Abstract:Abstract. The radiation-induced decomposition of aqueous solutions of formaldehyde was studied at 298 and 77 K in order to obtain an insight into the possible role of ionizing radiation on cometary chemistry. Aqueous solutions of 1.0 mol dm -3 formaldehyde were exposed to ~/-radiation in the dose range from 0.01 kGy to 1.2 MGy. The radiation chemical yield of decomposition of formaldehyde was determined to be: G(-CH2(OH)2)=26.3_+l.2 at 298 K and G_<0.48 at 77 K.Based on previous estimates of the total dose of … Show more
“…1). Two of the decomposition products of formaldehyde are methanol and formic acid, the last one causes a change in the pH of the irradiated solution until it reaches 2.3 (Navarro-González et al ., 1990). Fig.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…A primary radiolytic product from formaldehyde is formic acid (Fig. 5), as observed previously (Navarro-González et al ., 1990; McElroy and Waygood, 1991). We confirmed its formation by the changes of pH and its fragmentation pattern by GC-MS analysis of irradiated samples (Figs.…”
Formaldehyde is a precursor of sugars, which are compounds essential in all forms of life and a necessary molecule for prebiotic processes. This work focuses on evaluating the stability of formaldehyde exposed to a high radiation field simulating prebiotic conditions on primitive Earth, such as the ocean or shallow waters. Formaldehyde may have been formed from reactions in the atmosphere and from rainout processes reached water bodies. In our experiments, we employed γ radiation and found that formaldehyde was labile towards radiation and decomposed even at low irradiation doses due to the fact that aldehyde/hydrate groups present in formaldehyde structure are very reactive under irradiation. However, after exposing this molecule to several doses of irradiation, we detected the formation of formic acid and glycolaldehyde – both of which are of prebiotic interest. We also observed formaldehyde regeneration by one of its radiolytic products: formic acid.
“…1). Two of the decomposition products of formaldehyde are methanol and formic acid, the last one causes a change in the pH of the irradiated solution until it reaches 2.3 (Navarro-González et al ., 1990). Fig.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…A primary radiolytic product from formaldehyde is formic acid (Fig. 5), as observed previously (Navarro-González et al ., 1990; McElroy and Waygood, 1991). We confirmed its formation by the changes of pH and its fragmentation pattern by GC-MS analysis of irradiated samples (Figs.…”
Formaldehyde is a precursor of sugars, which are compounds essential in all forms of life and a necessary molecule for prebiotic processes. This work focuses on evaluating the stability of formaldehyde exposed to a high radiation field simulating prebiotic conditions on primitive Earth, such as the ocean or shallow waters. Formaldehyde may have been formed from reactions in the atmosphere and from rainout processes reached water bodies. In our experiments, we employed γ radiation and found that formaldehyde was labile towards radiation and decomposed even at low irradiation doses due to the fact that aldehyde/hydrate groups present in formaldehyde structure are very reactive under irradiation. However, after exposing this molecule to several doses of irradiation, we detected the formation of formic acid and glycolaldehyde – both of which are of prebiotic interest. We also observed formaldehyde regeneration by one of its radiolytic products: formic acid.
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