A comparison of the degradation products formed in aerated, aqueous alpha-D-glucose solutions by ultrasound and gamma rays.

The degradation products formed in aerated aqueous alpha-D-glucose solutions by cleavage of the carbon skeleton by ultrasound and gamma irradiation are compared. Common products present for both types of irradiation are: D-glyceraldehyde, D-glyceric acid, hydroxy-malondialdehyde, 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxo-butanoic acid, tetrodialdose, D-arabinoic acid and D-xylose. 2,3,4-Trihydroxy-5-oxo-pentoic acid and D-arabinose could be detected only by radiolysis and evidence for the formation of 2-hydroxy-3-oxo-pentoic acid was only obtained in sonolysis. These fragmentation products are supposed to be formed by reactions of the glucose-peroxyl radicals with HO2-radicals. Based on the reactions of peroxyl radicals given in the literature, a mechanism is proposed which leads to the observed products.