Elucidation of radiation-induced molecular fragmentation in triphenylmethane aromatic dye using mass spectrometric tool

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of triphenylmethane dye as a gamma radiation dosimeter using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) through detection of radiation-induced derivatives produced at low concentrations in the irradiated material. Pristine triphenylmethane established a reference baseline for the dye’s dosimetric properties to establish a differentiated signature of the radiation-synthesized derivatives. The two key radiation-induced derivatives identified and quantified in the present work were 2-Propanone,1,1-diphenyl- and diphenylcarbinol Benzenemethanol, $\alpha$, $\alpha$-diphenyl- which was found in trace amounts in pristine material due to possible natural chemical or radiation processes. Gamma irradiation significantly accelerates their formation in which their relative concentration increases linearly with increasing radiation dose up to 100 kGy. Unavoidable radiation-induced synthesis of low-mass radiation fragments was observed at higher gas chromatography retention time; and also exhibit a linear increase with dose within the investigated range.