The preparation of ferrate by the anodic dissolution of iron in 10 M NaOH using a membrane cell with an iron wool anode is described. It is shown that the current efficiency drops from an initial value of 45-60% to similar to 25% during a 2-3 h electrolysis. This is shown to be due to a change in the iron anode surface, probably the composition, structure and/or thickness of surface films. The influence of cell current as well as NaOH concentration and temperature on the current efficiency is described. The kinetics of the reactions of ferrate with water, alcohols and phenol have also been investigated and it is shown that some organics (methanol, ethanediol and phenol) undergo complete oxidation to CO2 and H2O even at room temperature.