Ru(III)-EDTA catalyzed oxidation of ascorbic acid by hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution

Abstract

The kinetics of oxidation of ascorbic acid to dehydroascorbic acid by hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by ethylenediaminetetraacetatoruthenate(III) has been studied over the pH range 1.50-2.50, at 30°C and μ=0.1 M KNO₃. The reaction has a first-order dependence on ascorbic acid and Ru(III)-EDTA concentrations, an inverse first-order dependence on hydrogen ion concentration, and is independent of hydrogen peroxide concentration in the pH range studied. A mechanism has been proposed in which ascorbate anion forms a kinetic intermediate with the catalyst in a pre-equilibrium step. Ruthenium(III) is reduced to ruthenium(II) in a rate-determining step and is reoxidized with hydrogen peroxide back to the Ru(III) complex in a fast step.