Thallium
post-transition · Group 13 · Period 6
Atomic properties
Market data
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thallium Metal | Tl | 204.38 g/mol | 99.9-99.999% | $5,000-8,000 | Alloys, optical materials |
| Thallium(I) Acetate | TlC₂H₃O₂ | 263.43 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $12,000-15,000 | Organic synthesis catalyst |
| Thallium(I) Bromide | TlBr | 284.29 g/mol | 99.9-99.999% | $18,000-25,000 | IR optics, radiation detectors |
| Thallium(I) Chloride | TlCl | 239.84 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $10,000-14,000 | Catalyst, optical filters |
| Thallium(I) Sulfate | Tl₂SO₄ | 504.83 g/mol | 99-99.5% | $8,000-12,000 | Analysis reagent, electronics |
| Thallium(I) Nitrate | TlNO₃ | 266.39 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $11,000-16,000 | Fireworks, analysis |
| Thallium(I) Iodide | TlI | 331.29 g/mol | 99.9-99.999% | $20,000-28,000 | Scintillation crystals, detectors |
| Thallium(III) Oxide | Tl₂O₃ | 456.77 g/mol | 99-99.9% | $15,000-22,000 | Glass manufacture, catalysts |
| Thallium Bromide-Iodide | TlBr-TlI | Variable | 99.9-99.999% | $25,000-35,000 | KRS-5 optical crystals |
| Thallium-201 (Isotope) | ²⁰¹Tl | 201 g/mol | Medical grade | $50,000-100,000 | Medical imaging (cardiac) |
Suppliers by country
🇩🇪 Germany
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| TRADIUM GmbH | Metal, acetate, bromide, chloride, nitrate | High-purity thallium compounds, custom synthesis |
| Merck KGaA | Various thallium salts, analytical reagents | Research-grade materials, certified standards |
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Vital Materials Co. | Metal, bromide, iodide, optical crystals | High-purity materials for semiconductors |
| CNMC (Ningxia) Orient | Metal, sulfate, various compounds | By-product recovery from zinc/lead smelting |
| Hunan Jinwang Bismuth | Metal, basic compounds | Recovery from lead/zinc residues |
🇧🇪 Belgium
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Umicore | High-purity metal, compounds | Recycling, ultra-pure materials |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Sigma-Aldrich (Millipore) | All major thallium compounds | Research chemicals, analytical standards |
| American Elements | Metal, compounds, nanomaterials | High-purity materials, custom synthesis |
| Alfa Aesar | Various compounds, metal | Research-grade materials |
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Kazzinc (Glencore) | Metal (by-product) | Recovery from zinc production |
🇯🇵 Japan
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Sumitomo Metal Mining | Metal, compounds | By-product from zinc/lead refining |
| Mitsui Mining & Smelting | Metal, basic compounds | Recovery from smelting operations |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Global Market Size | Primary Markets | Annual Consumption | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thallium Metal | $40 million | China (45%), USA (20%), Japan (15%) | 5-6 MT | 2.5% |
| Optical Compounds (TlBr, TlI) | $35 million | USA (35%), EU (30%), Japan (20%) | 1.5-2 MT | 4.8% |
| Electronic Grade Compounds | $25 million | China (40%), Taiwan (25%), Korea (20%) | 2-3 MT | 3.5% |
| Medical Isotopes (Tl-201) | $20 million | USA (40%), EU (35%), Japan (15%) | 0.05-0.1 MT | -2.0% |
| Catalyst Applications | $15 million | China (50%), India (20%), EU (20%) | 1-1.5 MT | 1.5% |
| Research & Development | $10 million | USA (45%), EU (30%), Japan (15%) | 0.5-1 MT | 3.0% |
| Other Industrial Uses | $5 million | Various | 1-2 MT | 0.5% |
Market trends
Supply Concentration: 70% of thallium production comes as by-product from zinc/lead smelting in China Environmental Regulations: Tightening controls on thallium emissions driving recovery technology investments Medical Decline: Tl-201 cardiac imaging declining due to technetium-99m alternatives Optical Growth: Infrared optics demand growing 5% annually for security and defense applications Recycling Challenges: Limited recycling due to toxicity and low concentrations in waste streams Price Volatility: Prices fluctuate based on zinc/lead production rates and Chinese export policies Research Interest: Growing interest in thallium-based superconductors and quantum materials
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thallium Metal | Tl | 204.38 | 4.89 |
| Thallium(I) Acetate | TlC₂H₃O₂ | 263.43 | 3.80 |
| Thallium(I) Bromide | TlBr | 284.29 | 3.52 |
| Thallium(I) Chloride | TlCl | 239.84 | 4.17 |
| Thallium(I) Sulfate | Tl₂SO₄ | 504.83 | 1.98 |
| Thallium(I) Nitrate | TlNO₃ | 266.39 | 3.75 |
| Thallium(I) Iodide | TlI | 331.29 | 3.02 |
| Thallium(III) Oxide | Tl₂O₃ | 456.77 | 2.19 |
References
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Coverage notes
The following sections are thin or absent in the source document for this element. They will be filled by enrichment passes (NIST atomic, OSHA/NIOSH safety, USGS / IAI environmental).
- Missing section: Raw Material Sources
- Missing section: Production Cost
- Missing section: Energy Consumption