Mössbauer study of the thermal decomposition of alkali tris(oxalato)ferrates(III)

The thermal decomposition of alkali (Li,Na,K,Cs,NH₄) tris(oxalato)ferrates(III) has been studied at different temperatures up to 700°C using Mössbauer, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric techniques. The formation of different intermediates has been observed during thermal decomposition. The decomposition in these complexes starts at different temperatures, i.e., at 200°C in the case of lithium, cesium, and ammonium ferrate(III), 250°C in the case of sodium, and 270°C in the case of potassium tris(oxalato)ferrate(III). The intermediates, i.e., Fe¹¹C₂O₄, K₆Fe¹¹₂(ox)₅. and Cs₂Fe¹¹ (ox)₂(H₂O)₂, are formed during thermal decomposition of lithium, potassium, and cesium tris(oxalato)ferrates(III), respectively. In the case of sodium and ammonium tris(oxalato)ferrates(III), the decomposition occurs without reduction to the iron(II) state and leads directly to α-Fe₂O₃.