Radiation-chemical reduction of Tl+ ions in aqueous solutions of alcohols

Irradiation of deaerated aqueous solutions containing Tl2SO4 and alcohols (CH3OH, C2H5OH, or (CH3)2СНOH) with accelerated electrons results in the formation of a colloidal solution of the metal, which gradually coagulates to form a microporous precipitate. The metal formation efficiency increases in going from CH3OH to C2H5OH and then to (CH3)2СНOH and with increasing pH of the solutions from 4.5 to 12.5. At рН 12 in the presence of isopropyl alcohol, the metal formation efficiency is 0.34 ± 0.04 μmol J−1. The colloidal solution is unstable in air, with the metal undergoing oxidative dissolution. •Tl+ ions in aqueous solutions were reduced by radiation method.•Metal precipitate with high porosity was obtained.•Average particle size was 5–20 μm.•The yield is 0.34 μmol J−1 at pH=12 in the presence of propanol.