Kinetic Study of Oxidation of Trichloroethylene by Potassium Permanganate

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The kinetics of oxidation of trichloroethylene (TCE) by potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) was investigated in a phosphate buffer solution of pH 7 and ionic strength (I) of 0.05 M at three different temperatures (10, 15, and 20°C). The results indicate that the oxidation of TCE by KMnO₄ at a constant pH and temperature may be modeled as an irreversible second-order (first-order individually with respect to KMnO₄ and TCE) reaction. The second-order rate constant and the activation energy, determined using the initial rate method for the reaction between TCE and KMnO₄, were 0.89 ± 0.03 M⁻¹s⁻¹ and 35 ± 2.9 kJ/mol, respectively. The results of this study also confirmed the assumed reaction stoichiometry, i.e., 2 mol of KMnO₄ are required for the mineralization of 1 mol of TCE.

Key words:

Potassium permanganate; permanganate; TCE; trichloroethene; trichloroethene; oxidation; kinetics; reaction rate; activation energy; remediation; ethene