Amberlite XAD-4 functionalized with succinic acid for the solid phase extractive preconcentration and separation of uranium(VI)

Amberlite XAD-4 resin has been functionalized with succinic acid by coupling it with dibromosuccinic acid after acetylation. The resulting resin has been characterized by FT-IR, elemental analysis and TGA and has been used for preconcentrative separation of uranium(VI) from host of other inorganic species prior to its determination by spectrophotometry. The optimum pH value for quantitative sorption of uranium(VI) in both batch and column modes is 4.5-8.0 and desorption can be achieved by using 5.0 ml of 1.0 mol l⁻¹ HCl. The sorption capacity of functionalized resin is 12.3 mg g⁻¹. Calibration graphs were rectilinear over the uranium(VI) concentrations in the range 5-200 μg l⁻¹. Five replicate determinations of 50 μg of uranium(VI) present in 1000 ml of solution gave a mean absorbance of 0.10 with a relative standard deviation of 2.56%. The detection limit corresponding to three times the standard deviation of the blank was found to be 2 μg l⁻¹. Various cationic and anionic species at 200-fold amounts do not interfere during the preconcentration of 5.0 μg of uranium(VI) present in 1000 ml (batch) or 100 ml (column) of sample solution. Further, adsorption kinetic and isotherm studies were also carried out by a batch method to understand the nature of sorption of uranium(VI) with the succinic acid functionalized resin. The accuracy of the developed solid phase extractive preconcentration method in conjunction with Arsenazo III procedure was tested by analyzing marine sediment (MESS-3) and soil (IAEA soil-7) reference material. Further, the above procedure has been successfully employed for the analysis of soil and sediment samples.     

Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of uranium, thorium, and zirconium using the partial least squares method after their preconcentration by α-benzoin oxime modified Amberlite XAD-2000 resin

A new solid phase extraction method for separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of uranium, thorium, and zirconium in water samples is proposed. The procedure is based on the adsorption of U(VI), Th(IV) and Zr(IV) ions on a column of Amberlite XAD-2000 resin loaded with α-benzoin oxime prior to their simultaneous spectrophotometric determination with Arsenazo III using orthogonal signal correction partial least squares method. The enrichment factor for preconcentration of uranium, thorium, and zirconium was found to be 100. The detection limits for U(VI), Th(IV) and Zr(IV) were 0.50, 0.54, and 0.48 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The precision of the method, evaluated as the relative standard deviation obtained by analyzing a series of 10 replicates, was below 4% for all elements. The practical applicability of the developed sorbent was examined using synthetic seawater, natural waters and ceramic samples.     

Preconcentrative separation of chromium(VI) species from chromium(III) by coprecipitation of its ethyl xanthate complex onto naphthalene

A rapid, sensitive and selective method is described for the determination of chromium(VI) in presence of 100-fold amounts of chromium(III) by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) in conjunction with coprecipitative preconcentration of its ethyl xanthate complex onto naphthalene. The solid mixture consisting of the chromium(VI) complex together with naphthalene is dissolved in 8.0 ml of dimethyl formamide (DMF) and chromium(VI) content was established by FAAS. Calibration graphs were rectilinear over the chromium(VI) concentration in the range 0-200 μg l⁻¹. Five replicate determinations of 20 μg of chromium(VI) present in 1.0 l of sample solution gave a relative standard deviation of 3.1%. The detection limit corresponding to three times the standard deviation of the blank was found to be 0.5 μg l⁻¹. The developed procedure has been successfully utilized for the estimation of chromium(VI), chromium(total) (after oxidation with bromate) and chromium(III) (by subtracting chromium(VI) content from chromium(total) value contents of several tannery industries.     

Chromium speciation and preconcentration using zirconium(IV) and zirconium(IV) phosphate chemically immobilized onto silica gel surface using a flow system and F AAS

A procedure for chromium speciation by F AAS using a flow system has been proposed. In this system, Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions were adsorbed sequentially onto a mini-column packed with silica gel modified with zirconium phosphate and a mini-column packed with silica gel modified with zirconium oxide, respectively. The elution of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was made with, respectively, nitric acid solution and tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamine (THAM) solution in reverse mode and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry without interference of the matrix. Chemical and flow variables as well as concomitant ions were studied in the developed procedure. The enrichment factor for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was 20.8 and 24.9, respectively, using a preconcentration time of 3.75 min. The limit of detection for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was 1.9, and 2.3 μg l⁻¹, respectively. The precision of the method, evaluated as the relative standard deviation in solutions containing 100 μg l⁻¹ of chromium species, by analyzing a series of seven replicates, was lower than 3.0%. The accuracy was assessed through recovery experiments of water samples and using another methodology.     

