Abstract
Kinetics of the reaction between d‐glucose and Cr(VI) in the absence and presence of surfactant micelles have been studied by a spectrophotometric method in aqueous‐acidic solutions of perchloric acid. It was observed that the reaction has a nonautocatalytic followed by an autocatalytic pathway. The rate of the initial stage increases with increase in [glucose], [HClO4] and temperature. Due to precipitation, the effect of cationic micelles of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) could not be studied whereas the oxidation is catalyzed by anionic micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and nonionic micelles of Triton X‐100 (TX‐100). The results are discussed in terms of the pseudo‐phase kinetic model. Activation parameters are evaluated and a mechanism consistent with the results is proposed. A rate law for the reaction has also been derived. The redox reaction occurs through a Cr(VI)→Cr(IV) path.