Potentiometric determination of bromate using an Fe(III)-Fe(II) potential buffer by circulatory flow-injection analysis.

A method for the potentiometric determination of bromate by circulatory flow injection analysis (CFIA) is described. The procedure involves the use of an Fe(III)-Fe(II) potential buffer solution, which is recycled via a reservoir. The analytical method is based on a linear relationship between the concentration of bromate and a very transient potential change in the electrode potential due to the generation of intermediate bromine during the reaction of bromate with the Fe(III)-Fe(II) potential buffer solution, which also contains NaBr, (NH4)6Mo7O24 and H2SO4. An aliquot (5 microl) of a bromate sample solution was injected into the stream of the potential buffer solution, 100 ml of which was circulated at a flow rate of 1 ml/min; the potential buffer solution stream was then returned to the reservoir after passing through a flow-through redox electrode detector. A potential change due to the reaction of the injected sample with the potential buffer in a reaction coil was measured with the detector in the form of a peak signal. The effects of the bromide, sulfuric acid and Fe(III)-Fe(II) concentrations in the potential buffer, and length of the reaction coil on the peak heights were examined in order to optimize the proposed CFIA method. The analytical sensitivities to bromate were 5.6 mV/microM for 1 x 10(-2) M and 30.9 mV/microM for 1 x 10(-3) M in the concentration of Fe(III)-Fe(II) in a potential buffer solution containing 0.35 M NaBr, 0.2% (NH4)6Mo7O24 and 1 M H2SO4. The detection limit of bromate obtained by a 1 x 10(-3) M Fe(III)-Fe(II) potential buffer solution was 0.02 microM (2.5 ppb). The numbers of repetitive determinations in which the relative sensitivities within 5% were regarded as being tolerated were ca. 4000 and 2000 for the use of only 100 ml of 1 x 10(-2) M and 1 x 10(-3) M Fe(III)-Fe(II) potential buffer solution, respectively.     

Potentiometric flow injection analysis of concentrated hydrogen peroxide by using an Fe(II)-Fe(III) redox potential buffer solution

The flow injection analysis of hydrogen peroxide is proposed, using a redox electrode and an Fe(II)-Fe(III) potential buffer solution. Influencing factors, such as the concentrations of Fe(II)-Fe(III) and sulfuric acid in the potential buffer on sensitivity of the proposed method are examined. The analysis of high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide up to approximately 10 M was conducted successfully with relative standard deviation of 0.7%.     

Extractive separation of molybdenum as Mo(V) xanthate from Iron, vanadium, Tungsten, copper, uranium and other elements

A simple and selective extraction of molybdenum is described. Tungsten is masked with tartaric acid and molybdenum(VI) is reduced in 2M hydrochloric acid by boiling with hydrazine sulphate. Iron, copper and vanadium are then masked with ascorbic acid, thiourea and potassium hydrogen fluoride respectively. The molybdenum(V) is extracted as its xanthate complex into chloroform, from 1M hydrochloric acid that is 0.4M potassium ethyl xanthate. The complex is decomposed by excess of liquid bromine, and the molybdenum is stripped into alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution. The molybdenum is then determined by standard methods. Large amounts of Cu(II), Mn(II), Fe(III), Ti(IV), Zr, Ce(IV), V(V), Nb, Cr(VI), W(VI), U(VI), Re(VII) and Os(VIII) do not interfere. Several synthetic samples and ferromolybdenum have been rapidly and satisfactorily analysed by the method.     

Electrochemical and photosensitized redox reactions of a prussian blue film layered on a WO3/[Ru(bpy)3]2+/polymer hybrid film.

