REDUCTION AND AGGREGATION OF SILVER, COPPER AND CADMIUM IONS IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS OF GELATIN AND CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE

Radiolytic reduction of silver, copper and cadmium ions and the subseq uent formation of their clusters was studied in aqueous gelatin or car boxy methyl cellulose (CMC) solutions. Presence of gelatin or CMC in t he solution affects the early processes. The rate of reduction by hydr ated electron reduces due to complexation. However, when the ratio of silver ions to monomeric chains decreases over a-certain limit the pro cess of reduction inhibits completely. The effect of ionic strength or pH and the reducing radical on the rate of formation of colloidal Cu and Cd is also discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.