Preconcentration of uranium(VI) by solid phase extraction onto dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 embedded benzophenone

Summary The preparation of a solid phase extractant (SPE), dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 embedded benzophenone, for preconcentration of uranium(VI) is described. The uranium(VI) can be quantitatively retained from 0.5 l solution on 1% dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 embedded benzophenone in the pH range 6.0-7.0, and then eluted with 5.0 ml of 1M HCl. Uranium(VI) content of the eluent was determined spectrophotometrically by Arsenazo III. Calibration graphs are rectilinear over the uranium(VI) concentration in the range of 0.004-0.4mg^.ml^-1. Five replicate determinations of 40mg of uranium(VI) present in 0.5 l sample gave a mean absorbance of 0.185 with a relative standard deviation of 2.45%. The detection limit corresponding to three times the standard deviation of the blank was found to be 2.0mg^.l^-1. The accuracy of the developed preconcentration procedure was tested by analyzing standard marine sediment reference material. The uranyl ion content of soils and sediments was estimated spectrophotometrically after the preconcentration procedure and compared to the results gained by standard inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).     

Preconcentration and speciation of chromium in drinking water samples by coupling of on-line sorption on activated carbon to ETAAS determination

An on-line flow injection (FI) preconcentration-electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) method is developed for trace determination of chromium in drinking water samples by sorption on a conical minicolumn packed with activated carbon (AC) at pH 5.0. The chromium was removed from the minicolumn with 1.0% (v/v) nitric acid. An enrichment factor (EF) of 35-fold for a sample volume of 10 ml was obtained. The detection limit (DL) value for the preconcentration method proposed was 3.0 ng l⁻¹. The precision for 10 replicate determinations at the 0.5 μg l⁻¹ Cr level was 4.0% relative standard deviation (R.S.D.), calculate with the peak heights obtained. The calibration graph using the preconcentration system for chromium was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992 at levels near the detection limits up to at least 50 μg l⁻¹. The method was successfully applied to the determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in drinking water samples.     

Speciation of chromium in natural waters by micropumping multicommutated light emitting diode photometry

A simple and sensitive multicommutated flow procedure, implemented by employing a homemade light emitting diode (LED) based photometer, has been developed for the determination of chromium (VI) and total chromium in water. The flow system comprised a set of four solenoid micro-pumps, which were assembled to work as fluid propelling and as commutating devices. The core of the detection unit comprised a green LED source, a photodiode and a homemade flow cell of 100 mm length and 2 mm inner diameter. The photometric procedure for the speciation of chromium in natural waters was based on the reaction of Cr (VI) with 1,5-diphenylcarbazide. Cr (III) was previously oxidized to Cr (VI) and determined as the difference between total Cr and Cr (VI). After carrying out the assays to select the best operational conditions the features of the method included: a linear response ranging from 10 to 200 μg l⁻¹ Cr (III) and Cr (VI) (r = 0.999, n = 7); limits of detection of 2.05 and 1.0 μg l⁻¹ for Cr (III) and Cr (VI), respectively; a relative standard deviation lower than 2.0% (n = 20) for a typical solution containing 50 μg l⁻¹ Cr; a sampling throughput of 67 and 105 determinations per hour for total Cr and Cr (VI), respectively, and recovery values within the range of 93-108% for spiked concentrations of the order of 50 μg l⁻¹.     

A novel fiber-packed column for on-line preconcentration and speciation analysis of chromium in drinking water with flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A novel on-line preconcentration and determination system based on a fiber-packed column was developed for speciation analysis of Cr in drinking water samples prior to its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). All variables involved in the development of the preconcentration method including, pH, eluent type, sample and eluent flow rates, interfering effects, etc., were studied in order to achieve the best analytical performance. A preconcentration factor of 32 was obtained for Cr(VI) and Cr(III). The levels of Cr(III) species were calculated by difference of total Cr and Cr(VI) levels. Total Cr was determined after oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) with hydrogen peroxide. The calibration graph was linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 at levels near the detection limit and up to at least 50 μg L⁻¹. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 4.3% (C = 5 μg L⁻¹ Cr(VI), n = 10, sample volume = 25 mL). The limit of detection (LOD) for both Cr(III) and Cr(VI) species was 0.3 μg L⁻¹. Verification of the accuracy was carried out by the analysis of a standard reference material (NIST SRM 1643e “Trace elements in natural water”). The method was successfully applied to the determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) species in drinking water samples.     

