The influence of ethylene on the radiolytic oxidation of ferrous sulphate

Abstract

Addition of ethylene to oxygenated aqueous ferrous sulphate solutions increases the radiolytic yield of ferric ion. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde are also found as radiolysis products. Ferric yields are linear with does between 2 × 10¹⁷ and 10¹⁸ eV/ml. but G(HCHO) decreases and G(CH₃·CHO) increases with increasing dose. At lower doses very high initial G-values are obtained for all three products. The reasons for these high values are not clear but the yields at higher doses are adequately accounted for by the suggested mechanism.