Effect of gamma radiation on aqueous ethylene-oxygen solutions

✍ Scribed by Ernest J. Henley; Wesley P. Schiffries; Nathaniel F. Barr

• Publisher: American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Year: 1956
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 373 KB
• Volume: 2
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0001-1541
• DOI: 10.1002/aic.690020216

✦ Synopsis

Mixtures of ethylene and oxygen dissolved in water under pressures ranging from 200 to 700 Ib./sq. in. were irradiated with Corn gamma rays at a dose rate of 180,000 r./hr. C values (molecules/100 ev.) for aldehyde production as high as 200 were observed. Increasing total pressure and dose were found to decrease these G values. Alcohol, acids, hydrogen peroxide, and organic peroxide are also products of the reaction; however, the yields are much smaller.

Large-scale industrial use of ionizing radiation will certainly be limited to exothermic reactions in which the radiation serves to initiate long reaction chains ( 1 ) . Proccsses in which ionizing radiation does not givc large product yields pcr unit energy input will be excluded by the high cost of energy in this form. The reaction of hydrocarbons with oxygen is an exothermic reaction which, if controlled, yields products of commercial importttnce.

Recent studies with s a t u r a t d hydrocarbons and oxygen (2) and with snturated hydrocarbon gases in aqueous solution (.3) have clcarly indicated that the oxidation initiated by gurrima rays proceeds with a very poor yield of product per energy expenditure. In terms of molecules per 100 cv. (G units) yields of approximately unity have been observed for these oxidations. In the iwrli reported here it has been found that \-hen aqueous solutions of ethylene and oxygen under prcssure are irradiated with g:inima rays from cobalt-60, G values for the production of aldehyde as high as 200 are observed.