New insights on the mechanism of oxidation of D-galacturonic acid by hypervalent chromium

The pollutant Cr(VI) is known to be very carcinogenic. In conditions of excess of Cr(VI), oxidation of D-galacturonic acid (Galur), the major metabolite of pectin, yields d-galactaric acid (Galar) and Cr(III). The redox reaction takes place through a multistep mechanism involving formation of intermediate Cr(II/IV) and Cr(V) species. The mechanism combines one- and two-electron pathways for the reduction of Cr(IV) by the organic substrate: Cr(VI)→ Cr(IV)→ Cr(II) and Cr(VI)→ Cr(IV)→ Cr(III). This is supported by the observation of the optical absorption spectra of Cr(VI) esters, free radicals, CrO(2)(2+) (superoxoCr(III) ion) and oxo-Cr(V) complexes. Cr(IV) cannot be directly detected; however, formation of CrO(2)(2+) provides indirect evidence for the intermediacy of Cr(II/IV). Cr(IV) reacts with Galur much faster than Cr(V) and Cr(VI) do. The analysis of the reaction kinetics via optical absorption spectroscopy shows that the Cr(IV)-Galur reaction rate inversely depends on [H(+)]. Nevertheless, high [H(+)] still does not facilitate accumulation of Cr(IV) in the Cr(VI)-Galur mixture. Cr(VI) and the intermediate Cr(V) react with Galur at comparable rates; therefore the build-up and decay of Cr(V) accompany the decay of Cr(VI). The complete rate laws for the Cr(VI), Cr(V) and Cr(IV)-Galur redox reaction are here derived in detail. Furthermore, the nature of the five-co-ordinated oxo-Cr(V) bischelate complexes formed in Cr(VI)-Galur mixtures at pH 1-5 is investigated using continuous-wave and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and density functional theory (DFT).