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
2
Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
3
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.