A Positive-Ion Reaction Mechanism for the Radiation Induced Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide in the High Dose Rate Radiolysis of CO–O2 Mixtures

Abstract

Carbon dioxide and ozone yields have been measured in the irradiation of CO–O2 mixtures with single pulses of electrons. The yields of CO2 at 2 × 1027 ev g−1 s−1 are large G(CO2) = 15 ± 1 from 20–60% O2. These decrease by ∼50% at 1028 eV g−1 s−1. Although the results are somewhat irreproducible the addition of c-C4F8, an electron scavenger, increases these CO2 yields at both dose rates by up to a factor of 15. They are reduced to G(CO2) < 2 by the addition of positive ion scavengers. These results are consistent with a chain reaction similar to that proposed for low dose rate studies involving [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] as chain carriers.The ozone yields are consistent with a total oxygen atom yield of G(O) = 1.4 in pure CO from neutral processes.