Radiolysis of binary mixtures. Part IV. The effect of polycyclic aromatic additives in methanol

Abstract

The effect of a series of polycyclic aromatic additives on the radiolysis yields of products from methanol has been examined. The additives studied included naphthalene, azulene, phenanthrene, fluorene, pyrene, o-terphenyl, and biphenyl. The results have been interpreted in terms of the occurrence of both electron and free-radical scavenging in these solutions. The additives are found to decompose with high G values during radiolysis. The precise nature of the decomposition products has not been elucidated; however, they appear to be polymeric. The decomposition of the additives is accompanied by a reverse isotope effect, this results being consistent with the extensive participation of free-radical scavenging in the protection observed in these solutions.