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Formation of methyl iodide in sodium iodide solutions in the presence of acetic acid and formic acid under gamma irradiation conditions

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Abstract

It was confirmed that the pH of NaOH solution (pH 12) could be lowered to pH 6 or less, where I2 was chemically stable, by radiolysis products of air and water. It was also confirmed that acetic acid (CH3COOH) or formic acid (HCOOH) can act as a source material for CH3I formation if these organic acids and I− have specific concentration ratios and the solution pH is maintained within a specific range under gamma irradiation conditions. In the case of CH3COOH mixed solutions, a high concentration of CH3I was formed at a pH lower than the pKa (= 4.76), where the radiolysis rate of CH3COOH was relatively low. In the case of HCOOH mixed solutions, the formation of CH3I was confirmed under the conditions of satisfying a pH of 3 or more, where radiolysis of HCOOH is inhibited, and a pH of 6 or less, where I2 is stably present.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (NRF-2017M2A8A4015281, 2021M2E3A3040092, RS-2022-00144202, RS-2023-00261146).

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  1. Nuclear Chemistry Technology Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 34057) 111 Daedeok daero 989, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea

    Minsik Kim & Jei-Won Yeon

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Correspondence to Jei-Won Yeon.

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Minsik Kim is currently affiliated with Inhalation Toxicity Research Group at Korea Institute of Toxicology.

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Kim, M., Yeon, JW. Formation of methyl iodide in sodium iodide solutions in the presence of acetic acid and formic acid under gamma irradiation conditions. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 5225–5231 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-09148-0

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