Enhanced Degradation of Paracetamol by the Fe(III)-Sulfite System under UVA Irradiation

The Fe(III)-S(IV) system used for advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) at acidic pH has just been proposed and demonstrated valid for very few contaminants in the last several years. In this work, we investigated the effect of ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation on the degradation efficiency of the Fe(III)/S(IV) system at near-neutral pH. Paracetamol (PARA) was selected as a model contaminant. The influencing factors, such as initial pH and Fe(III)/S(IV) molar ratio on chemical kinetics, and the mechanism of PARA degradation are investigated, with an emphasis on the determination of dominant oxidant species. Our results show that irradiation enhances the PARA degradation by accelerating the decrease of pH to acidic levels, and the optimal pH for the degradation of PARA in the Fe(III)/S(IV)/O₂ system was around 4.0. At near-neutral pH, more than 60% of PARA was decomposed within 40 min under irradiation, whereas no significant degradation of PARA was observed using Fe(III)/S(IV) at pH 7.0 without irradiation. Mechanism investigation revealed that sulfate radical (SO₄^•‒) is the main oxidant species generated and responsible for the PARA degradation under these conditions. This finding may have promising implications in developing a new degradation process for dealing with wastewater at near-neutral pH by the Fe(III)/S(IV)/O₂ system under UVA irradiation.     

Role of oxygen in the degradation of atrazine by UV/Fe(III) process

In this study, the role of oxygen in the regeneration of Fe(III) during the degradation of atrazine in UV/Fe(III) process was studied. The degradations of atrazine in UV/Fe(III) and UV-photolysis processes in the presence and absence of oxygen were compared. The results showed that the degradations of atrazine in these processes followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics well. The process exhibiting the highest rate constant (k) was UV/Fe(III)/air process, because k-value for UV/Fe(III)/air process was about 1.47, 2.23 and 2.56 times of those for UV/Fe(III)/N₂, UV/air and UV/N₂ processes, respectively. The degradation of atrazine was enhanced by oxygen in UV/Fe(III) process and the enhancement was more remarkable at higher initial concentrations of Fe(III). The investigation into the changes of Fe(III) concentrations demonstrated that the presence of oxygen led to the regeneration of Fe(III), which resulted in the enhancement of atrazine degradation. With air bubbling, the ferric ions were 25% more than those with N₂ bubbling. The experimental data showed the regeneration of Fe(III) required the excited organic molecules and oxygen and on the basis of these results, the regeneration mechanism of Fe(III) was proposed. It was also found that due to the oxidation of Fe(II), the degradation of atrazine in UV/Fe(II)/air process was effective at a low Fe(II) concentration of 7 mg/L, similar to that in UV/Fe(III)/air process. This study makes clear the role of oxygen in the regeneration of Fe(III), and thus it provides a guide to reduce the input of Fe(III) and is helpful to the application of UV/Fe(III) process in practice.     

New method for simultaneous determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in water using flow injection technique

The method exploits the possibilities of flow injection gradient titration in a system of reversed flow with spectrophotometric detection. In the developed approach a small amount of titrant (EDTA) is injected into a stream of sample containing a mixture of indicators (sulfosalicylic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline). In acid environment sulfosalicylic acid forms a complex with Fe(III), whereas 1,10-phenanthroline forms a complex with Fe(II). Measurements are performed at wavelength λ = 530 nm when radiation is absorbed by both complexes. After injection EDTA replaces sulfosalicylic acid and forms with Fe(III) more stable colourless complex. As a result, a characteristic “cut off” peak is registered with a width corresponding to the Fe(III) concentration and with a height corresponding to the Fe(II) concentration. Calibration was performed by titration of four two-component standard solutions of the Fe(II)/Fe(III) concentrations established in accordance with 2² factorial plan. The method was tested with the use of synthetic samples and then it was applied to the analysis of water samples taken from artesian wells. Under optimized experimental conditions Fe(II) and Fe(III) were determined with precision less than 0.8 and 2.5% (RSD) and accuracy less than 3.2 and 5.1% (relative error) within the concentration ranges of 0.1-3.0 and 0.9-3.5 mg L⁻¹ of both analytes, respectively.     

