1-Dodecyl acetate reduction

Single phase cuprous oxide (14 nm) was prepared by °Co gamma irradiation of deoxygenated aqueous solutions containing copper sulfate, propan-2-ol, surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate, and acetate buffer at pH 4-4.5 (Zhu et al. 1994). In the absence of buffer (pH 3-3.5), mixture of copper and cuprous oxide was observed. Most probably, three competitive reactions occur radiation reduction (Equations (4.6) and (4.8)), dismntation of cuprous ions (Equation 4.9), and the formation of cuprous hydroxide, which decomposes to cuprous oxide (Equation 4.10). In buffered solutions, the reduction and dismntation of cnprons ions are completely suppressed. Since cuprous hydroxide is very unstable, it decomposes rapidly to cnprous oxide immediately after its formation. On the other hand, the precipitate of cupric hydroxide Cu(OH)2 forms in the solution of pH >5. 

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