Speciation studies by capillary electrophoresis- Simultaneous determination of chromium(III) and chromium(VI)

A method for the simultaneous determination of chromium(III) and chromium(VI) by capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been developed. The chromium(III) has been chelated with 1,2-cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid (CDTA) in order to impart a negative charge and similar mobility to both the chromium(III) and the chromium(VI) species. The effects of the amount of the reagent, pH and heating time required to complete the complexation have been studied. Factors affecting the CE behaviour such as the polarity of electrodes and the pH of electrophoretic buffer have been investigated. The separated species have been monitored by direct UV measurements at 214 nm. The detection limits achieved are 10 microg/l for Cr(VI) and 5 microg/l for Cr(III) and linear detector response is observed up to 100 mg/l. The procedure has been applied to the determination of both chromium species in industrial electroplating samples and its accuracy was checked by comparing the results (as total chromium) with those of atomic absorption spectrometry. No interference occurred from transition metal impurities under optimized separation conditions. The method is also shown to be feasible for determining Cr(III) as well as other metal ions capable to form complexes with CDTA (like iron(III), copper(II), zinc(II) and manganese(II)) in pharmaceutical preparations of essential trace elements.     

On the polymerization mechanism of the Chromium(III) and Chromium(II)-B Silica Gel Catalysts

FTIR spectra of the chromium(III)/silica gel catalyst after short polymerization with ethylene show weak bands at 2 685 and 1 447 cm^?1 from the stretching and the deformation vibration of the methylene group, which binds the growing polymer to the active chromium(III) site. The band at 2 685 cm^?1 is reversibly removed by CO adsorption at low temperatures (?145°C). This adsorbed CO shows a broad band at 2 184 cm^?1. From the intensity of CO IR bands on unchanged chromium(III) before and after polymerization it was calculated that 12% of the chromium(III) is catalytically active, which is in good agreement with previous measurements by an entirely different determination method (11%). The chromium(II)-B catalyst showed also a weak band at 2 685 cm^?1 and it is therefore concluded that in this case the chromium(II) is oxidised by the ligating surface silanol group (in cooperation with an ethylene molecule). The band at 2 685 cm^?1 is discussed in relation to that from normal methylene groups at 2 925 and 2 855 cm^?1 and to that from the chromium(II)-A catalyst at 2 750 cm^?1. Evidence for the existence of a mononuclear chromium(II)-A species is found. This one is, in contrast to the dinuclear chromium(II)-A species, not polymerization active.     

Simultaneous flow injection determination of iron(III) and vanadium(V) and of iron(III) and chromium(VI) based on redox reactions

A flow injection analysis (FIA) method is presented for the simultaneous determinations of iron(III)-vanadium(V) and of iron(III)-chromium(VI) using a single spectrophotometric detector. In the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), iron(III) is easily reduced by vanadium(IV) to iron(II), followed by the formation of a red iron(II)-phen complex (lambda(max) = 510 nm), which shows a positive FIA peak at 510 nm corresponding to the concentration of iron(III). On the other hand, in the presence of diphosphate the reductions of vanadium(V) and/or chromium(VI) with iron(II) occur easily because the presence of diphosphate causes an increase in the reducing power of iron(II). In this case iron(II) is consumed during the reaction and a negative FIA peak at 510 nm corresponding to the concentration of vanadium(V) and/or chromium(VI) is obtained. The proposed method makes it possible to obtain both positive (for iron(III)) and negative (for vanadium(V) or chromium(VI)) FIA peaks with a single injection.     

New Chromium on Silica Gel Catalysts with very high activity for the polymerization of ethylene

Together with the known chromium (II)/silica gel catalyst (Phillips catalyst) for the polymerization of ethylene, two new ones have been investigated. It was found that a chromium(II)-“repoly” catalyst (prepared by short reaction of the chromium(II)/silica gel with ethylene at temperatures between 100 and 225°C) and a chromium(III)/silica gel catalyst have up to hundred times higher activity than the chromium(II) one. Activation energies were calculated as 54.6, 49.6 and 43.8 kJ per mol, respectively. The number of active sites was determined by measuring the integrated absorbance of the C? H and C?O stretching vibrations of the polymer. At low chromium concentration (0.056%) roughly 50% of all chromium was catalytically active in the case of chromium(II) and chromium(III) on silica gel. For the chromium(II)-“repoly” catalyst all chromium atoms can be active. The turnover numbers for the polymerization at 20°C were calculated as 0.1 (chromium(II)), 7.5 (chromium(II)-“repoly”) and 20 (sec^?1 atm^?1) (chromium(III)).     

