Chromium speciation by surfactant assisted solid-phase extraction and flame atomic absorption spectrometric detection

A new procedure has been developed for chromium speciation in aqueous solution by the use of micellar, ion-association, solid-phase extraction techniques (SPE) followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The method was based on the use of C-18 bonded phase silica SPE disks for retention of ion-associated Cr(VI) with cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), elution of the retained species and subsequent detection by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Cr(III) was oxidized by potassium persulfate to Cr(VI), then the total chromium was retained on the disk and determined by FAAS. The amount of Cr(III) was calculated by the difference between the total and Cr(VI) values. The calculated limit of detections (LOD) (based on 3sigma) are 15 microg L(-1) and 20 microg L(-1) for Cr(VI) and Cr(III) respectively. No considerable interferences have been observed from other investigated anions and cations and the method has been successfully applied to water samples taken from the Karoon River in Khuzestan province.     

Cloud point extraction of aluminum (III) in water samples and determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry,flame atomic absorption spectrometry and UV-visible spectrophotometry

Cloud point extraction was applied as a preconcentration step for the determination of trace level of Al(III) in water samples with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS), flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The aluminum was extracted as aluminum-Eriochrome Cyanine R (ECR) complex, at pH 6 by micelles of the non-ionic surfactant octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114). The investigations showed that the same CPE procedure can be used for different detection techniques. The results obtained from these techniques were evaluated. Under the optimal conditions, limit of detection obtained with ETAAS, FAAS and UV-visible spectrophotometry were 0.03 ng mL^?1, 0.06 µg mL^?1 and 0.01 µg mL^?1, respectively. The accuracy of the procedure was tested by analysing certified reference material. The method was successfully applied to determination of aluminum in water samples and dialysis fluid.     

Chromium speciation using activated alumina microcolumns and sequential injection analysis-flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A new procedure has been developed for chromium speciation in water by sequential injection analysis and flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The method involves the online retention of Cr(VI) anionic species and Cr(III) cationic species on alumina microcolumns, prepared by packing activated alumina in polytetrafluoroethylene tubes, followed by selective elution of Cr(VI) with 2 mol l⁻¹ NH₄OH and of Cr(III) with 0.2 mol l⁻¹ HNO₃. Studies were carried out on the effect of retention and elution conditions for both Cr species. The limit of detection values, established as the concentration corresponding to three times the standard deviation of blank measurements divided by the slope of the calibration line, achieved were 42 μg l⁻¹ for Cr(VI) and 81 μg l⁻¹ for Cr(III). The relative standard deviation of three independent determination of natural spiked samples were lower than 10% for concentration levels between 0.5 and 2 mg l⁻¹ of Cr. The developed procedure was applied to the analysis of two effluent sewage waters, and results obtained compared well with those obtained by a batch procedure. Recovery studies on natural spiked samples provided results between 93 and 103% for Cr(VI) and from 100 to 106% for Cr(III) for samples spiked with single species. For samples spiked with both Cr(VI) and Cr(III), the average recoveries varied from 86 to 101% for Cr(VI) and from 91 to 117% for Cr(III).     

On-line speciation and determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in drinking and waste water samples by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography coupled with atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple, rapid, and selective on-line method for the speciation and determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in aqueous solutions by ion-pairing HPLC coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is described. The composition of the mobile phase has been optimized for better separation. The effects of column temperature, volume of injection loop, fuel flow rate of FAAS, and nebulizer suction rate of FAAS have also been investigated. Separation is accomplished in almost 2.5 min on a 25 cm length C18 column at 40 degrees C. The selectivity of the method has been established by investigating the effect of interfering elements on chromium determination. The detection limit (3sigma) achieved by the method was calculated as 3.7 ng/mL for Cr(III) and 2.0 ng/mL for Cr(VI). The proposed method has been validated by analyzing certified reference material (BCR 544) and successfully applied to the analysis of drinking water and wastewater samples with a relative error below 6%.     

Speciation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in Environmental Samples after Solid Phase Extraction on Amberlite XAD–2000

A method for speciation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in real samples has been developed. Cr(VI) has been separated from Cr(III) and preconcentrated as its pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) complex by using a column containing Amberlite XAD–2000 resin and determined by FAAS. Total chromium has also been determined by FAAS after conversion of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) by oxidation with KMnO₄. Cr(III) has been calculated by subtracting Cr(VI) from the total. The effect of pH, flow‐rate, adsorption and batch capacity and effect of various metal cations and salt anions on the sorption onto the resin were investigated. The adsorption is quantitative in the pH range of 1.5–2.5, and Cr(VI) ion was desorbed by using H₂SO₄ in acetone. The recovery of Cr(VI) was 97 ± 4 at a 95% confidence level. The highest preconcentration factor was 80 for a 200 mL sample volume. The adsorption and batch capacity of sorbent were 7.4 and 8.0 mg g^?1 Cr(VI), respectively, and loading half time was 5.0 min. The detection limit of Cr(VI) is 0.6 μg/L. The procedure has been applied to the determination and speciation of chromium in stream water, tap water, mineral spring water and spring water. Also, the proposed method was applied to total chromium preconcentration in microwave digested moss and rock samples with satisfactory results. The developed method was validated with CRM‐TMDW‐500 (Certified Reference Material Trace Metals in Drinking Water) and BCR‐CRM 144R s (Certified Reference Material Sewage Sludge, Domestic Origin) and the results obtained were in good agreement with the certified values. The relative standard deviations were below 6%.     

Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Determination of Total Chromium and Cr(VI) in Cigarette Ash and Smoke using Flow Injection/Hydraulic High-Pressure Sample Introduction

Total chromium and Cr(VI) contents of cigarettes, ash, and smoke formed while burning cigarettes were determined. The determinations of chromium species were carried out according to procedures developed earlier. Cr(VI) was determined in a combined system, which involves a flow injection (FI) sorption preconcentration system, hydraulic high-pressure nebulization (HHPN) sample introduction technique, and flame atomic absorption spectrometric (FAAS) detection. The total chromium of samples in Cr(VI) form was determined in this same combined system after ashing cigarettes at 800°C [after total conversion of Cr(III) of the sample to Cr(VI)]. It was found that while burning cigarettes 0.8–1.2% of the original chromium content of the cigarettes comes to smoke in the toxic Cr(VI) form.     

Separation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) using melamine-formaldehyde resin and determination of both species in water by FAAS

A method is described for the determination of Cr(VI) and total chromium by FAAS. Cr(VI) is separated from Cr(III) by adsorption on melamine-formaldehyde resin. After elution of Cr(VI) with 0.1 mol/l NaAc solution, it is analysed by FAAS. Total chromium is determined by FAAS after conversion of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide, total Cr(VI) is concentrated as above. If the total concentration of chromium is sufficient, the determination can be directly made by FAAS. Cr(III) can then be calculated by subtracting Cr(VI) from the total Cr. This method was successfully applied to the determination of chromium in lake water.     

Speciation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) using solid phase extraction and determination of total As inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

An inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric (ICP-AES) method was developed for speciation and simultaneous determination of Cr and As, since these two analytes are commonly determined in various water samples in order to assess their toxicity. The objective of this research was to study the speciation of Cr(III), Cr(VI) in the presence of As(III) and/or As(V) using solid phase extraction (SPE) and ICP-AES. For these measurements, four spectral lines were used for each analyte with the purpose of selecting the most appropriate for each element. Finally with the use for first time of a cation-exchange column filled with benzosulfonic acid and elution with HCl, the speciation in solutions which contained [Cr(III)?+?Cr(VI)?+?As(V)] and [Cr(III)?+?Cr(VI)?+?As(III)] was examined. It was demonstrated that the separation of the two chromium species is almost quantitative and the simultaneous determination of chromium species and total arsenic analytes is possible, with very good performance characteristics. The estimated limits of detection for Cr(III), Cr(VI), As(III) and/or As(V) were 0.9?µg?L^?1, 1.1 µg?L^?1, 4.7 µg?L^?1 and 4.5 µg?L^?1 respectively, the calculated relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 3.8%, 4.1%, 5.2% and 5.1% respectively, and finally the accuracy of the methods was estimated using a certified aqueous reference material and found to be 5.6% and 4.8% for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) respectively. The method was applied to the routine analysis of various water samples.     

Speciation of chromium in seawater by ICP-AES with dual mini-columns containing chelating resin.

A method for the preconcentration and speciation of chromium in seawater was developed. On-line preconcentration and determination were carried out by using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) with dual mini-columns containing a chelating resin. In this system, Cr(III) was collected on the first column. The effluent containing residual chromium from the first column was collected on the second column after passing through a reduction-switching unit, in which the reducing agent was introduced, or not, for the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(lII). Cr(VI) was determined as the difference between the concentration of pre-reduced Cr(VI) and Cr(III) in the effluent from the first column. The detection limits for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were 0.04 and 0.09 microg l(-1), respectively.     

