When considering useful chemicals under the heading of Green Chemistry, it is doubtful that Ferrates are the first set of compounds to roll off the tongue. Ferrates are higher oxidation states of iron, typically formed by oxidizing iron with strong oxidizing agents under alkaline conditions. In turn, ferrates become useful oxidizing agents themselves, particularly in wastewater applications. The primary reason ferrates are considered "green" is that the byproduct of their use is iron oxides, typically considered to be environmentally benign. The challenge in establishing applications, however, is the unstable nature of most ferrates.
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