Competition kinetics studies of amino acids and nitrate ions in irradiated aqueous solutions

Abstract

The yields of nitrite ion obtained after – irradiation of solutions containing (A) nitrate ion and glycine and (B) nitrate ion and alanine were measured spectrophotometrically. The primary yields of hydrated electron were obtained and the rate constants for the reaction of amino acid with hydrated electron were calculated, using the steady state method of competition kinetics. Increases in the concentration of amino acids were found to decrease the primary yield of hydrated electron. The possibility of prehydration scavenging of electrons by the amino acids was discussed. The scavenging properties of amino acids in water radiolysis are of interest in understanding the processes of radiation damage in living cells.