CHEMICAL-REACTIONS INDUCED BY ULTRASOUND AND GAMMA-RAYS IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS OF L-ASCORBIC-ACID

The degradation of L-ascorbic acid in aqueous solutions by ultrasound and ionising radiation was more extensive in the presence than in the absence of air. The primary products were L-erythro-2,3-hexodiulosonic acid, cis- and trans-L-glycero-4-hexulos-2-enonic acid; the secondary products were 2-pentulosonic acid, 4-pentulos-2-enonic acid, tetronic acid, and glyceric acid; and the tertiary product was tetraric acid. The formation of products with less than six carbon atoms was especially effective during irradiation in the presence of air. A mechanism for the degradation of L-ascorbic acid by sonolysis and radiolysis is proposed.