Simple flow injection method for simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III)

The method is based on spectrophotometric determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) at a single wavelength (530 nm) with the use of a dedicated reversed-flow injection system. In the system, EDTA solution is injected into a carrier stream (HNO₃) and then merged with a sample stream containing a mixture of sulfosalicylic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline as indicators. In an acid environment (pH ≅ 3) the indicators form complexes with both Fe(III) and Fe(II), but EDTA replaces sulfosalicylic acid, forming a more stable colourless complex with Fe(III), whereas Fe(II) remains in a complex with 1,10-phenenthroline. As a result, the area and minimum of the characteristic peak can be exploited as measures corresponding to the Fe(III) and Fe(II) concentrations, respectively. The analytes were not found to affect each other's signals, hence two analytical curves were constructed with the use of a set of standard solutions, each containing Fe(II) and Fe(III). Both analytes were determined in synthetic samples within the concentration ranges of 0.05–4.0 and 0.09–6.0 mg L⁻¹, respectively, with precision less than 1.5 and 2.6% (RSD) and with accuracy less than 4.3 and 5.6% (RE). The method was applied to determination of the analytes in water samples collected from artesian wells and the results of the determination were consistent with those obtained using the ICP-OES technique.     

The excited states of bipyridyl and phenanthroline complexes of Fe(III), Ru(II) and Ru(III): A molecular orbital study

The semiempirical zero-differential-overlap molecular orbital model which was shown in earlier papers in this series to give a good account of the charge transfer and -* spectra of Fe(II) complexes with conjugated ligands such as 2,2-bipyridyl and 1,10-phenanthroline is extended to complexes having openshell ground states, such as those of Fe(III), and to complexes of Ru(II) and Ru(III). The results are used to assign the observed charge transfer and intra-ligand absorption bands to specific orbital transitions. Observed and calculated intensities are in good agreement: reasons are advanced for the much lower intensity of the charge transfer bands in Ru(III) compared to Ru(II) complexes.     

Simultaneous determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) by kinetic spectrophotometric H-point standard addition method

The H-point standard addition method (HPSAM) for simultaneous determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) is described. The method is based on the difference in the rate of complex formation of iron in two different oxidation states with Gallic acid (GA) at pH 5. Fe(II) and Fe(III) can be determined in the range of 0.02–4.50 μg ml⁻¹ and 0.05–5.00 μg ml⁻¹, respectively, with satisfactory accuracy and precision in the presence of other metal ions, which rapidly form complexes with GA under working conditions. The proposed method was successfully applied for simultaneous determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in several environmental and synthetic samples with different concentration ratios of Fe(II) and Fe(III).     

Photocatalytic reaction by Fe(III)–citrate complex and its effect on the photodegradation of atrazine in aqueous solution

The photodegradation of atrazine in aqueous solutions containing citrate and Fe(III) was studied under Xe lamp irradiation on a time scale of hours. It was found that the presence of Fe(III)–citrate complex enhanced the photodegradation rate of atrazine as a result of OH attack. Atrazine photodegradation followed first-order reaction kinetics and the rate depended upon pH and light intensity. High citrate concentrations led to increased photodegradation of atrazine due to the fact that citrate not only acted as a carboxylate ligand but also a reductant of Fe(III). The interaction of Fe(III) with citrate was characterized using UV–visible absorption and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, indicating that the hydrogen ions on the carboxyl groups were exchanged for Fe(III) ions. On the basis of these results, a reaction scheme was proposed in which the cycling of iron and carbon, the depletion of citrate and O₂, and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were involved.     

Fe(III) sequestering agents built on poly(ethylenimine) through crosslinkage of three molecules of a salicylate derivative preassembled by Fe(III) ion

Three molecules of 5-(bromoacetyl) salicylate ( 1 ) complexed to Fe(III) ion were crosslinked with poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) in DMSO by alkylation of amino groups of PEI with 1 , leading to the formation of Fe(Sal)₃PEI, a water-soluble polymer. Several other derivatives including the immobilized form were also prepared. Examination of the values of log K_f for the PEI derivatives indicated that each Fe(III) binding site in Fe(Sal)₃PEI contains three salicylate moieties. In addition, the log K_f revealed that the effective molarity (EM) of the salicylate groups contained in the Fe(III) binding site is ca. 1000M. The high EM value shows that the geometry of the coordination sphere is well conserved during the crosslinkage with PEI of 1 preassembled around Fe(III) ion. In view of the EM value and the pK_a values of salicylic phenols in apo(Sal)₃-PEI, the metal-free form, the three salicylate groups of each Fe(III) binding site appear to occupy proximal positions leading to effective cooperation in Fe(III) binding. Fast, strong, and selective binding of Fe(III) ion by the binding site comprising three salicylate moieties was demonstrated. In addition, rapid demetalation of the resulting complexes as well as chemical stability of the immobilized chelating agents built on PEI were achieved. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1197–1210, 1997     

