KINETICS OF IRON-CATALYZED DECOMPOSITION OF HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE IN ALKALINE-SOLUTION

The decomposition of alkaline hydrogen peroxide solutions at 20°C has been studied in the presence of both supported iron catalysts and in systems with iron initially in solution. Studies with an iron‐alumina supported catalyst showed the decomposition reaction was first order with respect to total peroxide concentration, while studies with alkaline Fe3+ produced more complex behavior. This has been attributed to the presence of at least two distinct catalytically active iron species. The first species is highly active and gives rise to high initial rates of reaction. A decrease in concentration of this species is observed together with an increase in concentration of a second, less active, iron species. The catalytic behavior of this “aged” iron species was found to be very similar to that of the supported iron catalyst. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.