Radiolytic characteristics of nitrite by gamma irradiation

The characteristics of nitrite radiolysis by gamma rays were investigated. Sodium nitrite in deionized distilled water was irradiated at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 kGy, and the degradation rate constant was calculated. The sodium nitrite was significantly reduced by irradiation in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). The degradation rate of sodium nitrite fitted a first-order model; a high linear correlation (r2>0.9) was observed and the degradation rate constant was 0.009 min−1. When nitrite was nitrosated in different pH ranges after irradiation, the irradiated nitrite could not form the carcinogenic N-nitrosodimethylamine. Results indicated that the gamma irradiation may be effective for breakdown of nitrite, and the radiolysis products did not act a precursor for N-nitrosodimethylamine formation.