Oxidation of octylphenol by ferrate(VI)

The rates of the oxidation of octylphenols (OP) by potassium ferrate(VI) (K2FeO4) in water were determined as a function of pH (8.0-10.9) at 25 degrees C. The rate law for the oxidation of OP by Fe(VI) was found to be first order with each reactant. The observed second-order rate constants, k(obs), for the oxidation of alkylphenols decreased with an increase in pH. The speciation of Fe(VI) (HFeO4- and FeO42-) and OP (OP-OH and OP-O-) species were used to determine individual rate constants of the reactions. Comparison of rate constants and half-lives of oxidation of OP by Fe(VI) with nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol-A (BPA) were conducted to demonstrate that Fe(VI) efficiently oxidizes environmentally relevant alkylphenols in water.