Radiolysis of Liquid Propane: Radical Reactions

The radical reactions in the liquid phase y-radiolysis of propane have been studied from -130 to 35°C and compared with the gas-phase radiolysis at 35°C. Oxygen was used as a scavenger 10 separate thermal radical yields, and effects· of phase and temperature on the radical yields were assessed. The gas-liquid phase change (a) decreases total decomposition by about 14 %, (b) increMCs disproportionation/combination (D Ie) ratios for all radicals by 30 %, and (e) decreases the isopropyl! n-propyl radical ratio. The decrease in liquid temperature (a) changes the predominant reaction of H atoms from abstraction from propane to addition to product propylene below -78°C at doses of 1 Mrad, (b) increases the DIe ratios by 31 %and (e) decreases the isopropyJjn-propyl radical ratio. Dose effects were briefly studied; they are complex and cannot be explained by radical reactions alone.