A hybrid film of WO(3)/tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) ([Ru(bpy)(3)](2+))/poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) (denoted as a WRP hybrid film) was prepared as a base layer on an indium tin oxide electrode substrate by cathodic electrodeposition from a colloidal ternary solution containing peroxotungstic acid, [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+), and PSS. Prussian blue, Fe(III) (4)[Fe(II)(CN)(6)](3) (Fe(II)-Fe(III)) was cathodically electrodeposited on the WRP hybrid film from a Berlin brown (Fe(III)-Fe(III)) colloidal solution to give a WRP/Fe(II)-Fe(III) bilayer film. Spectrocyclic voltammetry measurement of the WRP/Fe(II)-Fe(III) bilayer film reveals that Prussian white (Fe(II)-Fe(II)) is oxidized to Fe(II)-Fe(III) by electrogenerated Ru(III), and Fe(II)-Fe(III) is re-reduced to Fe(II)-Fe(II) by electrogenerated H(x)WO(3). Visible-light irradiation of the WRP hybrid film generates a small photocurrent (approximately 8 nA cm(-2)) at 0.4 V of an applied potential, whereas irradiation of the WRP/Fe(II)-Fe(II) bilayer film (Fe(II)-Fe(III) is electrochemically reduced to the Fe(II)-Fe(II) state) significantly generates a steady photoanodic current of 2.0-1.1 microA cm(-2) under the same conditions, thus demonstrating that the photoanodic current is produced by the layered Fe(II)-Fe(II) film. The photoaction spectrum of the bilayer film reveals that the photoanodic current is based on the photoexcitation of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+). The photogeneration of Fe(II)-Fe(III) from Fe(II)-Fe(II) is shown by the absorption spectral change of the bilayer film on irradiation. These results corroborate the notion that Fe(II)-Fe(II) is oxidized by photogenerated Ru(III) to generate Fe(II)-Fe(III). However, the rate of photogeneration of Fe(II)-Fe(III) is slow, which could be ascribed to the fast back electron transfer (ET) from WO(3) to Ru(III), comparable with the forward ET from Fe(II)-Fe(II) to Ru(III). The fast back ET could be a crucial problem for the [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+)-sensitized reaction in the hybrid film.     

A new sensitive method for the spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum using 3-hydroxy-2-(2'-thienyl)-4H-chromen-4-one

A spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of Molybdenum (VI) using 3-hydroxy-2-(2'-thienyl)-4H-chromen-4-one as a complexing agent. The complex formed was dissolved in water in the presence of Triton X-100 and exhibits an absorption maximum at 410 nm. A large number of metal ions like Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Cr(III), Zn(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Bi(III), Fe(II), Fe(III), Zr(IV), V(V) can be tolerated at an appreciable concentrations. Molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of the method is 2.80 x 10(5) l mol-1cm-1 and 3.42 x 10(-4) micrograms cm-2, respectively. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 0.01-0.4 ppm Mo(VI). Aliquots containing 0.2 ppm of Mo(VI) give a mean absorbance of 0.56 with a relative standard deviation of 1.3%.     

Preparation of iron molybdate catalysts for methanol to formaldehyde oxidation based on ammonium molybdoferrate(II) precursor

It was demonstrated that iron molybdate catalysts for methanol oxidation can be prepared using Fe(II) as a precursor instead of Fe(III). This would allow for reduction of acidity of preparation solutions as well as elimination of Fe(III) oxide impurities which are detrimental for the process selectivity. The system containing Fe(II) and Mo(VI) species in aqueous solution was investigated using UV–Vis spectroscopy. It was demonstrated that three types of chemical reactions occur in the Fe(II)–Mo(VI) system: (i) formation of complexes between Fe(II) and molybdate(VI) ions, (ii) inner sphere oxidation of coordinated Fe(II) by Mo(VI) and (iii) decomposition of the Fe–Mo complexes to form scarcely soluble Fe(III) molybdate, Mo(VI) hydrous trioxide and molybdenum blue. Solid molybdoferrate(II) prepared by interaction of Fe(II) and Mo(VI) in solution was characterized by EDXA, TGA, DTA and XRD and a scheme of its thermal evolution proposed. The iron molybdate catalyst prepared from Fe(II) precursor was tested in methanol-to-formaldehyde oxidation in a continuous flow fixed-bed reactor to show similar activity and selectivity to the conventional catalyst prepared with the use of Fe(III).     

