Potassium Ferrate(VI) 95%, Pure 10g

What is Potassium Ferrate(VI)?

Potassium ferrate(VI) is a purple-grey to violet chemical compound that is stable in its pure form.

The ferrate(VI) ion (FeVIO42-) contains an iron atom tetrahedrally surrounded by four oxygen atoms. It is a charge transfer complex, which explains the intense coloration.

In this compound, iron is in its highest oxidation state. Potassium ferrate is therefore a strong oxidizing agent, stronger than potassium permanganate.

Potassium ferrate crystallizes in an orthorhombic crystal structure with space group Pnam (space group no. 62, position 6). The lattice constants are a=769 pm, b=1033 pm and c=586 pm. The structure is isomorphic with that of potassium sulfate and potassium chromate. The compound is only stable when dry. Highly diluted solutions are stable for some time, while concentrated solutions decompose rapidly, therefore this substance must be stored dry.

What is Potassium Ferrate(VI) used for?

Because the by-products of the redox reactions are rust-like iron oxides, K2FeO4 is described as a "green oxidant". It has been used in wastewater treatment as an oxidizing agent for organic contaminants. Conveniently, the resulting reaction product is iron(III) oxyhydroxide, an excellent flocculant. In organic synthesis, K2FeO4 oxidizes primary alcohols. In contrast, related oxidants such as chromate are considered environmentally hazardous.

K2FeO4 has also attracted attention as a potential cathode material in a "super iron battery".

Stabilized forms of potassium ferrate have been proposed for removing transuranic species, both dissolved and suspended, from aqueous solutions. Tonnage quantities were proposed to help remediate the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster in Belarus. This new technique has been successfully applied for the removal of a wide range of heavy metals.