Ana Neacsu, Daniela Gheorghe, Iulia Contineanu, Mihail Contineanu
The behavior on heating of gamma irradiated L-, D- isomers and DL- racemic mixture of serine was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results were compared with similar ones already obtained by us for the same non-irradiated compounds. The samples were irradiated at room temperature with gamma radiations using a 137 Cs source. The exposure doses ranged between 0.63-10 kGy. The transformation points (melting and decomposition) and the associated thermal effects were determined from the DSC thermograms in the temperature range between ambient to 350°C. The measurements have shown that after three compounds irradiation, the values of the melting/decomposition temperatures, enthalpies, heat capacities, weight loss and purity decrease. A decomposition mechanism is proposed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies were also made.