Ru(III), Cr(III), Fe(III) complexes of Schiff base ligands bearing phenoxy Groups: Application as catalysts in the synthesis of vitamin K3

Two polydentade Schiff base ligands and their Ru(III), Cr(III) and Fe(III) complexes were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis (C, H, N), UV/Vis, FT IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, LC–MS/MS, molar conductivity and magnetic susceptibility techniques. The absorption bands in the electronic spectra and magnetic moment measurements verified an octahedral environment around the metal ions in the complexes. The thermal stabilities were investigated using TGA. The synthesized complexes were used in the catalytic oxidation of 2-methyl naphthalene (2MN) to 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone; vitamin K₃, menadione, 2MNQ; using hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid and sulfuric acid. L₁-Fe(III) complex showed very efficient catalytic activity with 58.54% selectivity in the conversions of 79.11%.     

Degradation of carbofuran in aqueous solution by Fe(III) aquacomplexes as effective photocatalysts

The photodegradation of carbofuran by excitation of iron(III) aquacomplexes was investigated under UV irradiation. The degradation rate was strongly influenced by the pH, and initial concentration of Fe(III). The degradation efficiency of carbofuran at the difference pH was in good agreement with the initial concentration of Fe(OH)²⁺ in the solution. An initial carbofuran concentration of 10 mg L⁻¹ was completely degraded within 50 min at pH 2.8 with original Fe(III) concentration of 8 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹. This degradation reaction was found to follow the first order kinetics law and the rate constant of 1.60 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ was observed. The decrease of TOC content was observed during the photocatalytic process and the removal percentage obtained was about 70% after 25 h. Furthermore, ammonium ion as an end-product was detected in the solution. Therefore, this process based on the catalytic reaction of Fe(II, III) is responsible for the continuous production of hydroxyl radicals in such system. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed the formation of four photoproducts, such as 2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-benzofuran-7-ol, etc., revealing that the carbamate branch, C-3 and C-2 positions in furan ring were attack targets of hydroxyl radicals. Based on these results, the photocatalytic system could be useful technology for the treatment and the mineralization of compounds like carbofuran.     

A Review on Coordination Properties of Al(III) and Fe(III) toward Natural Antioxidant Molecules: Experimental and Theoretical Insights

This review focuses on the ability of some natural antioxidant molecules (i.e., hydroxycinnamic acids, coumarin-3-carboxylic acid, quercetin, luteolin and curcumin) to form Al(III)- and Fe(III)-complexes with the aim of evaluating the coordination properties from a combined experimental and theoretical point of view. Despite the contributions of previous studies on the chemical properties and biological activity of these metal complexes involving such natural antioxidants, further detailed relationships between the structure and properties are still required. In this context, the investigation on the coordination properties of Al(III) and Fe(III) toward these natural antioxidant molecules might deserve high interest to design water soluble molecule-based metal carriers that can improve the metal’s intake and/or its removal in living organisms.     

Cr(III), Fe(III), and Co(II) complexes of tetraazamacrocycles derived from 2,3-butanedione or benzil and 1,8-diamino-3,6-diazaoctane

Summary Template condensation of -diketones such as 2,3-butanedione or benzil with 1,8-diamino-3,6-diazaoctane in the presence of Cr(III), Fe(III) and Co(II) results in the formation of macrocyclic complexes of the type [MLX₂]X and [CoLX]X (where M=Cr(III), Fe(III), L=N₄ macrocycle and X=NO ₃ ^– or Cl^–). The complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, conductance and magnetic measurements, molecular weight determinations, infrared and diffuse reflectance spectral studies.

