Investigation of the Iron-Peroxo Complex in the Fenton Reaction: Kinetic Indication, Decay Kinetics, and Hydroxyl Radical Yields.

The Fenton reaction describes the reaction of Fe(II) with hydrogen peroxide. Several researchers proposed the formation of an intermediate iron-peroxo complex but experimental evidence for its existence is still missing. The present study investigates formation and lifetime of this intermediate at various conditions such as different Fe(II)-concentrations, absence vs presence of a hydroxyl radical scavenger (dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO), and different pH values.