Determination of Ideal Conditions for the Production of Hydroxyl Radicals through Spectroscopy of Ferric Thiocyanate and Methyl Orange

When the human body comes in contact with radiation, water breaks down into ROS, Reactive Oxidative Species such as hydroxyl radicals, in a process called radiolysis. With the presence of hydroxyl radicals (HOᐧ) and other ROS, DNA in the human body is susceptible to mutations. While hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a product of radiolysis, may not be a strong ROS on its own, it can react with certain metals such as Iron(II) to produce hydroxyl radicals in a process called the Fenton Reaction. This study aimed to use the cost-effective spectroscopic study of Ferric Thiocyanate and Methyl Orange to determine optimum conditions for the Fenton Reaction. Understanding conditions and methods of detecting products of the Fenton Reaction is key to determine how and under what circumstances hydroxyl radicals are readily produced in the human body, putting humans at risk of cancer. Through the spectroscopic analysis of FeSCN2+ and degradation of Methyl Orange, it was determined that the Fenton Reaction occurred ideally at a pH between 2.0-4.0 with low temperature dependence. Furthermore, both spectroscopic methods were viable options for detecting the efficiency of Fenton Processes.