Radiation-induced polymerization in dilute aqueous solutions of cyanides

It has been found that the addition polymerization of cyanides (HCN and NH₄CN) takes place in dilute, O₂-free irradiated aqueous solutions, in addition to the abundant formation of various smaller molecules. A polymer with a molecular mass of 16,000 amu was found. Its abundance increases with initial cyanide concentration and absorbed dose and can be up to 31% of the total amount of radiolytic products. HPLC data also indicate the presence of two more products at 22,000 amu and 10,000 amu, which are less abundant by one order of magnitude. The same molecular masses appear throughout the examined range of cyanide concentration (0.001–0.2 mol dm^–3) and absorbed dose (2–200 kGy). They remain also at large doses (up to 1250 kGy) after a complete destruction of cyanide.