Permanganate transfer and reduction by D‐glucose in benzene–cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide aqueous solution: A kinetic study

The addition of cationic surfactant, cetlytrimethylammoniumbromide (CTAB), in benzene and aqueous potassium permanganate solution brought the MnO from the aqueous phase to the organic phase. At 525 nm, the absorbance of the organic phase increased until it reached a maximum, and then decreased with CTAB]. The effect of CTAB] on the reduction of permanganate by D ‐glucose in a benzene–CTAB system has been studied spectrophotmetrically. The observed effect on the rate constant is catalytic up to a certain concentration of CTAB; thereafter, a saturation phenomenon is observed with an increased concentration of CTAB. The oxidation reaction obeyed the first‐order kinetics with respect to the D ‐glucose. On addition of H₂SO₄, there was a decrease in the rate constants. There is evidence for the existence of manganese as a water‐soluble colloidal MnO₂. A detailed mechanism with the associated reaction kinetics is presented and discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 40: 496–503, 2008