Kinetic studies on the oxidation of furfural by quinolinium fluorochromate

The kinetics of oxidation of furfural by quinolinium fluorochromate has been studied in 60% acetic acid-water medium. The order of the reaction is found to be one with respect to oxidant and substrate. The order with respect to hydrogen ion concentration is two. The rate of oxidation increases with increase in the percentage of acetic acid and increase in ionic strength has negligible effect on the rate. The reaction does not induce the polymerization of acrylonitrile. The retardation of the rate by the addition of Mn2+ ions confirms that a two electron transfer process is involved in the reaction. The reaction rates have been determined at different temperatures and the activation parameters calculated and a suitable mechanism has been proposed.