The kinetics of chromium(III) catalyzed oxidation of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol by cerium(IV) in aqueous sulphuric acid medium was studied by titrimetric techniques in the temperature range of 25～40 ℃. The order was found to be unity with respect to both Ce(IV) and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. It was found that the pseudo first order ([THFA]>>[Ce(IV)]) rate constants k_obs increased with increase of [Cr(III)] and [H^＋], but decreased with increase of . Under the protection of nitrogen the reaction system did not induce polymerization of acrylamide, indicating that no free radicals were generated. Formation of a dinuclear complex involving the oxidant, catalyst and the substrate has been proposed in the reaction mechanism. From the hydrogensulphate dependence, Ce(SO₄)₂ has been found as the kinetically active species. Some rate constants together with the activation parameters were evaluated.

Key words: chromium(III) ion, cerium(IV) ion, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, catalyst, redox reaction, kinetics and mechanism