Spectrophotometric determination of chromium with xylenol orange and methylthymol blue

A new simple and sensitive method for determining traces of chromium is described. Xylenol Orange and chromium(III) form a red complex at pH 3 on heating in boiling water for 20 min. The molar absorptivity is 19.0 x 10(3). No catalytic action of the bicarbonate ion, carbon dioxide, or chromium(II) generated by metallic zinc was observed. Methylthymol Blue is a less sensitive reagent for chromium, the molar absorptivity being 11.5 x 10(3).     

Speciation studies by capillary electrophoresis- Simultaneous determination of chromium(III) and chromium(VI)

A method for the simultaneous determination of chromium(III) and chromium(VI) by capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been developed. The chromium(III) has been chelated with 1,2-cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid (CDTA) in order to impart a negative charge and similar mobility to both the chromium(III) and the chromium(VI) species. The effects of the amount of the reagent, pH and heating time required to complete the complexation have been studied. Factors affecting the CE behaviour such as the polarity of electrodes and the pH of electrophoretic buffer have been investigated. The separated species have been monitored by direct UV measurements at 214 nm. The detection limits achieved are 10 g/l for Cr(VI) and 5 g/l for Cr(III) and linear detector response is observed up to 100 mg/l. The procedure has been applied to the determination of both chromium species in industrial electroplating samples and its accuracy was checked by comparing the results (as total chromium) with those of atomic absorption spectrometry. No interference occurred from transition metal impurities under optimized separation conditions. The method is also shown to be feasible for determining Cr(III) as well as other metal ions capable to form complexes with CDTA (like iron(III), copper(II), zinc(II) and manganese(II)) in pharmaceutical preparations of essential trace elements.     

Separation and determination of trace amounts of beryllium(II), aluminium(III) and chromium(III) with chromotrope 2C chelates by RP-HPLC

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation and determination of beryllium(II), aluminium(III) and chromium(III) with chromotrope 2C chelates on a C18-bonded stationary phase is reported. Methanol-water (45:55 v/v) containing 6 x 10(-3)M tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (TBAB) and 2 x 10(-2)M acetate buffer solution (pH 6.0) as mobile phase and with spectrophotometric detection at 530 nm was applied. The method has high sensitivity, the detection limits being 0.2 ppb for beryllium(I), 1 ppb for aluminium(III) and 2 ppb for chromium(III). Under the optimum conditions, most other metal ions did not interfere, e.g. up to 2 mg of Hg(II), Sn(II, IV), Pb(II), Bi(III), Ag(I), Zn(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), 1.5 mg of Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), 1.2 mg of Ca(II), Mg(II), Sr(II), Ba(II), 1 mg of Ga(III), In(III), 0.5 mg of Fe(III), 1 mg of Ga(III), In(III), 0.5 mg of Fe(III), 0.4 mg of Th(IV), Zr(IV). The method can be applied to the simultaneous determination of trace amounts of beryllium(II), aluminium(III) and chromium(III), in water, rice, flour and human hair samples.     

Applications involving oxidation with potassium bromate : II. Potentiometric titration of chromium alone or in mixtures

A rapid and reliable determination of chromium was developed based on bromate oxidation of chromium(III) to chromium(VI). The reaction is complete under weakly acidic conditions and with cobalt(II) present as a catalyst. Unreacted bromate and chromium(VI) are then reduced with sulfite to bromide and chromium(III). The bromide is titrated potentiometrically with mercury(I) using a silver amalgam indicator electrode. Iron(III) if present is reduced by sulfite to iron(II) and does not interfere. Some binary and ternary metal mixtures containing chromium can be resolved by the determination of chromium, alone or with another metal, by the above procedure coupled with procedures for further sample portions involving the potentiometric titration of unreacted CyDTA or iodide, or both, with mercury(II).     

Preconcentration and speciation of chromium in waters using solid-phase extraction and atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the preconcentration and speciation of chromium was developed. After formation of an anionic compound with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (CrY(-)), Cr (VI) and Cr (III) are retained on a strong anionic phase (SAX) and controlled elution with 0.5 M NaCl permits their speciation. The retention and elution conditions were optimised, and interferences due to the presence of other ions such as Mg(II), Mn(II), Sn(II), Fe(III), Ba(II), Al(III), Ca(II), chloride, iodine, bromide, fluoride, sulphate, phosphate, bicarbonate and nitrate were studied. The detection limits were 0.4 mug l(-1) and 1.1 mug l(-1) for Cr(III) and Cr(VI), respectively, and reproducibility was 9%. The results obtained for speciation of chromium by the proposed method in wastewaters are in agreement with the values obtained by a reference method for a 95% confidence level.     

