The mechanism of nitrite formation in the radiation-induced oxidation of ammonia in aerated aqueous solutions

The mechanism of the radiation-induced conversion of ammonia to nitrites and nitrates in aerated aqueous solutions has been studied. The formation of the pernitrite ion, O=N-O-O^–, was detected at pH 10.5. The kinetics of its formation and decay were studied, andk_form was estimated at (2.3±0.2)·10⁷ L mol^–1 s^–1. The course of decay obeys first-order kinetics; the rate constant decreases at higher pH. Radiochemical yields of pernitrite, nitrite and nitrate at various pH and initial NH₃ concentrations were determined. A mechanism of ammonia oxidation in aqueous solution is proposed.Translated fromIzyestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 280–283, February, 1993.