The radiolysis of mixtures of carbon monoxide and hydrogen

The self-radiolysis of mixtures of CO and tritium (³H₂) has been studied at pressures of 0.25 to 1.0 atmospheres, temperatures of ?198° to +100°C, and in the presence of added H₂O or CO₂. The products of decomposition are CO₂, ³H₂O, C³H₄, C₂³H₄, and a white polymer believed to be polyformaldehyde. Initial rates and G values were measured and compared with rates of ion pair formation. The rates of formation of both CO₂ and C³H₄ are independent of temperature and proportional to the energy absorbed in the ³H₂.