USE OF A Pt MICROELECTRODE FOR THE STUDY OF THE GAMMA-RADIOLYSIS OF AERATED AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF FERRO- AND FERRICYANIDES.

Abstract The radiolytic behaviour of ferro- and ferricyanide solutions in acid and alkaline solutions has been studied using a polarized platinum microelectrode. The use of the current/ voltage curves permits the direct determination of the decrease of ferricyanide and the increase of ferrocyanide in aerated alkaline solutions under gamma irradiation. In aerated 0β4 mol/l H 2 SO 4 solutions it has been possible to measure the radiolytic oxidation of ferrocyanide and the formation of H 2 O 2 . The G values of the various radiolytic reactions have been obtained independently. The experimental results agree very well with those of Haissinsky et al. on the basis of the formation of ferro-pentacyanide.