Radiation induced degradation of some crystalline amino acids

The radiation induced degradation of five crystalline DL-amïno : cids, leucine, isoleucine, norleucine, valine, and norvaline, has been quantitatively studied. The major products are carboxylic acids formed by deamination of the amino acids, ammonia, amines formed by decarboxylation of the amino acids, and carbon dioxide. In addition, carbonyl compounds and amides, plus small amounts of hydrogen gas and various hydrocarbons have been detected. The total degradation, (−M), has been determined (by isotope dilution) to be 8 for valine and 14 for leucine.