Isotopic Excange in the Sonolysis of Aqueous Solutions Containing D2 and CH4

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100299a043

Water was insonated under an argon atmosphere which contained various amounts of a D2-CH4 (2:1 vol percent) mixture.Maximum yield for the formation of CH3D, CH2D2, CHD3 and CD4 was observed at 40 vol percent argon.Ethane, ethylene, acetylene, and many higher hydrocarbons were also produced with about one third of the deuterated methane yield.In addition, some H/D exchange took place between D2 and H2O, and H2 was formed from water.Carbon monoxide and carbon were produced, too.A mechanism involving free radicals and atoms is discussed to explain these observations.