Manganese (II) is shown to be an efficient catalyst for radiation-indu
ced HSO3- chain oxidation by molecular oxygen in aqueous solutions. Th
e catalytic activity of Mn(II) is explained in terms of a free radical
chain mechanism. The rate-determining step with a rate constant of k(
9) greater than or equal to 1 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) is a reaction betwee
n SO5- radical and a manganese (II) bisulfite complex. Copyright (C) 1
996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd