Peroxynitrite formation by 60Co gamma-ray irradiation of alkali nitrate crystals

Gamma-ray irradiation at 310 K induced formation of the peroxynitrite ion-ONOO− in solid alkali nitrates has been studied. In addition to the peroxynitrite ion one more product (which can be assumed to be the oxonitrate (1-) ion – NO−) is determined by a permanganate potentiometric titration. The change of the total concentration of the two ions vs. the absorbed dose is of oscillation behaviour. The initial radiation yield of peroxynitrite and oxonitrate (1-) are equal to 0.03±0.01, 0.14±0.02, 0.78±0.09 and 1.46±0.20 (100 eV)−1 in NaNO3, KNO3, RbNO3 and CsNO3, respectively.