Title RADIOLYSIS OF SUCCINIC ACID IN WATER Abstract approved Redacted for Privacy

(Major professor) The radiolysis of succinic acid in aqueous solutions induced by gamma irradiation from 60Co has been studied with respect to the identification and estimation of degradation products. Detailed infor-mation on the radiolysis of succinic acid is important in determining what effect two carboxyl groups in the same molecule would have on the reaction mechanisms and products relative to the degradation of the hydrocarbon chain resulting from gamma irradiation. 14C- labeled succinic acid was employed to facilitate product identification and es-timation. In addition, specifically labeled succinic acid-14C and malic acid-14C were utilized for the elucidation of reaction mechan-isms. The irradiation experiments were performed in both oxygen-ated and oxygen-free systems. The principal means of identification of the radiolytic products were by paper chromatography and autoradiography, utilizing th