The radiolysis of the quaternary ammonium compound methyltrioctylammonium carbonate (TOMAC) with a 3-MeV electron beam has been studied. The products formed are CO2 (yield of about 210 nmol/J), H2 (about 250 nmol/J), and alkylamines of various structures. Degradation of carbonate anions begins with their direct ionization, followed by neutralization of the resulting radical anions by trialkylammonium cations to form CO2. The observed yield of TOMAC degradation is approximately 360 nmol/J, while the total yield of liquid radiolysis products reaches almost 400 nmol/J. The observed relatively high radiation stability of TOMAC is consistent with known data on the stability of its hydrodynamic and extraction properties during irradiation.
Холодкова et al. (2026) studied this question.