Iron(VI) and iron(V) oxidation of thiocyanate. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Thiocyanate (SCN-) is used in many industrial processes and is commonly found in industrial and mining waste-waters. The removal of SCN- is required because of its toxic effects. The oxidation of thiocyanate (SCN-) by environmentally friendly oxidants, Fe(VI) and Fe(V), has been studied anaerobically using stopped-flow and premix pulse radiolysis techniques. The stoichiometry with Fe(VI) was determined to be 4HFeO(4-) + SCN(-) + 5H2O-->4Fe(OH)3 + SO4(2-) + CNO(-) + O2 + 2OH-. The rate law for the oxidation of SCN- by Fe(VI) was found to be -d[Fe(VI)]/dt = k11([H+]/([H+] + Ka,HFeO4)) [Fe(VI)][SCN-] where k11 = 2.04 +/- 0.04 x 10(3) M-1 s-1 and pKa,HFeO4 = 7.33. A mechanism is proposed that agrees with the observed reaction stoichiometry and rate law. The rate of oxidation of SCN- by Fe(V) was approximately 3 orders of magnitude faster than Fe(VI). The higher reactivity of Fe(V) with SCN- indicates that oxidations by Fe(VI) may be enhanced in the presence of appropriate one-electron-reducing agents. The results suggest that the effective removal of SCN- can be achieved by Fe(VI) and Fe(V).

published proceedings

  • Environ Sci Technol

altmetric score

  • 3

author list (cited authors)

  • Sharma, V. K., Burnett, C. R., O'Connor, D. B., & Cabelli, D.

citation count

  • 60

complete list of authors

  • Sharma, Virender K||Burnett, Christopher R||O'Connor, Donald B||Cabelli, Diane

publication date

  • October 2002