Kinetic study of ruthenium(VI) -- catalyzed oxidation of 2-methoxy- ethanol by aqueous alkaline hexacyanoferrate(III)

The kinetics of ruthenium(VI) catalyzed oxidation of 2-methoxyethanol by hexacyanoferrate(III) ion in an aqueous alkaline medium at constant ionic strength shows zero order dependence on hexacyanoferrate(III) and first order dependence on Ru(VI). Dependence of substrate concentration shows a Michaelis – Menten type behaviour. The rate increases with the decrease in alkali concentration. A reaction mechanism involves the formation of an intermediate complex between the substrate and ruthenium(VI). This complex decomposes slowly, producing ruthenium(IV), which is reoxidized by hexacyanoferrate(III) in subsequent steps. The theoretical rate law obtained is in complete agreement with the experimental observations.