Kinetics of the oxidative degradation of d-xylose in the presence and absence of cationic and anionic surfactants

The oxidative degradation of d-xylose by cerium(IV) has been found to be slow in acidic aqueous solution with the evidence of autocatalysis. The reaction is accelerated in the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micellar medium but sodium dodecyl sulfate (an anionic surfactant) has no effect. The pseudo first-order rate constants have been determined at different [reductant], [oxidant], [H₂SO₄], temperature, and [CTAB]. The reaction rate increased with increasing [d-xylose] and decreased with increase in [H₂SO₄]. The CTAB-micelle-catalyzed kinetic results can be interpreted by the pseudophase model. The kinetic parameters such as association constant (K _s), micellar medium rate constant (k _m), and activation parameters (E _a, ΔH ^# and ΔS ^#) are evaluated and the reaction mechanism is proposed. The reaction rate is inhibited by electrolytes and the results provide an evidence for the exclusion of the reactive species from the reaction site.