Recent Research on Kinetics and Mechanism of Oxidation of Ethyl Diethylene Glycol by Ce(IV) Catalyzed by Ir(III) in Aqueous Sulphuric Acid Media

Kinetic studies on oxidation of different types of organic compounds by cerium(IV) are well
documented. Among the different metal ion catalysis, ruthenium(III) and iridium(III) have been found
to catalyze even at trace quantities. The kinetics of iridium(III) catalyzed oxidation of ethyl diethylene
glycol by ceric sulphate has been investigated in sulphuric acid media. The result indicates zero order
kinetics with respect to cerium(IV) ion and first order kinetics with respect to ethyl diethylene glycol
and iridium(III) chloride. The dielectric constant of the medium shows positive effect on the reaction
rate. There is insignificant effect of ionic strength of potassium sulphate on the reaction rate indicating
interaction in the rate-determining step being an ion-dipole type and not an ion type. Elevation of
temperature increases the rate of reaction. Various activation parameters have been calculated and
recorded. A suitable mechanism in conformity with the above observation has been proposed.