Radiation-induced reduction of ditetrazolium salt in aqueous solutions

Color formation in aqueous solutions of the ditetrazolium salt blue tetrazolium (BT2+) in the absence or presence of oxygen is a complex radiation chemical reaction. The final stable product is the poorly soluble diformazan violet to blue pigment having a broad spectral absorption band (λmax=552 nm). The reaction of BT2+ with the hydrated electron proceeds by rapid reduction of BT2+ followed by protonation at the nitrogen closest to the unsubstituted phenyl group, via the two intermediate tetrazolinyl radicals shared by the ditetrazole ring nitrogens. The effect of solution pH, N2O saturation, and the presence of the reducing agent dextrose are examined. The system serves as a radiochromic sensor and a dosimeter of ionizing radiations. Solutions of 5 mmol l-1 BT2+ at pH 7.3 serve as dosimeters over an absorbed-dose range of approximately 0.2-6 kGy (dearated, with a range of 1-8 mmol l-1 dextrose) and of about 1-15 kGy (aerated, with 0.1 mol l-1 sodium formate and 5 mmol l-1 dextrose)