Identification of the product from the reduction of permanganate ion by trimethylamine in aqueous phosphate buffers

Abstract

The product obtained from the reduction of potassium permanganate by trimethylamine in aqueous phosphate buffers has been identified as a soluble form of colloidal manganese dioxide which is stabilized in solution by adsorption of phosphate ions on its surface. The dependence of the rate of flocculation on several experimental variables has been studied. Phosphate ions have been found to increase the solubility of the colloid by increasing the apparent energy of activation of the flocculation process. This could explain the well-known capacity of those ions for retarding the precipitation of manganese dioxide.