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Electrolytic ferrate preparation in various hydroxide molten media

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Abstract

Ferrate(VI) has the potential to be used as an environmentally friendly treatment for wastewater and drinking water. The electrochemical preparation of ferrate can be considered a “green” and simple approach because it typically involves a one-step reaction without harmful or expensive chemicals for the oxidation of Fe(0) to Fe(VI). The electrolyses are performed in three molten systems (i.e. NaOH–H2O, KOH–H2O and NaOH–KOH–H2O). In the first molten system, soluble ferrate was prepared in relatively low yield and current efficiency for continuous addition to wastewater. In the second system, highly stable ferrate that is easily transported and insoluble is produced with high yield. In the third system, the properties and yield of ferrate depend on the Na/K ratio in the melt. The influence of the anode material, current density and temperature on the electrolysis yield and current efficiency during ferrate preparation is discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic for project VEGA 1/0543/15. The authors also thank Prof. Jomar Thonstad (NTNU Trondheim, Norway) for his valuable comments and sharing his knowledge.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Technology and Materials, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 9, 812 37, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Emília Kubiňáková, Kamil Kerekeš, Miroslav Gál & Ján Híveš

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  1. Emília Kubiňáková
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  2. Kamil Kerekeš
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  3. Miroslav Gál
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  4. Ján Híveš
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Correspondence to Miroslav Gál.

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Kubiňáková, E., Kerekeš, K., Gál, M. et al. Electrolytic ferrate preparation in various hydroxide molten media. J Appl Electrochem 45, 1035–1042 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-015-0841-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-015-0841-0

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