Further study on a flow injection on-line multiplexed sorption preconcentration coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry for trace element determination

A further study on a newly developed flow injection (FI) on-line multiplexed sorption preconcentration (MSP) using a knotted reactor coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was carried out to demonstrate its applicability and limitation for trace element determination. For this purpose, Cr(VI), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) were selected as the analytes, and detailed comparison was made between the MSP-FAAS and conventional FI on-line sorption preconcentration FAAS in respect to retention efficiency and linear ranges of absorbance versus sample loading flow rate and total preconcentration time. Introduction of an air-flow for removal of the residual solution in the KR after each sub-injection in the MSP procedure played a decisive role in the improvement of retention efficiency. The linearity of absorbance versus sample loading flow rate or total preconcentration time was extended to a more degree for the metal ions with less stability of their PDC (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate) complexes than those with more stable PDC complexes. It seems that the MSP procedure behaves advantages beyond the inflection points in the diagrams of absorbance versus total preconcentration time and sample loading flow rate obtained by conventional (a single continuous) preconcentration procedure. With a sample loading flow rate of 6.0 ml min⁻¹ and a total preconcentration time of 180 s, the retention efficiencies were increased from 25, 46, 41 and 63% with a single continuous sorption preconcentration to 44, 78, 65 and 75% with a six sub-injection preconcentration procedure for Cr(VI), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II), respectively. The detection limits were 0.40, 0.33, 0.31 and 0.26 μg l⁻¹ for Cr(VI), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II), respectively. The precision (R.S.D.) for eleven replicate determination of 2 μg l⁻¹ Cr(VI), Co(II) and Ni(II), and 1 μg l⁻¹ Cu(II), was 2.1, 4.1, 2.6 and 1.7%, respectively.     

Determination of inorganic oxyanions of As and Se by HPLC-ICPMS

A liquid chromatographic separation of inorganic oxyanions of As (As(V) and As(III)) and Se (Se(VI) and Se(IV)) using mixed ion-pairing reagents followed by ICPMS detection is described. The separation was accomplished in less than 4 min on Capcell C18 RP column using mixed ion-pairing modifier containing 5 mM of butane sulfonic acid (BSA), 2 mM malonic acid, 0.30 mM hexane sulfonic acid (HSA) and 0.5% methanol of pH 2.5. All four species were resolved with retention times of 2.4, 2.6, 3.0, and 3.1 min for Se(VI), As(V), As(III), and Se(IV), respectively. The detection limits were less than 0.08 and 0.77 μg l⁻¹ for arsenic and selenium species, respectively. The relative standard deviation of the proposed method for arsenic (at 2.5 μg l⁻¹) and selenium (at 10 μg l⁻¹) was less than 3.7 and 4.8%, respectively. The technique was used to determine inorganic oxyanions of As and Se in water samples (tap, well, and river) and extracts of coal fly ash and sediment. Low power microwave digestion was employed for extraction from fly ash and sediment samples.     

Use of Nb(2)O(5)-SiO(2) in an automated on-line preconcentration system for determination of copper and cadmium by FAAS

A procedure for the determination of trace level of copper(II) and cadmium(II) by FAAS using an on-line preconcentration system has been proposed. In this system, copper and cadmium ions were adsorbed onto a minicolumn packed with silica gel modified with niobium(V) oxide (Nb₂O₅-SiO₂), followed by nitric acid elution in reverse mode and determination on-line by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) without interference of the matrix. Chemical and flow variables as well as concomitant ions were studied in the developed procedure. The enrichment factor for copper(II) and cadmium(II) was 34.2 and 33.0, respectively, using a preconcentration time of 2 min. The limit of detection for copper(II) and cadmium(II) was 0.4, and 0.1 μg l⁻¹, respectively. The precision of the method, evaluated as the relative standard deviation in solutions containing 15 μg l⁻¹ of copper and 10 μg l⁻¹ of cadmium, by analyzing a series of seven replicates, was 1.8 and 1.6%, respectively. The accuracy was assessed through recovery experiments of certified material and water samples.     

