Decolouration of azo dyes by radicals generated from K₂S₂O₈ automatically in homogeneous aqueous solutions

In this work, at 15 degree celsius and 25 degree celsius, authors study the decolouration reactions (or degradation reactions or oxidation reactions) of 0.10 mM azo dyes (methyl orange and congo red) by (1) K2S2O8 and (2) Co2+/K2S2O8, expounding the roles of K2S2O8 and Co2+: K2S2O8 can oxidize azo dyes automatically in water by radicals; Co2+ has catalysis for oxidation of K2S2O8, whether Co2+ is from CoSO4 or Co(NO3)(2), CoCl2, CoAc2. The decolouration degree of azo dyes in all systems quickens with the increase of the initial concentration of K2S2O8 and the reaction temperature. In the presence and absence of Co2+, comparative experiments are done between the oxidation of K2S2O8 and oxone, K2S2O8 shows weaker oxidation than oxone. The decolouration reaction of methyl orange (MO) in the system of (0.10 mM MO + 2.00 mM K2S2O8) accords with the second order reaction, the reaction rate constants are 4.789 M-1 min(-1) at 15 degree celsius and 5.894 M-1 min(-1) at 25 degree celsius respectively, the activation energy E-a is 14813 J/mol, and Arrhenius equation is k = 2.328 exp[-14813/(RT)].