Analysis of yttrium aluminium borate crystals by solution-based methods: inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Comparative analysis of yttrium aluminium borate (YAB) /YAl₃(BO₃)₄/ optical single crystals was performed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) methods for Cr, Dy, Er, Yb, Y, Al, B and Mo. The dopant element, Ce, could be determined only by the ICP-AES method at the required concentration level. The powdered crystal samples were fused with lithium metaborate (LiBO₂) at 950 °C in a platinum crucible and then dissolved in 6 mol l⁻¹ HCl. Although this fusion-dissolution procedure proved to be simple and effective, the quantitative determination of B—as the matrix element in samples—was handicapped by the B content of the fusing reagent. For the FAAS method, with the use of nitrous oxide–acetylene flame, cesium chloride ionization buffer and lanthanum chloride releasing agent [0.1+0.2% (m/v), respectively] were applied. These agents enhanced the atomic absorption signals of Cr, Dy, Er, Mo, Yb and Y, whereas no change of sensitivity was resulted in for Al and B. A fairly good agreement was found between the results of the two alternative spectrochemical methods. The predicted stoichiometry of the crystals was also well approximated indicating the reliability of the crystal growth technology applied.     

Separation and speciation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) with Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized on sepiolite and determination of both species in water by FAAS

A rapid, sensitive and accurate method for the separation, preconcentration and determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in water samples is described. Chromium species can be separated by biosorption on Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized on sepiolite and determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The optimum conditions for separation and preconcentration (pH, bed height, flow rate and volume of sample solution) were evaluated. Recovery of the chromium was 96.3+/-0.2% at 95% confidence level. The breakthrough capacity of the adsorbent was found as 228 mumol g(-1) for Cr(III). The proposed method was applied successfully to the determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in spiked and river water samples.     

Speciation Analysis of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) after Solid Phase Extraction Using Modified Magnetite Nanoparticles

A new solid phase extraction (SPE) method has been developed for the speciation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI). This method is based on the adsorption of Cr(VI) on modified alumina‐coated magnetite nanoparticles (ACMNPs). Total chromium in different samples was determined as Cr(VI) after oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) using H₂O₂. The chromium concentration has been determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometric (FAAS) technique and amount of Cr(III) was calculated by substracting the concentration of Cr(VI) from total chromium concentration. The effect of parameters such as pH, amount of adsorbent, contact time, sample volume, eluent type, H₂O₂ concentration and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) concentration as modifier on the quantitative recovery of Cr(VI) were investigated. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the preconcentration factor, detection limit, linear range and relative standard deviation (RSD) of Cr(VI) were 140 (for 350 mL of sample solution), 0.083 ng mL^?1, 0.1‐10.0 ng mL^?1 and 4.6% (for 5.0 ng mL^?1, n = 7), respectively. This method avoided the time‐consuming column‐passing process of loading large volume samples in traditional SPE through the rapid isolation of CTAB@ACMNPs with an adscititious magnet. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination and speciation of chromium in different water and wastewater samples and suitable recoveries were obtained.     

Preconcentration of chromium(III) and speciation of chromium by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using cellulose adsorbent

A simple and sensitive method has been developed for species selective determination of chromium(III) and chromium(VI) in water by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The procedure is based on selective absorption of Cr(III) on a cellulose micro column (pH 11, 0.5 mol L(-1) NaCl). Total chromium was subsequently determined after appropriate reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). Recoveries of more than 97% were found. A concentration factor of 100 was achieved. The relative standard deviations (n=10) at the 40 ng L(-1) level for chromium(III) and chromium(VI) were 2.3% and 1.8% and corresponding limits of detection (based on 36) were 1.8 ng L(-1) and 5.1 ng L(-1), respectively. No interference effects have been observed from other investigated species and the method has been successfully applied to natural water samples.     

印制电路板中六价铬测定方法的研究进展

阐述了近年来国内外印制电路板中六价铬Cr(Ⅵ)的测定方法,主要包括分光光度法、柱后衍生法、离子色谱-电感耦合等离子体质谱联用(IC-ICP-MS)等方法,未来印制电路板中六价铬的测定方法一定向着新技术联用方向发展。     

Speciation of chromium by selective separation and preconcentration of Cr(III) on an immobilized nanometer titanium dioxide microcolumn

Nanometer titanium dioxide immobilized on silica gel (immobilized nanometer-scale TiO2 particles) was prepared by a sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The adsorptive behavior of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) on immobilized nanometer TiO2 was assessed. Cr(III) was selectively sorbed on immobilized nanometer TiO2 in the pH range of 7-9, while Cr(VI) was found to remain in solution. A sensitive and selective method has been developed for the speciation of chromium in water samples using an immobilized nanometer TiO2 microcolumn and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Under optimized conditions (pH 7.0, flow rate 2.0 mL/min), Cr(III) was retained on the column, then eluted with 0.5 mol/L HNO3 and determined by ICP-AES. Total chromium was determined after the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by ascorbic acid. The adsorption capacity of immobilized nanometer TiO2 for Cr(III) was found to be 7.04 mg/g. The detection limit for Cr(III) was 0.22 ng/mL and the RSD was 3.5% (n = 11, c = 100 ng/ mL) with an enrichment factor of 50. The proposed method has been applied to the speciation of chromium in water samples with satisfactory results.     

