EFFECT OF IONIZING RADIATION ON CRYSTALLINE CARBOHYDRATES
In a study of the mechanism of radiation-induced reactions with cellulose, the radiation chemistry of a number of simple crystalline sugars and polysaccharides was investigated. All solid sugars were irradiated in both air and vacuum to total doses of 10/sup 7/ and 10/sup 8/ rad in a Co/sup 60/ source at 1.25 megarad/hr. Examination of the gaseous products showed that irradiated cellobiose yields a relatively high hydrogen content, while amylose and amylopectin (amorphous) at doses of 10/sup 8/ rads show the presence of no water vapor. The same gases were also reported to result from the irradiation of crystalline glucose. In the solid state, the majority of the saccharides showed marked color changes following irradiation. The se colors, which were unchanged after 2 yr, varied from bright yellow with amylose, amylopectin, and glucose to dark brown with sucrose. Melibiose, lyxose, and fucose showed no change. Aqueous solutions of the irradiated materials were distinctly acid (pH 3-5). Paper chromatographic examination of the aqueous carbohydrate solutions showed no differences for the carbohydrates irradiated in air or vacuum. In marked contrast to the monosaccharides, the radiation stability of disaccharides was relatively poor. Each of the disaccharides tested yielded a large number of degradation products of which the component monosaccharides predominated. With the irradiated polysaccharides (amylose, amylopectin, and cellulose) characteristic chromatographic behavior in all solvents was a trail of reducing material often running to the end of the sheet. In the chromatography of all three compounds, only a faint spot corresponding to glucose was observed. Data are tabulated for the gas yields (H/sub 2/, CH/sub 4/, H/sub 2/O, CO, CO/sub 2/) and Rf values of the products from the irradiation of amylose, amylopectin, cellulose, trehalose, cellobiose, maltose, sucrose, lactose, and melibiose. (BBB)
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of New South Wales, Sydney
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-035876
- OSTI ID:
- 4666062
- Journal Information:
- Chemistry and Industry (London) (England), Journal Name: Chemistry and Industry (London) (England) Vol. Vol: No. 10; ISSN CHINA
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
THE EFFECT OF IONIZING RADIATIONS ON CARBOHYDRATES
CHEMICAL AND ORGANOLEPTIC CHANGES IN CARBOHYDRATES AND PROTEINS PRODUCED BY RADIATION STERILIZATION. Report No. 6 (Final) for October 20, 1955 to April 19, 1957