Effect of Fe(III) on the bromate reduction by humic substances in aqueous solution

Humic substances are ubiquitous redox-active organic compounds of environment. In this study, experiments were conducted to determine the reduction capacity of humic acid in the matrix of bromate and Fe(III) solutions and the role of Fe(III) in this redox process. The results showed that the humic acid regenerated Fe(II) and reduced bromate abiotically. The addition of Fe(III) could accelerate the bromate reduction rate by forming humic acid-Fe(III) complexes. Iron species acts as electron mediator and catalyst for the bromate reduction by humic acid, in which humic acid transfers electrons to the complexed Fe(III) to form Fe(II), and the regenerated Fe(II) donate the electrons to bromate. The kinetics study on bromate reduction further indicated that bromate reduction by humic acid-Fe(III) complexes is pH dependent. The rate decreased by 2-fold with the increase in solution pH by one unit. The reduction capacity of Aldrich humic acid was observed to be lower than that of humic acid or natural organic matter of Suwanne River, indicating that such redox process is expected to occur in the environment.