The Effect of Perturbants on the Uncatalyzed Bromate Oscillator

Abstract

Abstract The effect of cationic (CTAN), anionic (SDS) and nonionic surfactants (Brij-30 and Triton X-100) as well as of tert-butanol (t-BuOH) on the uncatalyzed bromate oscillator with phenol as substrate was investigated at 25 ± 0.1oC in non-stirred batch conditions. Addition of the surfactants influenced the oscillatory parameters: a slight increase in induction period of the first series of oscillations, a significant increase in induction period of the second series of oscillations as well as a gradual decrease in oscillation numbers of both series until complete disappearance at a certain surfactant concentration. The changes in the oscillatory parameters have been ascribed to the solubilization of phenol and of bromination products in the micelles, to the inhibition of bromination of aromatic substrate due to the bromine solubilization and to the catalytic effect of charged micelle surface. The changes in the oscillatory behaviour with increasing alcohol concentration have been discussed in terms of its ability to act as a radical scavenger and to affect the 3D-structure of water.