RADIOLYSIS OF CARBOXYLIC-ACIDS ADSORBED IN CLAY-MINERALS

This research is aimed at studing the effect of ionizing radiation in an heterogeneous system formed by a carboxylic acid adsorbed in a clay mineral. The study is focussed to discriminate if the presence of a s olid surface alters the formation and distribution of radiolytic produ cts in relation to the radiolysis of the carboxylic acid without the s urface (clay). The results showed that the radiolysis of the system cl ay-acid goes along a defined path rather than showing various pathways of decomposition as in the case of simple aqueous solutions The main pathway was the decarboxylation of the target compound rather than con densation/dimerization reactions.