The Effect of Interfacial Mass Transfer on Steady-State Water Radiolysis

Abstract

The effect of headspace on the g-radiolysis of water was studied as a function of gas-to-liquid volume ratio at various solution pHs and cover gas compositions. Experimental results were compared with computer simulations using a water radiolysis kinetics model. The steady-state aqueous concentration of H2 was found to be proportional to the product of the cover gas volume and gaseous H2 concentration over the entire pH and cover-gas composition range studied. This result is important for predictions of hydrogen production rates during radiolysis of water and the resulting release of such hydrogen to gas volumes in reactor systems.