ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Oxidative Degradation of Aniline by Ferrate-Hydrogen Peroxide System: Unveiling pH-Dependent Mechanisms and Pathways
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1
Liming Vocational University, Quanzhou, 362000, China
 
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Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
 
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School of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
 
 
Submission date: 2025-09-07
 
 
Final revision date: 2025-12-12
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-12-28
 
 
Online publication date: 2026-02-26
 
 
Corresponding author
Feihu Zeng   

Liming Vocational University, Quanzhou, 362000, China
 
 
 
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ABSTRACT
This study systematically investigated the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of aniline degradation in a Ferrate (Fe(VI))-hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) system. The effects of key operational parameters, including H₂O₂ dosage, initial pH (3-11), and reaction temperature (10-60ºC), were evaluated. Under optimal conditions (10 mM Fe(VI), 176 mM H₂O₂, 30ºC, 30 min), high aniline removal efficiencies of 91±0.3% and 88±0.2% were achieved at pH 3.0 and 7.0, respectively. Radical quenching experiments with tert-butanol, coupled with kinetic modeling, revealed a critical pH-dependent mechanistic shift. Under acidic conditions (pH 3.0), the degradation followed pseudo-second-order kinetics (kₐₚₚ = 0.03425 mM⁻¹·min⁻¹), with hydroxyl radicals (·OH) identified as a primary oxidizing species. In contrast, under alkaline conditions, the process was dominated by high-valent iron species (Fe(IV)/Fe(V)) and direct electron transfer by Fe(VI), adhering to pseudo-first-order kinetics (maximum kₐₚₚ = 0.07319 min⁻¹). Fourteen intermediate products were identified via liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS), leading to the proposal of four potential degradation pathways. This work provides fundamental insights into the pH-dependent mechanisms of the Fe(VI)/H₂O₂ system and proposes a promising, sustainable strategy for the treatment of aniline-containing industrial wastewater.
eISSN:2083-5906
ISSN:1230-1485
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