Mechanistic study of iodide catalysed oxidation of l-glutamic acid by cerium(IV) in aqueous sulphuric acid medium

A minute quantity (10⁻⁶ mol dm⁻³) of iodide catalysed oxidation of l-glutamic acid by Ce^IV has been studied in H₂SO₄ and SO ₄ ²⁻ media. The reaction was first order each in Ce^IV] and I⁻]. The order with respect to l-glutamic acid] was less than unity (0.71). Increase in H₂SO₄] decreased the reaction rate. The added HSO ₄ ⁻ and SO ₄ ²⁻ decreased the rate of reaction. The added product, succinic acid, had no effect on the reaction rate, whereas added Ce^III retarded the reaction. The ionic strength and dielectric constant did not have any significant effect on the rate of reaction. The active species of oxidant was Ce(SO₄)₂. A suitable mechanism was proposed. The activation parameters were determined with respect to the slow step of the mechanism. The thermodynamic quantities were also determined and discussed.