Radiolytic Inactivation of Ponceau 4R Mutagenicity in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

The electron-beam treatment of an aqueous solution of the azo dye Ponceau 4R (0.02 g/dm3) at a dose of 1.5 kGy in air led to the complete elimination of color and genotoxicity. The addition of OH radicals to the system of conjugated bonds of the dye (the formation of OH adducts) was a key radiolytic process, which led to the elimination of side groups with lower binding energies.