The radiolysis of simple gas mixtures—III. the production of “trace organics”

Carbon dioxide based gas mixtures, similar to those used as coolants in the Advanced Gas-cooled Nuclear Reactors, have been radiolyzed at the comparatively low dose rate of 3 Gy s^-1 using γ-radiation from a ⁶⁰Co source. The concentrations of certain C₄ and C₅ alkanes, ethanal and propanone, produced by radiolysis, have been determined under different conditions of temperature, pressure, gas composition, and surface area. Observations showed that these compounds were produced in concentrations of the order of 1/1000 of the methane concentration and that the production of these “trace organics” varied in a complex way with the experimental parameters. Mechanisms for the production of these organics have been proposed. Some unidentified products of radiolysis were observed and suggestions are made as to their nature.