Oxidation of inorganic contaminants by ferrates (VI, V, and IV)–kinetics and mechanisms: A review

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2011-04, Vol.92 (4), p.1051-1073
• Main Author: Sharma, Virender K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Contaminants; Correlation; Correlation analysis; Degradation; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effluents; Electron transfer reactions; Environmental Pollutants - pharmacology; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods; Ferrates; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Inorganic Chemicals - pharmacology; Iron; Iron - pharmacology; Kinetics; Organic contaminants; Oxidants; Oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidizing agents; Pollutants; Remediation; Sludge odor; Superoxides - pharmacology; Waste water; Water Pollutants, Chemical - pharmacology; Water treatment
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.11.026

Inorganic contaminants are found in water, wastewaters, and industrial effluents and their oxidation using iron based oxidants is of great interest because such oxidants possess multi-functional properties and are environmentally benign. This review makes a critical assessment of the kinetics and mechanisms of oxidation reactions by ferrates (FeVIO42−,FeVO43−,andFe(IV)). The rate constants (k, M−1 s−1) for a series of inorganic compounds by ferrates are correlated with thermodynamic oxidation potentials. Correlations agree with the mechanisms of oxidation involving both one-electron and two-electron transfer processes to yield intermediates and products of the reactions. Case studies are presented which demonstrate that inorganic contaminants can be degraded in seconds to minutes by ferrate(VI) with the formation of non-toxic products.