Formation of organic iodides from containment paint ingredients caused by gamma irradiation

Journal article, 2013

The formation of volatile alkyl iodides other than methyl iodide during a serious nuclear reactor accident may have radiological significance. The hypothesis that radioactive alkyl iodides, other than methyl iodide, could form from paint solvents under the conditions of a serious nuclear accident in light water reactors (under boiling water reactor (BWR) and pressurised water reactor (PWR) conditions) was tested using stable elemental iodine, a gamma irradiator and gas chromatography equipment. It was found that methyl and isopropyl iodides were formed from the texanol ester, which is used in many modern water-based paints. Methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl iodides were formed from a hydrocarbon solvent (white spirit) commonly used in paint products used in the past. These results suggest that further work on the formation and behaviour of the higher alkyl iodides (containing more than one carbon atom) under the conditions of a serious nuclear accident is justified.