US EPA

2279057 

Journal Article 

Thermal decomposition mechanism of iron(III) nitrate and characterization of intermediate products by the technique of computerized modeling 

Melnikov, P; Nascimento, VA; Arkhangelsky, IV; Zanoni Consolo, LZ; de Oliveira, LCS 

2014 

1 

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry
ISSN: 1388-6150
EISSN: 1588-2926 

115 

1 

145-151 

10.1007/s10973-013-3339-1 

WOS:000329621100016 

The nonahydrate of iron(III) nitrate shows no phase transitions in the range of -40 to 0 A degrees C. Both hexahydrate Fe(NO3)(3)center dot 6H(2)O and nonahydrate Fe(NO3)(3)center dot 9H(2)O have practically the same thermal behavior. Thermal decomposition of iron nitrate is a complex process which has a different mechanism than those described for other trivalent elements. Thermolysis begins with the successive condensation of 4 mol of the initial monomer accompanied by the loss of 4 mol of nitric acid. At higher temperature, hydrolytic processes continue with the gradual elimination of nitric acid from resulting tetramer and dimeric iron oxyhydroxide Fe4O4(OH)(4) is formed. After complete dehydration, oxyhydroxide is destroyed leaving behind 2 mol of Fe2O3. The molecular mechanics method provides a helpful insight into the structural arrangement of intermediate compounds. 

Iron nitrate; Thermal decomposition; Oxynitrates; Computer modeling