete dissolution of PuO2 under selected conditions is accompanied by Pu(iii) accumulation in solution.

Since the past few years, Pu(V) has gained much attention due to its potential contribution to the environmental migration of actinides. However, the preparation of concentrated (up to mM) and pure Pu(V) solutions is quite difficult and often hindered by its great instability towards disproportionation, thus limiting the accessibility to physical and chemical property data. This work describes the rapid and facile sonochemical preparation of relatively stable Pu(V) solutions in the millimolar range free from the admixtures of the other oxidation states of plutonium. The mechanism deals with the sonochemical reduction of Pu(VI) in weakly acidic perchloric solutions by using the in situ generated H2O2, where the kinetics can be dramatically enhanced under high frequency ultrasound and an Ar/O2 atmosphere. The quasi-exclusive presence of the Pu(V) aqua ion in solution was evidenced by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The prepared solutions were found to be stable for more than one month which allowed the accurate XAFS and NMR investigations of Pu(V). EXAFS spectra revealed the presence of two trans dioxo Pu[double bond, length as m-dash]O bonds at 1.81 Å and 4–6 equatorial Pu–Oeq interactions at 2.47 Å characteristic of coordinated water molecules. The exact number of water molecules (N[Oeq(H2O)] = 4) was determined by simulating the EXAFS spectra of the PuO2+ aqua complexes using DFT calculations (geometry and the Debye–Waller factor) and comparing them with experimental signals. For the first time, the magnetic susceptibility of the pentavalent state of plutonium in aqueous solutions was also determined (χM = 16.3 × 10−9 m3 mol−1 at 25 °C) and the related Curie constant was estimated (C = 6.896 × 10−6 m3 K mol−1).

A study of aqueous nitric acid solution alpha radiolysis was performed through experiments carried out at a cyclotron facility, where a helion beam with an energy of 13.5 MeV could be delivered into the solution. The effects of nitrate and hydronium ions on the formation yields of hydrogen peroxide and nitrous acid, G(H2O2) and G(HNO2), were studied. The results showed that G(H2O2) decreases linearly with increasing nitrate ion concentration. On the other hand, G(HNO2) increases with the nitrate ion concentration until it reaches a plateau for nitric acid concentrations higher than 2 mol L–1. It was also found that an increase of hydronium ion concentration has a favorable effect on G(H2O2) and G(HNO2). Furthermore, it appears that these effects are additive and that the variations of G(H2O2) and G(HNO2) can be described by two parametric expressions, as a function of the nitrate and hydronium ion concentrations.

For the first time, stable intrinsic plutonium colloid was prepared by ultrasonic treatment of PuO2 suspensions in pure water at room temperature. The yield of Pu colloid was found to increase with PuO2 specific surface area and by using reducing carrier gas mixture. Kinetic data evidenced that both chemical and mechanical effects of ultrasound strongly contribute to the mechanism of Pu colloid formation. At first, the fragmentation of initial PuO2 particles accelerates the overall process providing larger surface of contact between cavitation bubbles and solids. Furthermore, hydrogen formed during sonochemical water splitting enables reduction of Pu(IV) to more soluble Pu(III), which then reoxidizes yielding Pu(IV) colloid. Sonochemical colloid was compared with hydrolytic one using HRTEM, Pu LIII XAS, and STXM/NEXAFS (O K-edge) techniques. Both colloids are composed of quasi-spherical nanocrystalline particles of PuO2 (fcc, Fm¯3 m space group) measuring about 7 nm and 3 nm, respectively. Moreover, HRTEM revealed nanostructured morphology for initial PuO2. The EXAFS spectra of colloidal PuO2 nanoparticles were fitted using triple oxygen shell model for the first coordination sphere of Pu(IV). HRTEM and EXAFS studies revealed the correlation between the number of Pu-O and Pu-Pu contacts and atomic surface-to-volume ratio of studied PuO2 nanoparticles. The STXM/NEXAFS study indicated that the oxygen state of hydrolytic Pu colloid is influenced by hydrolyzed Pu(IV) species in much more extent than PuO2 nanoparticles of sonochemical colloid. In general, hydrolytic and sonochemical colloids can be described as core-shell nanoparticles composed of quasi stoichiometric PuO2 core and hydrolyzed Pu(IV) moieties at the surface shell.

Samples of butanal oxime in aqueous nitric acid solutions have been irradiated with the helium ion (4He2+) beam of the CEMHTI (Orleans, France) cyclotrons. The consumption yield of butanal oxime has been measured by gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Gaseous products (mainly H2 and N2O) have also been monitored by micro gas-chromatography. Yields of liquid phase products (hydrogen peroxide and nitrous acid) have been determined by colorimetric methods. The influence of nitric acid on the radiation chemical behavior of butanal oxime depends on the nitric acid concentration. For a low concentration (≤0.5 mol L-1) butanal oxime is protected by the nitrate ions which can efficiently scavenge the water radiolysis radicals. For higher concentrations, nitrous acid can accumulate in the medium, therefore leading to a strong increase of the butanal oxime degradation. The associated mechanism is an auto-catalytic oxidation of butanal oxime by HNO2.

