The reactivity of OH radicals with ferro-ferricyanide, formate, ethanol and amino acids in irradiated solutions

Abstract

Aqueous solutions containing ferro- and ferricyanide were used in the pH range 2.5 to 10.5 to investigate the reactions of OH radicals produced by ionizing radiations. In the presence of added organic substrates: ethanol, formic acid-formate, glycine, or alanine, the rate constant ratio k/sub OH + ferrocyanide/k/sub OH + RH/sub 2/ was determined. As the ferro-ferricyanide system does not change with pH in this range the respective reactivities of the different ionic forms of the organic substrates with OH radicals were derived. The results are compared with the reactions of OH radicals in other systems. Indications of the increased reactivity of OH radicals in aqueous solution were obtained and are compared with the gas phase. (auth)