Treatment With Ferrates Eliminates DNA and Proteins

Ferrate (VI) salts have been proposed for use in sterilizing water (perhaps also in sterilizing air). The iron in ferrate (VI) salts is in its highest oxidation state (VI), and these salts are extremely strong oxidants. In laboratory experiments, it was shown that treatment of DNA solutions with micromolar concentrations of potassium ferrate (VI) irreversibly inhibits further DNA polymerization and polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) synthesis. Such treatment does not produce any toxic wastes; instead, what remains after treatment are iron ions, which can be recycled and which, in some applications, are useful as nutrients.