Speciation and preconcentration of inorganic antimony in waters by Duolite GT-73 microcolumn and determination by segmented flow injection-hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (SFI-HGAAS)

A selective matrix removal/separation/enrichment method, utilizing a microcolumn of a chelating resin with SH functional groups (Duolite GT-73), was proposed for the determination of Sb(III) in waters by segmented flow injection-hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (SFI-HGAAS). The resin was selective to Sb(III) at almost all pH and acidity values employed, whereas Sb(V) was not retained at all and could be determined after a pre-reduction step with l-cysteine. Spike recoveries were tested at various concentration levels in different water types and were found to vary between 85 and 118%. Accuracy of the proposed methodology was checked by analyzing a standard reference material and a good correlation was found between the determined (13.3 ± 1.1 μg l⁻¹) and the certified value (13.79 ± 0.42 μg l⁻¹). The method was applied to several bottled drinking water samples for antimony determination with and without preconcentration and none of the samples were found to contain antimony above the permissible level (5 μg l⁻¹). The characteristic concentration (the concentration of the analyte corresponding to an absorbance of 0.0044) was 0.55 μg l⁻¹ and the 3 s limit of detection (LOD) based on five times preconcentration was 0.06 μg l⁻¹. The applicability of the microcolumn separation/preconcentration/matrix removal method for flow injection systems was also demonstrated.     

Synthesis of salicylaldehyde-modified mesoporous silica and its application as a new sorbent for separation, preconcentration and determination of uranium by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

A new functionalized mesoporous silica (MCM-41) using salicylaldehyde was utilized for the separation, preconcentration and determination of uranium in natural water by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).Experimental conditions for effective adsorption of trace levels of U(VI) were optimized. The preconcentration factor was 100 (1.0 mL of elution for a 100 mL sample volume). The analytical curve was linear in the range 2-1000 μg L⁻¹ and the detection limit was 0.5 ng mL⁻¹. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) under optimum conditions was 2.5% (n = 10). Common coexisting ions did not interfere with the separation and determination of uranium at pH 5. The sorbent exhibited excellent stability and its sorption capacity under optimum conditions has been found to be 10 mg of uranium per gram of sorbent. The method was applied for the recovery and determination of uranium in different water samples.     

Solid phase extraction vis-à-vis coprecipitation preconcentration of cadmium and lead from soils onto 5,7-dibromoquinoline-8-ol embedded benzophenone and determination by FAAS

This article compares the solid phase extraction (SPE) and coprecipitative preconcentration of cadmium and lead from dilute aqueous solutions as a function of pH and weight of chelating agent. SPE enriches cadmium and lead over a wider pH range (6.0-8.0) and requires lower weight of DBQ chelate embedded benzophenone. Among the quinoline-8-ol and its dihaloderivatives, DBQ embedded benzophenone allows quantitative enrichment over a wide pH range (6.0-8.0) for both cadmium and lead unlike DCQ (∼6.5 for Cd and 6.5-7.0 for Pb), DBQ was preferred. The calibration plots were rectilinear over the concentration range of 0.1-50 and 2.5-200 μg l⁻¹ of cadmium and lead with detection limits of 0.1 and 2.0 μg l⁻¹, respectively, which are 400 times lower than the direct FAAS method. The precision of the developed procedure is good as it provides relative standard deviation values of 2.20 and 2.45% during five replicate determinations of 2 and 25 μg l⁻¹ of cadmium and lead, respectively. The accuracy of the developed procedure was tested by analyzing certified reference materials (CRM's) of soil and marine sediment samples supplied by IAEA, Italy and NRC, Canada, respectively. Furthermore, the developed procedure has been successfully used for the speciative determination of cadmium and lead in soil samples collected from the vicinity of industries in India.     

Flow injection on-line preconcentration of low levels of Cr(VI) with detection by ETAAS: Comparison of using an open tubular PTFE knotted reactor and a column reactor packed with PTFE beads

