Radiation-induced decomposition of ion-exchange resins. Part II. The mechanism of the deamination of anion-exchange resins

Abstract

Trimethylamine is a major product of the γ-radiolysis of De-Acidite FF, a polystyrene-based, quaternary ammonium anion-exchange resin. In the irradiated dry resin G(Me₃N)= 4·0–4·4 and in the slurried state (resin:water = 1 : 2, w/w)G(Me₃N)= 3·2. When the samples were slurried with solutions of electron scavengers (N₂O, H⁺, NO₃^–) decreased values of G(Me₃N) were obtained. The results suggest that the slurried resin is deaminated both by direct radiolysis and by the reaction of hydrated electrons produced by the radiolysis of the slurrying water.