Catalysis of hydrogen production in irradiated aqueous solutions by gold sols

The 2-propanol radical was produced by ..gamma..-irradiation of aqueous solutions containing 0.13M propanol and 0.13M acetone. Results are summarized for the effect of gold sols on the hydrogen yield at different doses and dose rates. A substantial increase in the yield of hydrogen can be achieved if all of the alcohol radicals are used up in the reaction. It was demonstrated that finely dispersed gold particles would catalyze hydrogen formation from a radical which would otherwise disproportionate or dimerize in a diffusion-controlled system. In the particular example studied, the effect of the radiation is to produce hydrogen from water with a yield close to that theoretically possible, with the conversion of 2-propanol into acetone. High energy fluxes favor the hydrogen process over low-energy flux conditions.