Abstract: This process is intended to remove at least a part of the heat produced in at least one reaction and/or purification operation involving anhydrous HF, the cooling being performed by heat exchange with a cooling fluid circulating in a circuit which comprises at least one exchange zone (9; 10; 11) presenting a risk of leakage of HF into the cooling fluid. The fluid of this kind which is employed is an aqueous solution of at least one compound chosen from (a) strong bases, (b) the salts resulting from the combination of a strong base and of an organic or inorganic acid whose pKa is >3.5, (c) the salts of amphoteric oxides with bases, (d) compounds which, in contact with water, are converted into one of the abovementioned compounds; the said cooling fluid is circulated in a closed circuit, and the operation is carried out with a cooling fluid pressure which is lower than the pressure at which the reaction and/or the purification operation is conducted.