Valency stabilization of polyvalent ions during gamma irradiation of their aqueous solutions by sacrifical protection

Polyvalent ions are very sensitive to gamma irradiation in aqueous solutions. The present work is a part of a more comprehensive study dealing with the stabilization of certain oxidation states of some polyvalent ions during their gamma irradiation in aqueous systems. Sulphite ions, being well known reducing agents has been used for stabilizing Fe(II) ions in aqueous solutions during gamma radiolysis. Fe(II) ions in solution are known to be readily oxidized by gamma radiations in such a way that a 10^–3N solution decays completely in about 2 hours at a dose rate 310 Gy/hr. In presence of an excess of sulphite ions it was found that Fe(II) ions were stabilized for extended time periods depending on the amount of sulphite ions used. The conditions of stabilization and its limits in the studied case has been identified.