Response of D-, L- and DL-α-alanines to ionizing radiations

Abstract

There is no statistically significant difference in the response of the enantiomers and the racemate of α-alanine to γ-radiation (⁶⁰Co) and accelerated electrons (10 MeV). The response was measured by the yield of ammonia, one of the separated final products of solid alanine radiolysis and the concentration of free radical CH₃·CH·COO⁻, the intermediate product of radiolysis. Some of the properties of the racemate may affect the precision of measurements. The_DL-alanine shows different crystal structure, morphology of crystals, specific density and bulk density than the enantiomers. The response of_L and_DL alanines built into composites may be different because of different reactivity of the enantiomer and the racemate with components during the processing and irradiation.