The Production of H 2 O 2 in Aerated Water by Fast Neutrons

The formation of hydrogen peroxide in water by ionizing radiation has been investigated over a wide range of dose rates with X-rays (1) and fast electrons (2, 3). It has also been investigated at various dose rates with a-rays (4) and at very high dose rates with a proton beam (5). It is of interest to investigate the yield of hydrogen peroxide in neutral water with fast neutron radiation, having an ion density intermediate between that of X-rays and a-rays. Fast neutrons are convenient experimentally because a relatively uniform dose rate can be achieved throughout an adequate volume of water free from the presence of any dissolved radioactive substances. The irradiations have been carried out with neutrons of energy up to 6 Mev from the reaction Be9(d,n)B10 at dose rates ranging from 60 to 230 rads/min.2 The yield of H202 has been found to be GHO, = 1.1 molecules per 100 ev of energy absorbed.