Anodic behaviour of arsenopyrite and cathodic reduction of ferrate(VI) and oxygen in alkaline solutions

This paper presents the results of an electrochemical study of the anodic characteristics of arsenopyrite in strongly alkaline solutions and of the cathodic reduction of ferrate(VI) and of dissolved oxygen at an arsenopyrite surface at potentials which are relevant to the oxidation reactions. Cyclic voltammetry at both arsenopyrite disc and arsenopyrite disc/platinum ring electrodes has shown that arsenic(III) is the main product of the anodic process at potentials in the region of the rest potential during oxidation by either ferrate(VI) or oxygen. Evidence for partial passivation of both the anodic and cathodic reactions has been obtained from potentiostatic current–time transients. The initial stage of oxidation by ferrate(VI) has been shown to be mass-transport controlled and this is also true of the oxidation by oxygen in dilute solutions of sodium hydroxide.