Cu(II) catalyzed oxidation of mercaptoacetic acid by methylene blue in acidic medium: Influence of solvent and morphology

Kinetic studies on the Cu(II) catalyzed oxidation of mercaptoacetic acid (thioglycolic acid, TGA) by the model electron receptor methylene blue in acidic medium show that the reaction follows a second order kinetics in TGA. The order in methylene blue is unity but at higher [TGA], the order is 3/4. The rate shows an inverse relationship with [H⁺] and a second order dependence on [Cu(II)]. The reaction conforms to Arrhenius behavior in aqueous medium but resorts to anti-Arrhenius behavior in aqueous methanol and in aqueous acetone media. The reaction involves the in situ participation of nanoparticles which has been confirmed by SEM, XRD, and FTIR techniques. In aqueous medium, cauliflower shaped nanoparticles (44.21–74.33 nm) are obtained but in the presence of acetone and methanol, nanogranules (38.96–70.73 nm) and nanodisks (47.30–72.16 nm), respectively, are produced at 35°C as revealed by SEM images and XRD data. The reaction is characterized by the participation of two transition states in aqueous acetone medium and the kinetics of the reaction, especially the temperature dependence, is governed by the adsorption of methylene blue on copper nanoparticles as influenced by morphology inter alia dielectric constant of the reaction medium.