Heterometallic Co(III)(4)Fe(III)(2) Schiff Base Complex: Structure, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, and Alkane Oxidation Catalytic Activity

The heterometallic complex [Co(4)Fe(2)OSae(8)]·4DMF·H(2)O (1) was synthesized by one-pot reaction of cobalt powder with iron chloride in a dimethylformamide solution of salicylidene-2-ethanolamine (H(2)Sae) and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, magnetic measurements, high frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (HF-EPR), and M?ssbauer spectroscopies. The exchange coupling in the Fe(III)-Fe(III) pair is of antiferromagnetic behavior with J/hc = -190 cm(-1). The HF-EPR spectra reveal an unusual pattern with a hardly detectable triplet signal of the Fe(III) dimer. The magnitude of D (ca. 13.9 cm(-1)) was found to be much larger than in related dimers. The catalytic investigations disclosed an outstanding activity of 1 toward oxidation of cycloalkanes with hydrogen peroxide, under mild conditions. The most efficient system showed a turnover number (TON) of 3.57 × 10(3) with the concomitant overall yield of 26% for cyclohexane, and 2.28 × 10(3)/46%, respectively, for cyclooctane. A remarkable turnover frequency (TOF) of 1.12 × 10(4) h(-1) (the highest initial rate W(0) = 3.5 × 10(-4) M s(-1)) was achieved in oxidation of cyclohexane. Kinetic experiments and selectivity parameters led to the conclusion that hydroxyl radicals are active (attacking C-H bonds) species. Kinetic and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) data allowed us to assume that the trinuclear heterometallic particle [Co(2)Fe(Sae)(4)](+), originated from 1 in solution, could be responsible for efficient generation of hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide.     

Separation and determination of trace amounts of beryllium(II), aluminium(III) and chromium(III) with chromotrope 2C chelates by RP-HPLC

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation and determination of beryllium(II), aluminium(III) and chromium(III) with chromotrope 2C chelates on a C18-bonded stationary phase is reported. Methanol-water (45:55 v/v) containing 6 x 10(-3)M tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (TBAB) and 2 x 10(-2)M acetate buffer solution (pH 6.0) as mobile phase and with spectrophotometric detection at 530 nm was applied. The method has high sensitivity, the detection limits being 0.2 ppb for beryllium(I), 1 ppb for aluminium(III) and 2 ppb for chromium(III). Under the optimum conditions, most other metal ions did not interfere, e.g. up to 2 mg of Hg(II), Sn(II, IV), Pb(II), Bi(III), Ag(I), Zn(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), 1.5 mg of Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), 1.2 mg of Ca(II), Mg(II), Sr(II), Ba(II), 1 mg of Ga(III), In(III), 0.5 mg of Fe(III), 1 mg of Ga(III), In(III), 0.5 mg of Fe(III), 0.4 mg of Th(IV), Zr(IV). The method can be applied to the simultaneous determination of trace amounts of beryllium(II), aluminium(III) and chromium(III), in water, rice, flour and human hair samples.     

Determination of hydrogen peroxide by iron(III) complex of thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate on a modified ion-exchanger with peroxidase-like catalytic activity.

An iron(III) complex of thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate on a modified anion-exchanger (Fe3+-TCAS(A-500)) has shown high peroxidase-like activity at pH 5 - 6 for the reaction of quinoid-dye formation between 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone and N-(3-sulfopropyl)aniline in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Utilizing the peroxidase-like activity of Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) for this reaction, a method using Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) was applied for the spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen peroxide. The calibration curve by the method using Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) was linear over the range from 1 to 10 microg of hydrogen peroxide in a 1 ml sample solution. The apparent molar absorptivity for hydrogen peroxide was 2.4 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1). which was about 80% of that by peroxidase under the same conditions. This determination method of hydrogen peroxide using Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) was applied for the determination of glucose in diluted normal and abnormal control serum I and II.     

