RADIATION PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY, vol.124, pp.225-229, 2016 (SCI-Expanded)
In this study, the effect of ionizing radiation on xanthan gum was investigated. Xanthan samples were irradiated with gamma rays in air at ambient temperature in the solid state at different dose rates and doses. Change in their molecular weights was followed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Chain scission yield (G(S)), and degradation rate constants (k) were calculated. The calculated G(S) values are 0.0151 +/- 0.0015, 0.0144 +/- 0.0020, 0.0098 +/- 0.0010 mu mol/J and k values are 1.4 x 10(-8) +/- 1.4 x 10(-9), 1.3 x 10(-8) +/- 2.0 x 10(-8), 8.7 x 10(-9) +/- 1.0 x 10(-9) Gy(-1) for 0.1, 3.3 and 7.0 kGy/h dose rates, respectively. It was observed that the dose rate was an important factor controlling the G(S) and degradation rate of xanthan gum.