THE KINETICS OF OXIDATION OF VARIOUS ORGANIC SUBSTRATES BY POTASSIUM FERRATE

Potassium ferrate is a strong oxidizing agent and highly soluble in water. These properties may allow it to oxidize a wide variety of aqueous organic compounds to simpler organic compounds. The kinetics and final products of typical ferrate oxidations must be studied before conclusions about its efficiency can be drawn. The ferrate oxidation of diethylsulfide and 2,2-thiodiethanol were studied in a pH range of 8.90 to 9.90. Their plots of Log k(,s) versus pH are essentially parallel and show mixed-order characteristics. The order of dependence of diethylsulfide on {H(\u27+)} is 0.708. The order of dependence of 2,2-thiodiethanol on {H(\u27+)} is 0.735. The ferrate oxidation of chloral was studied in a pH range of 7.90 to 9.30. Chloral exists in aqueous solution in its hydrated form. The order of dependence of chloral on {H(\u27+)} is 0.226. The oxidation of acetaldehyde by potassium ferrate has been studied at three different temperatures (18(DEGREES)C, 25(DEGREES)C, & 35(DEGREES)C). An increase in reaction temperature increases the value of k(,1(Obs)). Plotting log k(,s) values of the three temperatures versus pH shows three lines that are essentially parallel. At 25(DEGREES)C the order of dependence of the reaction to {H(\u27+)} is 0.729. Neopentyl alcohol has been studied at three different x temperatures (15(DEGREES)C, 25(DEGREES)C, & 35(DEGREES)C). An increase in reaction temperature does not bring about an increase in k(,1(Obs)). At 25(DEGREES)C the order of dependence of the reaction on {H(\u27+)} is 1.11. Using the data obtained for acetaldehyde, observations concerning thermodynamics can be made. Calculations for activation energy, (DIAGRAM, TABLE OR GRAPHIC OMITTED...PLEASE SEE DAI) and Q have been made for acetaldehyde. A study of water oxidation by potassium ferrate was made. The values of k(,1(Obs)) for water oxidation by potassium ferrate do not change significantly as temperature of the reaction solutions vary from 35(DEGREES)C to 18(DEGREES)C. Graphs of Log k(,1(Obs)) versus pH and Log k(,2(Obs)) versus pH are linear