Kinetics and Mechanism of the Ferrate Oxidation of Thiosulfate and Other Sulfur-Containing Species

The kinetics of the reaction of ferrate, FeO(4)(2-), with several sulfur-containing species in aqueous media have been investigated, and the results are reported. It was found that, when the reductant is in excess, ferrate rapidly oxidizes thiosulfate to sulfite, benzenesulfinate to benzenesulfonate, methionine to its corresponding sulfoxide, and dimethyl sulfoxide to dimethyl sulfone. The rate law for each reaction is first order with respect to each reactant and first order with respect to the hydrogen ion concentration. A mechanism for each oxidation reaction is discussed.