Spectroscopic investigation on the formation of hypochlorite by alpha radiolysis in concentrated NaCl solutions

The hypochlorite formation induced by alpha radiation in saline solutions i s studied by UV/VIS spectroscopy. Experiments are carried out in NaCl solut ions of various concentrations between and 5 mol/l and with volume alpha ac tivities in the range of 20-444 GBq/l. The concentration of radiolytically formed hypochlorite is measured over a period of up to 200 days. The build- up of hypochlorite to an equilibrium concentration is found to depend on bo th, the chloride and the activity concentration and is calculated by means of a kinetic reaction model. Experimental results for the formation of hypo chlorite are compared with the model calculation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.