Samples of DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclodecanetetraacetic acid) ligand in aqueous solutions have been irradiated with helium ion (4He2+) beams of the ARRONAX (Nantes) and CEMHTI (Orleans) cyclotrons. Formation yields of gaseous radiolysis products (H2, CO2 …) have been measured by micro-gas chromatography. Yield of hydrogen peroxide has in turn been determined by colorimetric titration with titanium (IV). Degraded solutions were also analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) in order to identify degradation products formed after irradiation and quantify the non-degraded DOTA ligand. Results showed that the presence of DOTA in water leads to an increase of G(H2) and a decrease of G(H2O2). A degradation scheme is proposed: DOTA is degraded through decarboxylation, losing CO2 moieties, condensation of two carboxylic acid moieties with elimination of either a carbonic acid or a glycolic acid group, cleavage of -CH2-COOH, N-CH2-COOH and (CH2-CH2)N-CH2-COOH fragments, or by recombination with a hydroxyl radical ( OH). NMR analyses showed that almost a third of DOTA ligand was degraded after 110 kGy alpha irradiation dose.

The decay mechanism of NO3(•) has been determined through a combination of experiment and calculation for 7 mol dm(-3) solutions of deaerated aqueous LiNO3 and HNO3, in the absence and presence of hydrazine (N2H4, N2H5(+), and N2H6(2+)). In the absence of hydrazine, the predominant NO3(•) decay pathways are strongly dependent upon the pH of the solution. For neat, neutral pH LiNO3 solutions (7 mol dm(-3)), NO3(•) produced by the pulse is fully consumed within 160 μs by OH(•) (37%), H2O (29%), NO2(-) (17%), and NO2 (17%). For acidic HNO3 solutions (7 mol dm(-3)), radiolytically produced NO3(•) is predominantly consumed within 1 ms by HNO2 (15%) and NO2 (80%). Intervening formulations exhibit the mechanistic transition from neat LiNO3 to neat HNO3. In highly acidic nitric acid solution, hydrazine exists mainly as N2H5(+) and N2H6(2+), both of which rapidly consume NO3(•) in addition to other decay mechanisms, with rate constants of 2.9 (±0.9) × 10(7) and 1.3 (±0.3) × 10(6) dm(3) mol(-1) s(-1), respectively.

International audience; Mesoporous imidazolium functionalized surface functionalized ionosilicas have been investigated as anion exchange materials for the adsorption of oxo-anions in aqueous media. We studied particularly pertechnetate adsorption and could show that solids bearing long chain substituted imidazolium groups are highly efficient anion exchange materials often displaying high distribution coefficients between solid and liquid phases. We observed that the distribution coefficient of pertechnetate is a function of the presence of competing anionic species. As a consequence, our experiments allowed reproducing experimentally Hofmeister's series. However, pertechnetate adsorption on the material can completely be inhibited in the presence of highly fluorinated anions such as bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) amide (NTf2). This behaviour indicates a particularly imidazophilic behaviour of these anions, which have a particular importance due to their use in water immiscible ionic liquids. Finally, the adsorption process has been shown to be reversible. This feature is of importance in view of the regeneration of the anion exchange material.

International audience; The behavior of Pu(IV) and Pu(III) was investigated in aqueous nitric solutions under ultrasound irradiation (Ar, 20 kHz). In the absence of anti-nitrous reagents, ultrasound has no effect on Pu(IV), while Pu(III) can be rapidly oxidized to Pu(IV) due to the autocatalytic formation of HNO$_2$ induced by HNO$_3$ sonolysis. In the presence of anti-nitrous reagents (sulfamic acid or hydrazinium nitrate), Pu(IV) can be sonochemically reduced to Pu(III). The reduction follows a first order reaction law and leads to a steady state where Pu(IV) and Pu(III) coexist in solution. The reduction process is attributed to the sonochemical generation of H$_2$O$_2$ in solution. The kinetics attributed to the reduction of Pu(IV) are however higher than those related to the formation of H$_2$O$_2$ which, after several hypotheses, is explained by the sonochemical erosion of the titanium-based sonotrode. Titanium particles thereby generated can be solubilized under ultrasound and generate Ti(III) as an intermediate species, a strong reducing agent able to react with Pu(IV).

International audience; The evolution of plutonium dioxide surface due to water adsorption seems to influence H-2 generation through the radiolysis of adsorbed water. Surface evolution of ceria, a non-radioactive surrogate for plutonium dioxide, was investigated using Inverse Gas Chromatography (IGC), Raman spectroscopy, Environmental Scanning Electronic Microscopy (ESEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). IGC highlights the complexity of ceria surface revealing three different adsorption sites on surface and indicate a surface evolution upon hydration. Thermal treatment appears to regenerate at least partially the initial surface state before hydration. IGC points out the influence of calcination temperature of ceria precursor on surface reactivity. The nature of surface modification was investigated by Raman spectroscopy which suggests formation of superficial hydroxide layer. ESEM and AFM were used to study potential surface topology modification upon superficial layer formation. Cerium hydroxide forms as a superficial layer with a nanostructure differing from the one of the oxide.

