Electrochemical study of the stability of ferrates(VI) in low temperature molten hydroxide

Abstract

Abstract During last decades interest in ferrates(VI) has increased significantly. On one hand they serve as strong, non-toxic oxidants without harmful by-products and, on the other hand, as an efficient coagulant in both drinking and waste water treatment technology. In this work we focused on the electrochemical preparation of ferrate (VI) salts in eutectic low temperature molten sodium hydroxide - water mixture using pure iron anodes. Some information on the stability and kinetics of decomposition of sodium ferrate(VI) prepared by molten-system electrolysis is discussed. An assumption that electrochemically prepared ferrate(VI) in molten hydroxide media are stable enough to be used especially in the field of waste water treatment was confirmed by our observation.