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Iron Promoted Decontamination Studies of Nitrophenylphosphate in Aqueous and Microemulsion Media: A Model for Phosphate Ester Decontamination in the Environment

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Abstract

The hydrolysis of 4-Nitrophenylphosphate (NPP) in the presence of Ferrous and Ferric ions in Oil in water microemulsion media was investigated. The reaction was monitored by measuring the absorbance of the nitrophenolate ion produced in the reaction aliquots with time. The order of effectiveness of the microemulsion system towards the hydrolysis of NPP was found to be cationic > anionic> aqueous in the presence of Ferrous, Ferric and Turnbull’s blue at neutral pH. The result of the present investigation enriches our understanding of the possible roles polymetallic ions play in hydrolysis reactions. The reactions mimic the roles of purple acid phosphatases in the hydrolysis of phosphate esters. The application of the above systems for environmental decontamination of organophosphates is also envisoned.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Professor Sylvia Paul (UNISA) and Professor Walter Fockie (UP) for the support and assistance they offered to us graciously. The financial support extended to Mr Mndubu by the chemistry department, UNISA, in the form of academic assistantship is gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Department of Chemistry, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392 UNISA, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa

    Fikru Tafesse & Yolisile Mndubu

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  1. Fikru Tafesse
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  2. Yolisile Mndubu
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Correspondence to Fikru Tafesse.

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Tafesse, F., Mndubu, Y. Iron Promoted Decontamination Studies of Nitrophenylphosphate in Aqueous and Microemulsion Media: A Model for Phosphate Ester Decontamination in the Environment. Water Air Soil Pollut 183, 107–113 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-007-9360-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-007-9360-x

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