Sonochemical nitrous acid formation was investigated in 0.1-4.0 mol dm(-3) aqueous nitric acid solutions under the effect of power ultrasound with 20 kHz frequency. HNO2 steady-state concentration was obtained under long-time sonication; the excess HNO2 formed is decomposed and evoluted from the solution as NO and NO2 gases. The HNO2 steady-state concentration and the HNO2 initial formation rate depend linearly on the HNO3 concentration and acoustic intensity (1.8-3.5 W cm(-2)) and decrease with rising temperature in the range 21-50 degrees C. The HNO2 formation rate depends on the type of saturating gas as follows: Ar > N2 > He > air. NO and O2 are the major gaseous products of HNO3 sonication. The NO2 accumulation of in the gas phase is observed only when the decomposition of HNO2 formed becomes noticeable. The gaseous products formation rates depend on the HNO3 concentration, acoustic intensity and the type of saturating gas. The mechanism of HNO2 sonochemical formation is assumed to be the thermal decomposition of HNO3 in the gaseous vicinity of collapsing bubbles or in the overheated liquid reaction zone surrounding the cavitational bubbles.

The industrial treatment of spent nuclear fuel is based upon a hydrometallurgical process in nitric acid medium. In order to minimize the volume of radioactive waste it seems interesting to generate the reactive species in situ in such solutions using ultrasonic irradiation without addition of salt-forming reagents. This review summarizes for the first time the versatile sonochemical processes with uranium, neptunium and plutonium in homogeneous nitric acid solutions and heterogeneous systems. The dissolution of refractory solids, ultrasonically driven liquid-liquid extraction and the sonochemical degradation of the volatile products of organic solvent radiolysis issued from PUREX process are considered. Also the guidelines for required further work to ensure successful application of the studied processes at industrial scale are discussed.

The industrial treatment of spent nuclear fuel is based upon a hydrometallurgical process in nitric acid medium. In order to minimize the volume of radioactive waste it seems interesting to generate the reactive species in situ in such solutions using ultrasonic irradiation without addition of salt-forming reagents. This review summarizes for the first time the versatile sonochemical processes with uranium, neptunium and plutonium in homogeneous nitric acid solutions and heterogeneous systems. The dissolution of refractory solids, ultrasonically driven liquid-liquid extraction and the sonochemical degradation of the volatile products of organic solvent radiolysis issued from PUREX process are considered. Also the guidelines for required further work to ensure successful application of the studied processes at industrial scale are discussed.

International audience; Concentrated binary aqueous solutions of lanthanide (Nd3+ and Dy3+) salts (ClO4−, Cl−, and NO3−) have been studied by means of classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with explicit polarization and UV−visible spectroscopy. Pair interaction potentials, used for the MD simulations, have been developed in order to reproduce experimental hydration properties. Nd3+ and Dy3+ have been chosen because of their position in the lanthanide series: Nd3+ being a light lanthanide and Dy3+ a heavy one. They are respectively coordinated to nine and eight water molecules, in pure water, involving changes in their salt hydration structures. Both MD simulations and UV−visible experiments highlight the stronger affinity of nitrate anions toward Ln3+ compared to perchlorates and chlorides. Dissociation/association processes of Nd3+−Cl− and Nd3+−NO3− ion pairs in aqueous solution have been analyzed using potential of mean force profile calculations. Furthermore, from MD simulations, it appears that the affinity of anions (perchlorate, chloride, and nitrate) is stronger for Nd3+ than Dy3+.

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) with direct UV detection is proposed for speciation of inorganic Se in high-level liquid waste. In this aim, the optimal conditions of measurements (pH, electrolyte buffer concentration) and the influence of nitrate excess on the quantitative determination of Se(IV) and Se(VI) were studied. Different electrolyte buffers were considered: carbonate, phosphate and citrate. It was found, that citrate buffer is the most suitable for the application under consideration. Under the chosen optimal conditions (20 mmol L(-1) citrate buffer, pH 2.5), calibration curves for Se(IV) and Se(VI) are linear in the concentration range 10(-4)-10(-3) mol L(-1). The detection limits are 4x10(-6 )for Se(IV) and 2x10(-5) for Se(VI). The accuracy of the procedure was checked by calculating the recovery by spiking simulation solutions. Relative standard deviation (S(r)) is less than 10%.

The kinetics of nitrous acid formation were investigated in two-phase tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP)-diluent/HNO3 (1.5-6.0 mol l-1) systems, where diluent is n-C16H34, n-C12H26, n-C9H20 and i-C8H18, under the effect of power ultrasound at 20 kHz frequency under Ar atmosphere. The rate of HNO2 sonochemical formation decreases with the rise in diluent vapor pressure. The HNO2 formed is distributed between the aqueous and organic phases due to its extraction with TBP. The kinetics of HNO2 sonochemical formation in the two-phase system exhibits induction periods due to NOx (NO + NO2) gas reactions in the HNO3 medium. This induction period decreases with increasing HNO3 concentration and ultrasound intensity. The HNO2 steady-state concentration was obtained under long-time sonication as the result of HNO2 sonochemical decomposition. HNO2 decomposes faster under sonication in the aqueous phase than in the organic phase.