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Cr(III)-, Fe(III)- und Co(II)-Komplexe mit Tetraazamacrocyclen aus 2,3-Butandion oder Benzil und 1,8-Diamino-3,6-diazaoctan

Zusammenfassung Kondensation von -Diketonenen wie 2,3-Butandion oder Benzil mit 1,8-Diamino-3,6-diazaoctan in Gegenwart von Cr(III), Fe(III) und Co(II) resultiert in der Bildung von macrocyclischen Komplexen vom Typ [MLX₂]X und [CoLX]X mit M=Cr(III), Fe(III), L=N₄-Macrocyclus und X=NO ₃ ^– oder Cl^–. Die Komplexe wurden mittels Elementaranalyse, Leitfähigkeits-und magnetischen Messungen, Molekulargewichtsbestimmung und Infrarot- bzw. diffuser Reflexions-Spektren charakterisiert.

     

Thermal Analysis of Fe(III) Complexes with Salicylaldehyde Semi-, Thiosemi- and S-methylisothiosemi-carbazones

The paper describes the results of differential thermal analysis of the octahedral Fe(III) complexes of the general formula [Fe(HLⁿ)₂]Cl and Fe(HL³)L³, as well as of the corresponding ligands H₂Lⁿ (H₂Lⁿ — tridentate salicylaldehyde semi thiosemi- and S-methylisothiosemi-carabazones with n=1, 2 and 3 respectively). The decomposition of the complexes involving sulphur-containing ligands (H₂L² and H₂L³) starts with sulphur elimination. In case of the complexes [Fe(HL²)]Cl and [Fe(HL³)]Cl sulphur evolves independently, whereas with Fe(HL³)L³ it is eliminated within the SCH₃ group. In the former case, sulphur elimination takes place at the same temperature for both complexes. The change in the coordination mode, being a consequence of the replacement of O by S, has no essential effect on thermal stability of the coordination polyhedron. The complexes involving ONN coordination, realized with the H₂L³ ligand, exhibit a comparatively highest thermal stability of the coordination polyhedron.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis, structures and properties of hydrolytic Al(III) aggregates and Fe(III) analogues formed with iminodiacetate-based chelating ligands

Both Al(III) and Fe(III) display a rich hydrolytic chemistry which can lead to the formation of a variety of aggregated oxo and hydroxo-bridged aggregates. The formation, structures and properties of these species are important in defining the availability and reactivity of these species in aqueous environments such as are found in biological systems and the environment. Although there are many similarities in the behaviour of the Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions there are also some important differences between these two metal ions which can lead to a divergence in their chemistries. These considerations are discussed and illustrated with reference to 16 Al(III) and Fe(III) compounds, which have been crystallographically characterised, and which form in aqueous environments in the presence of chelating ligands containing the iminodiacetate functionality.     

A new efficient adsorbent in the preconcentration studies of the Cr(III) and Fe(III) ions

In this study, the imine‐graphene hybrid material (HM) was used as an adsorbent for removal of Fe(III) and Cr(III) metal ions from the drinking waters. The adsorbent material (HM) was prepared at three steps. At the first step, the graphite was oxidized by Hummer's method for preparation of graphene oxide (GO), in the second step, the silanization derivative (GO‐APTES) was obtained from the reaction of the 3‐(trimethoxysilyl) propylamine and GO. In the final step, the hybrid material (HM) was synthesized from the reaction of the 3,5‐diiodosalicylaldehyde and GO‐APTES. The chemical structures of three materials GO, GO‐APTES and HB were characterized by using the FT‐IR, XRD, EDX, SEM, TEM and UV‐vis methods. Thermal properties of the materials GO, GO‐APTES and HB were investigated by TGA/DTA methods in the 25–1000°C temperature range. Adsorption and desorption studies of the hybrid material toward Fe(III) and Cr(III) metal ions were investigated using the Batch method. The effect of pH, contact time, temperature, concentration on the adsorption properties of the hybrid material were investigated by ICP‐OES. The Fe(III) and Cr(III) ions have the maximum adsorption at the pH 7. The adsorption capacity decreases with the increase in pH values because above pH 9 the adsorption decreases due to the precipitation of metal hydroxide.     

