Radiation-induced autoxidation of bisulfite catalyzed by manganese (II) ions

Manganese (II) is shown to be an efficient catalyst for radiation-induced HSO3− chain oxidation by molecular oxygen in aqueous solutions. The catalytic activity of Mn(II) is explained in terms of a free radical chain mechanism. The rate-determining step with a rate constant of k9 1×106 M−1 s−1 is a reaction between SO5− radical and a manganese (II) bisulfite complex.