Biosensor based on paraffin/graphite modified with sweet potato tissue for the determination of hydroquinone in cosmetic cream in organic phase

An organic-phase biosensor based on paraffin/graphite modified with sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) tissue as the source of peroxidase was developed and used for determining hydroquinone in cosmetic creams. This enzyme in the presence of hydrogen peroxide catalyses the oxidation of hydroquinone to p-quinone which electrochemical reduction back to hydroquinone was obtained at a peak potential of -0.22 V. The recovery of hydroquinone from two samples ranged from 99.1 to 104.1% and a rectilinear analytical curve for hydroquinone concentration from 7.5x10(-5) to 1.6x10(-3) M (r=0.9991) were obtained. The detection limit was 8.1x10(-6) M and relative standard deviation was <1.0% for a solution containing 7.3x10(-4) M hydroquinone and 1.0x10(-3) M hydrogen peroxide in 0.10 M tetrabutylammonium bromide methanol-phosphate buffer solution (95:5% v/v) (n=10). The results obtained for hydroquinone in cosmetic creams using the proposed biosensor are in close agreement with those obtained using a Pharmacopoeia procedure at the 95% confidence level.     

Selective and quantitative separation of zinc and lead from other elements by cation-exchange chromatography in hydrohalic acid-acetone solutions

Zinc and lead can be separated from Cd, Bi(III), In and V(V) by eluting these elements with 0.2M hydrochloric acid in 60% acetone from a column of AG50W-X8 cation-exchange resin, zinc and lead being retained. Mercury(II), Tl(III), As(III), Au(III), Sn(IV), Mo(VI), W(VI) and the platinum metals have not been investigated quantitatively, but from their distribution coefficients, should also be eluted. Vanadium(V), Mo(VI) and W(VI) require the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Zinc and lead can be eluted with 0.5M hydrochloric acid in 60% acetone or 0.5M hydrobromic acid in 65% acetone and determined by AAS; the alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions, Mn(II), Co, Ni, Cu(II), Fe(III), Al, Ga, Cr(III), Ti(IV), Zr, Hf, Th, Sc, Y, La and the lanthanides are retained on the column, except for a small fraction of copper eluted with zinc and lead. Separations are sharp and quantitative. The method has successfully been applied to determination of zinc and lead in three silicate rocks and a sediment.     

Synthesis and analytical properties of 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde guanylhydrazone (3,4-DBGH)

Synthesis and analytical properties of 3,4-dihydroxy-benzaldehyde guanylhydrazone are described. The reagent was tested with 43 cations but only Co(II), Fe(II), Fe(III), Mo(VI), W(VI) and V(V) gave colored complexes. Spectral characteristics of the reagent are presented. Procedure for a selective a determination of Co(II), a sensitive determination of Fe(III) and determination of Mo(VI), W(VI) and V(V) in presence of large amounts of Fe(III) are reported. The method was applied for the determination (a) of Co(II) in presence of other cations at excess (b) of Fe(III) in a city drinking water sample without preconcentration and (c) of Mo(VI) in a standard steel sample.     

Formation of a "less stable" polyanion directed and protected by electrophilic internal surface functionalities of a capsule in growth: [{Mo6O19}2- subset {Mo(VI)72Fe(III)30O252(ac)20(H2O)92}]4-

The spherical capsule skeleton of the host-guest system [{Mo6O19}2- subset {Mo(VI)72Fe(III)30O252(CH3COO)20(H2O)92}]4- 1a--built up by 12 {(Mo(VI))Mo(VI)5} type pentagonal units linked by 30 Fe(III) centers which span the unique icosahedral Archimedean solid, the icosidodecahedron--can now be constructed deliberately and with a simpler composition than before from an acidified aqueous molybdate solution containing the mentioned (virtual) pentagonal units; the encapsulated hexamolybdate--normally not formed in water--is built up in an unprecedented way concomitant with capsule growth, while being directed by the corresponding internal electrophilic surface functionalities.     

