RADIATION-INDUCED INCORPORATION OF CO IN PURE AND AQUEOUS-METHANOL

Pure and aqueous methanol were used for radiation induced incorporatio n of CO at elevated pressure (up to 15 bar). The initial yields (G(i)) of the main products in pure methanol under 15 bar CO and 1 bar N2O w ere found to be: G(i)(formaldehyde) = 3.80 and G(i)(glycolic aldehyde) = 2.0. For aqueous (10(-2) mol . dm-3) methanol under 15 bar CO (dose : 0.557 kGy, pH = 2): the yields were G(formaldehyde) = 5.44, G(glycol ic aldehyde) = 4.0 and G(oxalic acid) = 7.7. At pH = 7 the yields were essentially lower, namely: G(formaldehyde) = 3.2, G(glycolic aldehyde ) = 2.0, G(formate) = 3.8 and G(oxalate) = 5.0. Probable reaction-mech anisms for the product formation are discussed.