Kinetics of aerobic and anaerobic oxidations of ethanol by Fenton's reagent

For the first time, the time dependence of [H₂O₂] and [Fe²⁺] was followed during the aerobic oxidation of ethanol by Fenton's reagent. It was found that part of the ethanol was oxidized by dissolved O₂ via the transient formation of H₂O₂. A model was set up based on FeO²⁺ as the key intermediate. Both one‐ and two‐equivalent oxidations of ethanol occur, the former producing radical species derived from ethanol. No free radicals derived from H₂O₂ play part in the system. The relevant rate constants or their ratios were determined. The mechanism accounted successfully also for the anaerobic oxidation of ethanol. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 541–553, 2008