An ESR Study of radiation induced radicals in glucose polymers

Using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy with both experimental and theoretical approaches, we revealed the γ-radiation induced radicals in two glucose polymers, cellulose and starch. Before irradiation, ESR signals are silent in both the glucose polymers. After irradiation, a singlet signal at g=2.0 appeared in both the glucose polymers. The twin peaks were invisible in the starch sample. We identified the twin peaks to be a part of triplet signal and analyzed the molecular structure of the cellulose radical. Through theoretical simulations, we revealed, for the first time, that the triplet signal was due to hyperfine interactions of unpaired electron with two protons in the cellulose radical. The third peak within the triplet is overlapped by the free radical at g=2.0. We further found that the cellulose radical does not remain at the rigid limit or the static state, but undergoes axial rotations around C–C and C–H bonds. We concluded that the triplet ESR signal reflects the cellulose radical.