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ARSENATE AS A CATALYST OF OXIDATION
1Laboratory of General Physiology, Harvard University, Cambridge.
The Journal of General Physiology
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Arsenate acts as a catalyst in several oxidation reactions. It accelerates pyrogallol oxidation by oxygen and iron, and enhances CO2 production in Elodea canadensis.
Area of Science:
- Environmental chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Plant physiology
Background:
- Pyrogallol is a compound susceptible to oxidation.
- Atmospheric oxygen, metallic iron, and biological processes can oxidize pyrogallol.
- Arsenate's role in these oxidation pathways is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the catalytic effect of arsenate on pyrogallol oxidation.
- To examine arsenate's influence on both chemical and biological oxidation of pyrogallol.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying arsenate's catalytic activity.
Main Methods:
- Studied the oxidation of pyrogallol by atmospheric oxygen in the presence and absence of arsenate.
- Investigated the catalytic oxidation of pyrogallol by metallic iron with arsenate.
- Assessed the effect of arsenate on carbon dioxide (CO2) production by Elodea canadensis, a common aquatic plant.
Main Results:
- Arsenate significantly catalyzed the oxidation of pyrogallol by atmospheric oxygen.
- Arsenate also accelerated the catalytic oxidation of pyrogallol by metallic iron.
- The presence of arsenate enhanced the presumed enzymatic production of CO2 by Elodea canadensis.
Conclusions:
- Arsenate demonstrates a broad catalytic role in the oxidation of pyrogallol.
- This catalytic activity extends to abiotic oxidation processes and a presumed enzymatic pathway in plants.
- Arsenate's influence on oxidative processes has implications for understanding environmental and biological reactions involving pyrogallol.
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