IR Studies of Coordinatively Unsaturated Surface Compounds on Silica Gel. IV. CO Complexes of Chromium(II) and Chromium(III)

Three different chromium(II) surface compounds have been identified by their IR spectra of adsorbed CO. Especially important in the interpretation of the experiments are the bands between 2050 and 2035 cm^?1 and the relative intensities of the CO bands at 2100 and 2120 cm^?1. The bands between 2192 and 2179 cm^?1 show also a different pattern for each of the different chromium(II) surface compounds. Two chromium(III) surface compounds could be identified by the presence of either one CO band near 2200 cm^?1 or two bands near 2206 and 2196 cm^?1. Three models are proposed for the chromium(II) title compounds, all related to dinuclear chromium(II) surface complexes: Models one and two have chromium(II) ions with trans and cis configuration in different combinations, respectively, and the third model has a bridging oxygen ion from a siloxan group as a distorting ligand. The three models explain the CO absorptions sufficiently and one is nearly quantitatively in agreement with previous volumetric adsorption studies of CO on chromium(II), which showed the surprising effect of decreasing CO adsorption with decreasing temperature. Two models for the chromium(III) surface compounds are proposed with either an oxygen double bridge or only one bridging oxygen.     

Use of arsenite reduction in potentiometric methods for arsenic(III) or higher valent lead,manganese, chromium,and vanadium in some industrial products

A simple, rapid, and reliable method is given for determination of As(III) based on arsenite reduction of alcoholic iodine and titration of the equivalent iodide with Hg(II) using silver amalgam as the indicator electrode. Arsenite reduction is applied to the estimation of lead in minium, manganese in duralumin, chromium in zinc chromate, and vanadium and chromium in ilmenite, the excess of arsenite being determined by the same method used for As(III). The endpoints are accurately determined with very satisfactory potential breaks.     

Simultaneous determination of chromium (III) and copper (II) by using derivative spectrophotometry with MEDTA

The application of derivative spectrophotometry to the simultaneous determination of chromium (III) and copper (II) with MEDTA is described. The procedure is suitable for concentrations of 0.40–2.60 mg ml⁻¹ of chromium (III) and 0.15–0.60 mg ml⁻¹ of copper (II). The main interferences, both anionic and cationic, are easily eliminated. The method was applied to different aqueous matrices. It was compared with an atomic absorption method and good results were obtained.     

Determination of trace chromium(VI) by an inhibition-based enzyme biosensor incorporating an electropolymerized aniline membrane and ferrocene as electron transfer mediator

A novel inhibition-based glucose oxidase (GOx) biosensor for environmental chromium(VI) detection is described. An electropolymerized aniline membrane has been prepared on a platinum electrode containing ferrocene as electron transfer mediator, on which GOx is cross-linked by glutaraldehyde. The mechanism of the redox reaction on the electrode and the performance of the sensor are studied. The sensor's response to glucose decreases when it is inhibited by chromium(VI), with a lower detection limit of 0.49?µg?L^?1, and the linear response range is divided into two parts, one of which is 0.49–95.73?µg?L^?1 and the other is 95.73?µg^?1 to8.05?mg?L^?1. The enzyme membrane is shown to be completely reactivated after inhibition, retaining 90% activity over more than forty days. Interference to chromium(VI) determination from lead(II), copper(II), cadmium(II), chromium(III), cobalt(II), tin(II) and nickel(II) is found to be minimal, while high concentrations of mercury(II) and silver(I) may interfere with the determination of trace chromium(VI). The sensor has been used for chromium(VI) determination in soil samples with good results.     

Synthesis, characterization and analytical application of a hydroxamic acid resin

A chelating ion-exchange resin with hydroxamic acid functional groups was synthesized from styrene-maleic acid co-polymer cross-linked with divinylbenzene. A resin prepared from equimolar amounts of styrene and maleic anhydride with 0.75 mole% divinylbenzene gives the best sorption characteristics. The selectivity of the resin for metal ions is copper(II) > cobalt(II) > zinc(II) > nickel(II) > manganese(II) > chromium(III) > iron(III) > vanadium(V). Copper(II), chromium(III) and iron(III) in chromium plating baths can be separated by use of the resin and determined spectrophotometrically.     

