Oxidation of malic acid by vanadium (V) in sulphuric acid medium: A kinetic and mechanistic investigation

The oxidation kinetics of malic acid by vanadium(V) in aqueous sulphuric acid was investigated at 303 K by monitoring the appearance of vanadium(IV) at 760 nm. The reaction showed first-order behavior with respect to vanadium(V), malic acid, and hydrogen ion concentration, respectively, regardless of the ionic strength. The reaction rate is enhanced by an increase in ionic strength and a decrease of the dielectric constant of the medium by addition of methanol. The activation parameters were estimated by varying the temperature in the range of 293 K to 313 K to 313 K. An oxidation mechanism is proposed, involving different vanadium(V) species produced in the presence of sulphuric acid. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.