On the mechanism of nitrite formation at radiolysis of ammonia aqueous solutions in the presence of oxygen

By the method of pulsed radiolysis (the energy of accelerated electrons is 5 MeV) with optical registration radiation-chemical oxidation of ammonia in oxygen-containing aqueous solutions has been studied. It is shown that the process takes place via the stage of NH2O2 radical formation, which in reaction with O2- radicals are transformed in NH2O2- ions, being predecessors of nitrite-ions. Rate constants of occurring reactions are determined. Considerable effect of solution pH on the rate of NH2O2- ion transformation into nitrite-ions is detected