Diiron amido-imido complex [(CpFe)2(mu2-NHPh)(mu2-NPh)]: synthesis and a net hydrogen atom abstraction reaction to form a bis(imido) complex

A reaction between [CpFeCl]x and LiNHPh (1 equiv to Fe) produces a new paramagnetic Fe(II)-Fe(III) mu2-amido-mu2-imido complex [(CpFe)2(mu2-NHPh)(mu2-NPh)] (1), which, upon interaction with 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), undergoes a net N-H hydrogen atom abstraction reaction to give a diamagnetic Fe(III)-Fe(III) mu2-imido dimer [CpFe(mu2-NPh)]2 (2). The molecular structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Polyoxomolybdenum(V/VI)-sulfite compounds: synthesis, structural, and physical studies

Reaction of Na(2)Mo(VI)O(4) x 2H(2)O with (NH(4))(2)SO(3) in the mixed-solvent system H(2)O/CH(3)CN (pH = 5) resulted in the formation of the tetranuclear cluster (NH(4))(4)[Mo(4)(VI)SO(16)] x H(2)O (1), while the same reaction in acidic aqueous solution (pH = 5) yielded (NH(4))(4)[Mo(5)(VI)S(2)O(21)] x 3H(2)O (2). Compound {(H(2)bipy)(2)[Mo(5)(VI)S(2)O(21)] x H(2)O}(x) (3) was obtained from the reaction of aqueous acidic solution of Na(2)Mo(VI)O(4) x 2H(2)O with (NH(4))(2)SO(3) (pH = 2.5) and 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bipy). The mixed metal/sulfite species (NH(4))(7)[Co(III)(Mo(2)(V)O(4))(NH(3))(SO(3))(6)] x 4H(2)O (4) was synthesized by reacting Na(2)Mo(VI)O(4) x 2H(2)O with CoCl(2) x 6H(2)O and (NH(4))(2)SO(3) with precise control of pH (5.3) through a redox reaction. The X-ray crystal structures of compounds 1, 2, and 4 were determined. The structure of compound 1 consists of a ring of four alternately face- and edge-sharing Mo(VI)O(6) octahedra capped by the trigonal pyramidal sulfite anion, while at the base of the Mo(4) ring is an oxo group which is asymmetrically shared by all four molybdenum atoms. Compound 3 is based on the Strandberg-type heteropolyion [Mo(5)(VI)S(2)O(21)](4-), and these coordinatively saturated clusters are joined by diprotonated 4,4'-H(2)bipy(2+) through strong hydrogen bonds. Compound 3 crystallizes in the chiral space group C2. The structure of compound 4 consists of a novel trinuclear [Co(III)Mo(2)(V)SO(3)(2-)] cluster. The chiral compound 3 exhibits nonlinear optical (NLO) and photoluminescence properties. The assignment of the sulfite bands in the IR spectrum of 4 has been carried out by density functional calculations. The cobalt in 4 is a d(6) octahedral low-spin metal atom as it was evidenced by magnetic susceptibility measurements, cw EPR, BVS, and DFT calculations. The IR and solid-state UV-vis spectra as well as the thermogravimetric analyses of compounds 1-4 are also reported.     

Studies on direct electron transfer and biocatalytic properties of hemoglobin in polyacrylonitrile matrix

The direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin (Hb) immobilized in polyacrylonitrile (PAN) modified glassy carbon electrode was described. The protein-PAN film exhibited a pair of well-defined and quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks for Hb Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple in a pH 7.0 phosphate buffer. The formal potential of Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple varied linearly with the increase of pH in the range of 5.0-9.0 with a slope of 54 mV pH(-1), which implied that a proton transfer was accompanied with each electron transfer in the electrochemical reaction. Position of Soret absorption band of Hb-PAN film suggested that the Hb kept its secondary structure similar to its native state in the PAN matrix. The Hb in PAN matrix acted as a biologic catalyst to catalyze the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. The electrocatalytic response showed a linear dependence on the H(2)O(2) concentration ranging from 8.3 x 10(-6) to 5 x 10(-4) mol L(-1) with a detection limit of 8.3 x 10(-6) mol L(-1) at 3 sigma. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant K(M)(app) for H(2)O(2) sensor was estimated to be 0.9 mmol L(-1).     

