Radiolytic degradation of dimethyl telluride in aqueous solutions

The formation of volatile radioactive species is a major concern in severe nuclear reactor accident scenarios. Release material to the environment highly governed by volatility and therefore it its crucial understand behavior any such during days weeks following. One volatile, yet understudied fission products tellurium. Although tellurium has been released significant amounts accidents that have occurred, knowledge still lacking. Here we present results on radiolysis dimethyl telluride, shown form conditions. telluride was investigated under gamma irradiation various aqueous solutions conditions representative suggest relatively stable towards degradation affected amount dissolved oxygen competing species. It found degrades via oxidative processes reacting with oxidizing e.g. •OH, O.-. In absence oxygen, several dimers were observed. presented here increase interest organic tellurides highlight need for further investigation re-volatilization mitigation