RADIATION-INDUCED REDUCTION OF CO2 IN IRON-CONTAINING SOLUTION

Ionizing radiation has been applied to the reduction of carbon dioxide which is considered to cause the greenhouse warming problem. Carbon d ioxide was subjected to Co-60 gamma-rays in the presence of solution c ontaining either ferrous ions or iron powder. Experimental parameters employed are the radiation dose rate, the total dose and the amount of iron powder or ferrous ion. The gaseous reaction products which conta in carbon have been identified as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons of small molecular weight. The following results are considered very inte resting: (1) carbon monoxide has been obtained more predominantly than other gaseous products; (2) in the solution with iron powder, a consi derable amount of saturated hydrocarbon has been formed in the order o f methane, ethane, propane and n-butane. The results have been interpr eted by postulating the formation of a metastable conjugate complex am ong unsaturated hydrocarbon and iron complexes.