Pulse radiolysis of tetrazolium violet in aqueous and aqueous-alcoholic solutions under oxidative and reductive conditions

The radiolytic reduction of colourless tetrazolium salts to coloured formazans in liquid and solid state is suggested for dosimetry purposes. In order to clarify the reaction mechanism, a pulse radiolysis study was conducted in aqueous and aqueous-alcoholic solutions under oxidative and reductive conditions. Under reducing conditions, fast formation of the electron adduct tetrazolinyl radical was observed: coloured formazan final product formed during the decay of electron adduct. Both the decay of the tetrazolinyl radical and the formation of the formazan were found to be second order. The spectra of the formazan were similar in neutral and alkaline solutions, but with higher absorbance in the latter solutions due to the higher molar absorption coefficient. Under oxidative conditions formazan did not form; hydroxylated products through OH-adducts were observed in the pH range studied.