Ferrate loosely refers to a material that can be viewed as containing anionic iron complexes.
Examples include tetrachloroferrate ([FeCl4]2−), oxyanions (FeO2−4), tetracarbonylferrate ([Fe(CO)4]2−), the organoferrates.
[1][page needed] The term ferrate derives from Latin ferrum 'iron'.
Some ferrates are called super-iron by some and have uses in battery applications and as an oxidizer.
[2][3][4] It can be used to clean water safely from a wide range of pollutants, including viruses, microbes, arsenic, sulfur-containing compounds, cyanides and other nitrogen-containing contaminants, many organic compounds, and algae.