Oxidative breakdown of acid orange 7 by a manganese oxide containing mine waste: Insight into sorption, kinetics and reaction dynamics

Abstract

The reaction rates and orders of azo dye, acid orange 7 (AO 7), oxidation by a Mn oxide containing mine tailings were determined. The reaction is pseudo-first order with respect to the tailings surface area concentration [SA] and pseudo-fractional (0.6) order with respect to AO 7 concentration. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was used to probe surface sorption and oxidation of AO 7 on a synthetic manganite surface. Sorption is rapid, pH dependent and predominantly outer-sphere. At pH 2.7 a distinct lag phase of 8min has been observed between dye sorption and the initiation of oxidation. This lag phase suggests that either transfer of the first electron is rate limiting or there is a time consuming re-orientation and inner-sphere sorption step prior to electron transfer.