Effect of Mercuric acetate on the Oxidation of Some Phenols by Chloramine-T: A Kinetic Study

Oxidation of Phenol, o-Cresol, p-Cresol, m-Cresol, , and p-Chlorophenol byChloramine-T has been investigated in acidic medium. The present study includes the effect of mercuric acetate on the rate of oxidation of phenols by Chloramine-T. All phenols showed an increase in first order rate constant values with increase in mercuric acetate concentration. Among the phenols studied, the rate enhancement due to mercuric acetate is maximum in the case of m-Cresol. In order to determine various kinetic and activation parameters, reactions were conducted at different temperatures ranging from 303K to 328K. The values of various activation parameters determined are summarized and it is found that the values of various activation parameters in the absence of mercuric acetate is different from that in the presence of mercuric acetate for the oxidation of phenols by Chloramine-T. The values of G* obtained for all phenols studied is almost same. This shows the mechanism of oxidation of all phenols studied by Chloramine-T in present case is same.