Radiation-Induced Chemical Yields of Carbon-Centered Radicals and Hydrogen Atoms from the Gamma Irradiation of n-Dodecane

This study investigates the radiolytic yields of carbon-centered radicals and hydrogen atoms in n-dodecane under gamma irradiation. Utilizing molecular iodine (I₂) and 2,4,6-tritert-butylnitrosobenzene (3tBNB) as radical scavengers, we quantified the yields of molecular hydrogen and various carbon-centered radicals formed from bond scission of the solvent excited states. The yield of primary alkyl radicals was significantly lower than that of secondary radicals, aligning with expected stabilities and bond dissociation energies. For the overall loss of n-dodecane, total yields of 0.598 ± 0.004 species/100 eV for C–C bond scission, 1.648 ± 0.012 species/100 eV for C–H bond scission, and 3.20 ± 0.10 species/100 eV for unimolecular H₂elimination were determined. Notably, the I₂scavenging data provided robust estimates, while the data from 3tBNB indicated that it is not as efficient at trapping radicals. This research enhances our understanding of radiolytic processes in n-dodecane and offers insights for future studies on the behavior of hydrocarbons under ionizing radiation, with implications for improving used nuclear fuel reprocessing strategies.