Photochemical degradation of environmentally persistent perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the presence of Fe(III)

Environmentally persistent and bioaccumulative perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA) was difficult to be decomposed under the irradiation of 254 nm UV light. However, in the presence of 80μmol /L Fe(III), 80% of PFOA with initial concentration of 48μmol/L (20 mg/L) was effectively degraded and 47.8% of fluorine atoms in PFOA molecule were transformed into inorganic fluoride ion after 4 h reaction. Shorter chain perfluorocarboxylic acids bearing C3-C7 and fluoride ion were detected and identified by LC/MS and IC as the degradation products in the aqueous solution. It was proposed that complexes of PFOA with Fe(III) initiated degradation of PFOA irradiated with 254 nm UV light.     

Complex-Forming Properties of Ceftazidime with Fe(III) Ions in an Aqueous Solution

In the present study, the complexing properties of ceftazidime with Fe(III) ions in aqueous solutions were characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometric and potentiometric methods. Using the UV-vis spectrophotometric method, the absorbance values for Fe(III) ions, a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic (ceftazidime), and the Fe(III)-ceftazidime system were determined. Based on pH-metric studies, the value of the stability constant for the Fe(III)-ceftazidime complex was calculated.     

Improved Photocatalytic Activity and Stability of Nano‐sized Ag/Ag2CO3 Plasmonic Photocatalyst by Surface Modification of Fe(III) Nanocluster

The surface modification of Ag/Ag₂CO₃ with Fe(III) ions has been achieved through simply photoreduction‐impregnation method. The obtained products were characterized by means of X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV‐vis absorption spectroscopy. Under visible‐light irradiation (γ>420 nm), the Fe(III)/Ag/Ag₂CO₃ sample displays a higher photocatalytic activity and stability than pure Ag₂CO₃ and Ag/Ag₂CO₃ samples for the degradation of methyl orange (MO). The improved photocatalytic activity and stability of this ternary system could be ascribed to the synergetic effect between Ag nanoparticles and Fe(III) nanocluster. The metallic Ag nanoparticles cause an obviously enhanced visible‐light absorption to produce more photogenerated charges, while the Fe(III) works as an active site for the following oxygen reduction to reduce the recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes.     

Investigation of 5-chloro-2-methoxybenzoates of La(III), Gd(III) and Lu(III) Complexes

5-Chloro-2-methoxybenzoates of La(III), Gd(III) and Lu(III) were synthesized as penta-, mono- and tetrahydrates with a metal to ligand ratio of 1:3 and with white colour typical of La(III), Gd(III) and Lu(III) ions. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and FIR spectra, thermogravimetric and diffractometric studies. The carboxylate group appears to be a symmetrical, bidentate, chelating ligand. The complexes are polycrystalline compounds. Their thermal stabilities were studied in air and inert atmospheres. When heated they dehydrate to form anhydrous salts which next in air are decomposed through oxychlorides to the oxides of the respective metals while in inert atmosphere to the mixture of oxides, oxychlorides of lanthanides and carbon. The most thermally stable in air, nitrogen and argon atmospheres is 5-chloro-2-methoxybenzoate of Gd(III). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Identification of radical species derived from allergenic 15-hydroperoxyabietic acid and insights into the behaviour of cyclic tertiary allylic hydroperoxides in Fe(II)/Fe(III) systems

To understand the skin sensitization mechanism of 15-hydroperoxyabietic acid, the major allergen in colophony, we first examined the formation of potential reactive radicals derived from its reaction with light, heat and TPP-Fe³⁺. Trapping with 1,1,3,3-tetramethylisoindolin-2-yloxyl nitroxide confirmed the formation of carbon-centred radicals derived from allyloxyl/allylperoxyl radicals as a consequence of the hydroperoxide scission. Particular interest was further given to the reactivity with Fe(II)/Fe(III) due to the biological importance of haem containing enzymes. Using a monocyclic 15-hydroperoxyabietic acid-like compound as a model of allergenic allylic hydroperoxides, we evidenced, by the ESR spin-trapping technique, the competition between carbon and oxygen-centred radicals formed in the presence of Fe(II)/Fe(III) in organic/aqueous media. We complemented the study by showing the possibility of formation, via a radical mechanism induced by ferric chloride, of an adduct between the allylic hydroperoxide and N-acetyl-cysteine ethyl ester. The results gave new knowledge on the possible generation of highly reactive radicals that could lead to the formation of antigenic structures.