An Overview on Production and Applications of Ferrate(VI)

Abstract

Context: Coagulation, chemical oxidation and disinfection are essential processes in water and waste treatment. A chemical that can be applied for all the above mentioned purposes is ferrate(VI). Although there are many studies about ferrate(VI), no comprehensive review paper can be found about ferrate(VI) from production to applications. The aim of this study was to review ferrate(VI) production, measurement, stability and utilization in water and wastewater treatment. Evidence Acquisition: In acidic conditions, the oxidation and reduction capacity of ferrate(VI) is superior to all currently utilized oxidizers and disinfectants in water and wastewater treatment. New researches have provided the technology of using ferrate(VI) for coagulation, chemical oxidation and disinfection of water and wastewater in a reactor simultaneously, which can reduce the size of water and wastewater treatment plants and increase the treatment efficiency. Results: Despite the existence of these technologies, there is no full-scale application of ferrate(VI) in the water and wastewater industry which it is due to difficulties associated with I, the lack of adequate researches that have demonstrated its capabilities and advantages over the existing water and wastewater treatment methods; ii, the instability of ferrate(VI) depending on its method of preparation, and iii, the relatively low yield of ferrate(VI). Conclusions: To solve the above mentioned difficulties, fundamental study most be carried out to discover the novel methods of ferrate(VI) production, focusing on increasing the product stability and the production yield.