Effect of acrylamide concentration on the kinetics of oxidation of tartaric acid by cerium(IV) in sulfuric-perchloric acid media

The kinetics of oxidation of tartaric acid by Ce(IV) in the absence and presence of acrylamide has been investigated spectrophotometrically in aqueous H₂SO₄–HClO₄ media at a constant ionic strength 2.0M and 25°C. Oxidation of tartaric acid in both cases was first order with respect to Ce(IV). Kinetic data showed that the reaction involves the formation of an unstable complex and an intermediate free radical. The activation parameters were calculated to be E _a =91.3±0.4 kJ-mol^–1, S=20.2±1.0 J-mol^–1-K^–1, H=88.8±0.4 kJ-mol^–1. A polymerization mechanism is discussed.