Ferrate(VI) a Greener Solution: Synthesis, Characterization, and Multifunctional Use in Treating Metal-Complexed Species in Aqueous Solution

This chapter presents synthesis, characterization, and critical role of ferrate(VI) ((FeO42-)-O-VI) in the treatment of wastewaters contaminated with metal-complexed species from aqueous solutions. The chapter includes the multifunctional use of ferrate(VI) in the treatment of simulated wastewater contaminated with metal-cyanide and metal-APCAs (aminopoly carboxylic acids) complexed species as well as the metal-sulphide tailings under the batch reactor operations. The ferrate(VI) treatment caused the decomplexation/degradation of metal-complexed species in the initial stages. Interesting to demonstrate the kinetics of degradation of complexed species using the regulated dose of ferrate(VI). Further, various physico-chemical parametric studies viz., the effect of solution pH, concentration of complexed species was elaborately discussed in this chapter and results were discussed for its possible implications. Ferrate(VI) treated samples were then subjected for the total organic carbon analysis and total metal concentration analysis to observe apparently the mineralization of the degradable species as well the simultaneous removal of metallic impurities by the ferrate(VI) treatment. Therefore, the single dose of ferrate(VI) served for multifunctional use as in the initial stage it degraded the degradable impurities and in latter stages served to remove the metallic impurities by the coagulation/flocculation effect by the reduced ferrate(VI) into iron(III). The ferrate(VI) treatment is devoid with any toxic by-products hence was termed as 'Greener Treatment Process' and was found to be 'Environmentally Benign' process.