Kinetic Regularities Governing the Reaction of Electrodeposition of Iron from Solutions of Citrate Complexes of Iron(III)

The kinetics of a multistep reaction of electrodeposition of iron out of aqueous citrate-containing solutions of trivalent iron is investigated. It is shown that concentrations of major solution components affect the partial current density of discharge of ions of divalent iron. It is established that the deposition of metallic iron occurs as a result of discharge of intermediates, which are hydroxy complexes of divalent iron. Kinetic parameters and mechanism of the reaction of discharge of complexes FeOH]⁺ to a metallic state are determined. It is mentioned that the formation of poorly soluble hydroxy compounds of trivalent iron in a near-electrode layer leads to a decrease in the iron deposition current.