Abstract
In this paper, the irradiation of glycerol and ethylene glycol by either mixed (neutron-γ) or γ-only (γ) fields at the TRIGA reactor of the Jožef Stefan Institute is described. This is highly relevant to future applications of fission reactor systems to produce useful feedstock derivatives from organic waste, beyond the production of heat and power. Samples of glycerol and ethyl glycol have been exposed to neutron-gamma radiation with fast neutron fluxes ranging from 7.7×1010 to 3×1012 cm−2s−1 and gamma-only irradiation at maximum dose-rates of 492 and 10 kGy hr−1, respectively. A study of the dependence of product yield versus absorbed dose has been conducted, for total dose ranges of 1 to 100 kGy. The products of these exposures have been identified through Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. Analysis comparing neutron-gamma irradiated samples of ethylene glycol and glycerol with gamma-irradiated samples shows no detectable qualitative difference between either irradiation type. Although, additional radiolysis products were detected when compared with available literature; ethyl acetate from ethylene glycol and solketal from glycerol. Quantitatively, neutron-gamma irradiation seems to be less effective at producing acetaldehyde from ethylene glycol, compared with gamma-only which can be explained through neutron moderation and consequent heating effects due to the borosilicate vials.
Highlights
RADIATION chemistry concerns the study of chemical processes within materials that are initiated by ionizing radiation, these processes can be referred to as radiolysis
There have a number of examples in that types of radiation have been used to synthesise organic chemicals through catalytic processes
[2] Such an example is the production of ethyl bromide which proved to be successful for a number of years
Summary
RADIATION chemistry concerns the study of chemical processes within materials that are initiated by ionizing radiation, these processes can be referred to as radiolysis. [3] This process which was implemented by the Dow Institute in 1963 used a cobalt-60 source which emitted prompt-gamma rays with an activity of ≈1015 Bq. In literature, there have a number of examples in that types of radiation have been used to synthesise organic chemicals through catalytic processes. There is still a heavy reliance on the petrochemical industry for the supply of commodity chemicals; research into alternative, chemical processes that utilize waste natural feedstocks is vital to create a more sustainable future For this experimental radiolysis research, Glycerol can be identified as a potential, abundant renewable feedstock for radiation processing due to its large opportunity for valorisation.[7] Due to this low price, it has mainly been used for low-energy applications such as animal feed or incineration fuels. A comparative study between existing literature of gamma studies and this new experimental work is conducted, together with the description of the methods used to irradiate and chemically analyse samples of ethylene glycol and glycerol
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