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.