Radiation-induced degradation of aqueous 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene

The degradation of aqueous 2,3-dihydroxynaphthaline (2,3-DHN) under the influence of γ-ray was investigated under various experimental conditions. Using 2.5×10−5 mol L−1 2,3-DHN in aerated media (pH=6–6.8) an initial degradation yield, Gi-(2,3-DHN)=0.32 was obtained, whereas in solutions saturated with N2O the yield come to Gi-(2,3-DHN)=0.50.In airfree media the substrate decomposition was negligible. Possible reaction mechanisms are presented.Further, the rate constant, k(OH+2,3-DHN)=2.14×1010 L mol−1 s−1 was determined by competition reactions with PNDA.