Investigation of the Iron–Peroxo Complex in the Fenton Reaction: Kinetic Indication, Decay Kinetics, and Hydroxyl Radical Yields

Abstract

The Fenton reaction describes the reaction of Fe(II) with hydrogen peroxide. Several researchers proposed the formation of an intermediate iron-peroxo complex but experimental evidence for its existence is still missing. The present study investigates formation and lifetime of this intermediate at various conditions such as different Fe(II)-concentrations, absence vs presence of a hydroxyl radical scavenger (dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO), and different pH values. Obtained results indicate that the iron-peroxo complex is formed under all experimental conditions. Based on these data, stability of the iron-peroxo complex could be examined. At pH 3 regardless of [Fe(II)]₀ decay rates for the iron-peroxo complex of about 50 s^-1 were determined in absence and presence of DMSO. Without DMSO and [Fe(II)]₀ = 300 μM variation of pH yielded decay rates of about 70 s^-1 for pH 1 and 2 and of about 50 s^-1 at pH 3 and 4. Hence, the iron-peroxo complex becomes more stable with increasing pH. Furthermore, pH-dependent hydroxyl radical yields were determined to investigate whether the increasing stability of the intermediate complex may indicate a different reaction of the iron-peroxo complex which might yield Fe(IV) instead of hydroxyl radical formation as suggested in literature. However, it was found that hydroxyl radicals were produced proportionally to the Fe(II)-concentration.