Capillary electrophoresis speciation of chromium in leather tanning liquor

We present a method for the speciation of chromium by capillary electrophoresis. Cr(III) was complexed with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) to form a negatively charged complex. Using 20 mM phosphate buffer of pH 8 containing 0.5 mM tetradecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (TTAOH) at a separation voltage of -15 kV, both forms of chromium CrDTPA(2-) and CrO(4) (2-) were separated in less than 6 min. Direct UV detection at 214 nm was used. The effect of the presence of interfering ions was investigated. The application of the developed method to speciation of chromium in tanning liquor is demonstrated. The obtained results have shown a good correlation with those of flame atomic absorbance spectrometry (FAAS), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and UV/VIS spectrophotometry.     

Thermal lens spectrometric determination of hexavalent chromium

The applicability of thermal lens spectrometry (TLS) for quantification and routine determination of hexavalent chromium was investigated by using a collinear dual beam thermal lens spectrometer. In aqueous solutions the LOD of 0.1 μg l⁻¹ was obtained for Cr(VI) by using 160 mW laser power. The performance of the technique was verified by the determination of hexavalent chromium in standard reference water samples (NIST SRM 1643a and NIST SRM 1643c) and comparing the results for Cr(VI) in CCA (Cr, Cu, As)-treated timber extracts to concentrations obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Good agreement between the TLS results and reported values for Cr(VI) in SRMs as well as AAS results for Cr(VI) in CCA-treated timbers confirmed that TLS is a reliable and accurate analytical technique applicable for the determination of Cr(VI) in aqueous solutions at concentration levels 0.5–100 μg l⁻¹.     

Ion-pair chromatographic determination of chromium(VI)

Ion-pair chromatography (IPC) with conductometric detection was investigated as a precise and selective analytical method for the determination of chromium in electro-plating solutions and waste waters. Chromatographic parameters were optimized for separation of Cr(VI) and SO(2-)(4). The analytical column (100 x 6 mm) was packed with 10 mum silasorb C(18) (Czechoslovakia). Tetrabutylammonium butyrate (TBAB), at pH 7.0 in acetonitrile-water (18:82 v/v) mixture, was used as the eluent. Two samples of solution are taken for the analysis. In the first of them the amount of Cr(VI) is determined, in the second one Cr(III) is oxidized to Cr(VI) with H(2)O(2) in alkaline medium and the total amount of Cr is determined. From the difference of the two obtained results the concentration of Cr(III) is calculated. The detection limit of Cr(VI) is 0.1 mug/ml and the relative standard deviation (at the 1.0 mug/ml) is 4.0%. The IPC results for chromium agreed closely with these obtained by spectrophotometry.     

Determination of trace chromium(VI) in drinking water using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry after solid-phase extraction

A new, simple, and selective method for preconcentration and determination of Cr(VI) in aqueous samples. After adsorption in “batch mode” on Aliquat 336-AC, determinations were made directly on the solid by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, which had the advantage of not requiring the step of elution of the chromium retained. The enrichment factor was calculated considering that the tablets obtained from 10 mL solution of Cr(VI) (1000 μg L^-1) had a final thickness of 0.64 mm and a diameter of 16.7 mm; the volume deposited on the pellet was 0.14 cm³. The preconcentration factor obtained was 71-fold, which was highly satisfactory for chromium trace analysis by XRF. Finally, the method was successfully applied to the determination of Cr(VI) in drinking water samples.     

Tea-industry waste activated carbon, as a novel adsorbent, for separation, preconcentration and speciation of chromium

Activated carbon was produced from tea-industry wastes (TIWAC) and employed as a low cost and effective solid phase material for the separation, preconcentration and speciation of chromium species without using a complexing agent, prior to determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The characterization of TIWAC was performed by utilizing several techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and elemental analysis. The adsorption experiments were conducted in a batch adsorption technique. Under the experimental conditions, Cr(VI) adsorption amount was nearly equal to zero, however the adsorption percentage of Cr(III) was in the range of 95–100%. Therefore total chromium was determined after the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was calculated by subtracting Cr(III) concentration from total chromium concentration. The suitable conditions for adsorption and speciation processes were evaluated in terms of pH, eluent type and volume, TIWAC concentration, adsorption and desorption contact time, etc. Adsorption capacity of TIWAC was found to be 61.0 mg g⁻¹. The detection limit for Cr(III) was found to be 0.27 μg L⁻¹ and the preconcentration factor was 50 for 200 mL of sample volume. The procedure was applied to the determination and speciation of chromium in stream, tap and sea water. Also, the proposed method was applied to total chromium preconcentration in microwave digested tobacco and dried eggplant samples with satisfactory results. The method was validated by analyzing certified reference materials (CRM-TMDW-500 Drinking Water and CRM-SA-C Sandy Soil C) and the results were in good agreement with the certified values.