γ-radiolysis of aqueous CHCl3 solutions

γ-Irradiation led to decomposition of CHCl3 with the G-value (G(-CHCl3)) of 1.8 to produce CO2 in a He-saturated aqueous solution. The yield of CO2 was nearly equal to half amount of the consumed CHCl3. In the N2O-saturated system, the G(-CHCl3) value was 2.2 and 3/4 molar amount of CO2 was produced per 1 mole of CHCl3 consumed. The decomposition of CHCl3 was enhanced by the addition of HCOONa to both the He- and N2O-saturated systems. In the presence of 500 times excess amount of HCOONa, the G(-CHCl3) values were increased by 6.5 times in the He-saturated solution and 4.2 times in the N2O-saturated solution. In the lower concentration range of HCOONa the main radiolysis product was CHCl2CHCl2. Upon increasing the concentration of HCOONa, the yield of CH2Cl2 increased, while that of CHCl2CHCl2 decreased. (author)