Preconcentration and Determination of Chromium Species Using Octadecyl Silica Membrane Disks and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

A novel and selective method for the fast determination of trace amounts of chromium species in water samples has been developed. The procedure is based on the selective formation of chromium diethyldithiocarbamate complexes at different pH in the presence of Mn(II) as an enhancement agent of chromium signals followed by elution with organic eluents and determination by atomic flame absorption spectrometry. The maximum capacity of the employed disks was found to be (396±3) µg and (376±2) µg for Cr(III) and Cr(VI), respectively. The detection limit of the proposed method is 49 and 43 ng·L^?1 for Cr(III) and Cr(VI), respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for determination of chromium species Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in different water samples.     

Potentiometric flow titration of iron(II) and chromium(VI) based on flow rate ratio of a titrant to a sample

A new potentiometric flow titration has been proposed based on the relationship of the flow rates between titrant and sample solutions. A sample solution is pumped at a constant flow rate. The flow rate of the titrant solution is gradually increased at regular time intervals and a flow rate for the titrant solution in the vicinity of the equivalence point is obtained. The concentration of the sample is calculated by C(S) (mol l(-1))=(R(T) (ml min(-1))xC(T) (mol l(-1)))/R(S) (ml min(-1)), where C(S), C(T), R(S), and R(T) denote the unknown sample concentration, titrant concentration in the reservoir, the flow rate of the sample solution which is a constant rate, and the flow rate of the titrant solution at an inflection point, respectively. The potentiometric flow titration of iron(II) with cerium(IV) and of chromium(VI) with iron(II) has been presented. The titration time of the proposed method is about 10 min per sample. An R.S.D. of the method is 0.77% for seven determinations of 1x10(-3) mol l(-1) iron(II). Similarly, the flow titration of chromium(VI) with iron(II) is carried out over the range 1x10(-4)-1x10(-3) mol l(-1) chromium(VI) and is successfully applied to the determination of chromium in high carbon ferrochromium.     

Development of a procedure for studies of the chromium(III) and chromium(VI) contents of welding fumes

A method for speciation studies of chromium in welding fumes is described. Separation of chromium(III) and chromium(VI) in aqueous extracts of welding fumes is obtained by using anion- and cation-exchange resins. Atomic absorption spectrometry is used for quantification. At pH 3–5, there is no loss of chromium(III) as the hydroxide nor reduction of chromium(VI) by iron(II). Two types of welding fumes were studied: for ESAB OK 67–52 and AROSTA 316 L fumes, 57 and 91%, respectively, of the total chromium content was water-soluble; the total chromium contents were 5.9 and 4.4%, respectively. Chromium(III) was not detected in the aqueous extracts of either type of fumes (< 0.010 μg ml^-1 of extract).     

Simultaneous determination of chromium (III) and copper (II) by using derivative spectrophotometry with MEDTA

The application of derivative spectrophotometry to the simultaneous determination of chromium (III) and copper (II) with MEDTA is described. The procedure is suitable for concentrations of 0.40–2.60 mg ml^–1 of chromium (III) and 0.15–0.60 mg ml^–1 of copper (II). The main interferences, both anionic and cationic, are easily eliminated. The method was applied to different aqueous matrices. It was compared with an atomic absorption method and good results were obtained. Received: 12 June 1996 / Revised: 30 July 1996 / Accepted: 2 August 1996     

Solvent extraction of antimony(v) with ethyl acetate

A method has been derived for the selective extraction of antimony(V) from hydrochloric acid solution with ethyl acetate. The method can be employed for the rapid determination of antimony in antimonates of lead, tin, mercury, nickel and chromium and in type metal. Iron(III), cobalt(II) cadmium(II), and large amounts of copper(II) and tin(II) interfere with the extraction. For the analysis of type metal, tin must be oxidized to the tetravalent state.     

Thenoyltrifluoroacetone as a reagent for cobalt

Summary An indirect method is proposed for the determination of cobalt (II) with 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone at the milligram level. The orange cobalt-TTA chelate can be quantitatively precipitated over the p_H range 4.0–8.0. It is dissolved in acid and estimated as cobalt sulphate. Cobalt(II) can be estimated in presence of silver, mercury(II), strontium, iron(III), chromium (III), thorium, zirconium, uranium, citrate and tartrate. The method is reproducible to within ±1 per cent.