Oxidation of methyl oleate induced by 60Co γ-radiation. Part 2.—Emulsions of methyl oleate in water

Abstract

The kinetics of the ⁶⁰Co γ-radiation-induced oxidation of emulsions of methyl oleate in water, stabilized by sodium oleate, have been studied at 30°C. Emulsification increases the rate of oxidation by factors up to 5.8 under the conditions employed. At dose rates below 9.8 × 10¹⁷ eV 1.^–1 sec^–1 the rate of oxygen absorption is proportional to the square root of the dose rate, and increases with the ratio of water to methyl oleate and with the concentration of the emulsifying agent. The effect of an oil-soluble inhibitor indicates that the acceleration of the oxidation arises entirely from an increase in the initiation rate, and that the propagation and termination reactions take place in the emulsion droplets.