Constant-current coulometric determination of uranium in the pure metal

A new method is proposed for the highly precise and accurate constant-current coulometry of uranium in high-purity uranium. Precisely weighed amounts of uranium and pure iron are dissolved in 7 M sulfuric acid containing some hydrogen peroxide (40% $\text{v}\text{v}$). The solution is quantitatively transferred to the coulometric cell by rinsing with 1 M H₂SO₄, saturated with cerium(III) sulfate. The first step is the quantitative electro-chemical reduction to U(IV), Fe(II) and Ce(III) on a gold gauze electrode at constant current (100 mA) until evolution of hydrogen is observed. The hydrogen is then removed by flushing the solution with very pure nitrogen until the potential of a platinum gauze electrode reaches a constant value. Oxidation on the gold gauze electrode is carried out under precisely controlled constant current; after the quantitative oxidation of U(IV) to U(VI) and Fe(II) to Fe(III), and crossing the end-point, this end-point is determined very precisely potentiometrically through back-titration by successive current injections of 10 mA during 1 s. The method was tested on a NBS reference material, uranium (NBS 960).     

Capillary electrophoretic determination of Ga(III) based on the formation of a heteropolyoxomolybdate complex

A novel capillary electrophoretic (CE) method was developed for the determination of Ga(III). The so-called Anderson-type [GaMo6O24H6]3- complex was readily formed by the reaction of Mo(VI) with Ga(III) in 0.050 M monochloroacetate buffer (pH 2.0) and the precolumn complex-formation reaction was applied to the CE determination of Ga(III) with direct UV detection at 240 nm. The peak area was linearly dependent on the concentration of Ga(III) in the range of 5.0 x 10(-7)-5.0 x 10(-5) M. Owing to the high molar absorptivity of the Anderson anion, a detection limit of 2.0 x 10(-7) M (signal-to-noise ratio=3) was achieved. The advantage of the present method is that the presence of large excesses of Al(III) and In(III) does not cause interference.     

Electroreduction of molybdenum(VI) at a prehydrogenated platinum electrode

The use of hydrogenated platinum electrodes allows observation of the electroreduction of some oxygenated ions, which is otherwise masked by the reduction of the hydrogen ion. The present paper deals with the reduction of molybdenum(VI) at a prehydrogenated platinum electrode in acid solutions. The experimental conditions for the electrode hydrogenation process are the following: 90 min at a cathodic current density of about 7 A/cm(2) for microelectrodes with an area of 0.02-0.03 cm(2); about 120 min at a current density of 1.5-2 A/cm(2) for microelectrodes with an area of 0.25-0.35 cm(2). The reduction of molybdenum(VI) in 0.8-1.6M H(2)SO(4) occurs in two consecutive steps: the more cathodic wave [Mo(V) to Mo(III)] is for the most part masked by the reduction of the solvent; the less cathodic wave [Mo(VI) to Mo(V)] takes place at E(1 2 ) values of about +0.07 V, is well shaped, diffusion-controlled and usable for the determination of molybdenum down to 4 x 10(-5)M or 6 x 10(-5)M if a rotating disk electrode is used. Interferences from diverse ions have been studied. A generalization of the effect of electrode hydrogenation on the reduction of those oxygenated ions so far studied [i.e., vanadium(IV), uranium(VI) and molybdenum(VI)] is presented.     

Hydrogen peroxide formation upon oxidation of oxalic acid in presence and absence of oxygen and of manganese(II)--III. Iron(III) and copper(II) as retarders

The formation of considerable amounts of hydrogen peroxide upon the slow addition of various oxidizing agents to oxalic acid in dilute sulphuric acid in the presence of oxygen and Mn(II) is greatly retarded in the presence of Fe(III) or Cu(II). With hydrogen peroxide as oxidizing agent and a trace of Fe(II) there is considerable decomposition of peroxide, under a nitrogen atmosphere, after a few hours at 25 degrees in light (from a tungsten lamp), and less decomposition in the dark. This decomposition is decreased by Mn(II) and also when the original mixture contains Fe(III). With oxygen as the oxidizing agent Fe(II) is about 100 times as effective an inhibitor of peroxide formation as Fe(III). With all oxidizing agents used, Cu(II) is some 6-10 times more effective as a retarder than Fe(III). The inhibition is accounted for by the reaction Fe(III) [or Cu(II)] + CO(-)(2) --> Fe(II) [or Cu(I)] + CO(2).