A flow injection (FI) on-line sorption preconcentration procedure utilizing a packed column reactor and combined with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) is proposed for the determination of low levels of Cr(VI) in water samples. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) beads packed in a mini-column is used as sorbent material. The complex formed between Cr(VI) and ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) is sorbed on the PTFE beads, and is subsequently eluted by an air-monosegmented discrete zone of absolute ethanol (35 μl), the analyte being quantified by ETAAS.The preconcentration procedure using the proposed column significantly enhances the preconcentration efficiency as compared with the preconcentration approach incorporating an open tubular PTFE knotted reactor (KR). Comparing the two procedure for equal surface sorption area, the advantages of using a packed column are observed in terms of limit of detection, enrichment factor and retention efficiency. With a preconcentration time of 60 s, and a sample flow rate of 5.0 ml l⁻¹, the enrichment factor (30.1) and the retention efficiency (24.1%) were doubled, yielding a detection limit (3σ) as low as 8.8 ng l⁻¹. The sample frequency was 16.7 h⁻¹. The concentration efficiency was 8.38 and the precision was 1.05% at 0.5 μg l⁻¹ of Cr(VI). The proposed column has been applied successfully to the analysis of natural water and synthetic seawater. Its performance was verified by the analysis of two certified Cr(VI)-reference materials and by recovery measurements on spiked samples.     

A dual column system using agarose-based adsorbents for preconcentration and speciation of chromium in water

Three different agarose-based chelating adsorbents with, respectively, iminodiacetic acid (IDA), tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN) and dipicolylamine (DPA) functional groups and an agarose-based anion exchanger (Q-Sepharose), were studied for the separation and preconcentration of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) species in water. Column recoveries of all the adsorbents were plotted against pH, and it was found that at pH 3.0 the IDA adsorbent selectively adsorbs Cr(III), with a 100 ± 1.0% recovery. The Q-Sepharose, on the other hand, accumulated only Cr(VI) at this pH, again with a recovery of 100 ± 1.0%. A dual column system was accordingly designed, using the two adsorbents in tandem, for the separation and preconcentration of the chromium species.The effects of pH, sample flow rate, column length, eluent type, eluent volume, acid concentration and interfering ions on the recoveries of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were carefully studied. It was shown that by passing test solutions, at pH 3.0; through the dual column system, the two chromium species could be individually collected on the columns, respectively, and eluted, one after the other. A portion of 2 mol l⁻¹ hydrochloric acid was used for elution of each column before final measurement by flame AAS method. A preconcentration factor of 12, a detection limit of 7.7 ± 0.1 μg l⁻¹ and a precision expressed as relative standard deviation of 0.4% (at 0.3 mg l⁻¹) were achieved for six replicates.Application of the developed method to the determination of chromium species in spiked river and tap water and wastewater samples, from a dye production plant, resulted in excellent agreements with accepted concentrations.     

On-line liquid-liquid extraction system using a new phase separator for flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of ultra-trace cadmium in natural waters

A robust flow injection (FI) on-line liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) preconcentration/separation system associated with a newly designed gravitational phase separator, coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was developed. The performance of the system was illustrated for cadmium determination at the μg l⁻¹ level. The non-charged cadmium complex with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) was extracted on-line into isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK). The organic phase was effectively separated from a large volume of aqueous phase and is led into a 100 μl loop of an injection valve before its introduction into the nebulizer. The system was optimized and offered good performance characteristics with unlimited life time of phase separator, greater flow rate ratios and improved flexibility, as compared with other solvent extraction preconcentration systems. With a sampling frequency of 33 h⁻¹, the enhancement factor was 155, the detection limit was 0.02 μg l⁻¹, the relative standard deviation was 3.2% at 2.0 μg l⁻¹ Cd concentration level and the calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 0.06-6.0 μg l⁻¹. The accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated by analyzing a certified reference material of water and by recovery measurements on spiked samples. Finally, it was successfully applied to the analysis of tapwater, river and seawater samples.     

A new functionalized resin and its application in preconcentration system with multivariate optimization for nickel determination in food samples

In this work, Amberlite XAD-2 resin functionalized with 4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzenedisulfonic acid was synthesized, characterized and applied as a new packing material for an on-line system to nickel preconcentration. The method is based on the sorption of Ni(II) ions in a minicolumn containing the synthesized resin, posterior desorption using an acid solution and measurement of the nickel by spectrophotometry (PAR method). The optimization of the system was performed using factorial design and Doehlert matrix considering five variables: eluent concentration, PAR solution pH, sample flow rate, PAR solution concentration and sample pH. Signals were measured as peak height by using an instrument software. Using the experimental conditions defined in the optimization, the method allowed nickel determination with achieved sampling rate of 25 samples per hour, detection limit (3 s) of 2 μg l⁻¹ and precision (assessed as the relative standard deviation) of 8.2-2.6%, for nickel solutions of 10.0-200.0 μg l⁻¹ concentration, respectively. The experimental enrichment factor of the proposed system was 46, for 120 s preconcentration time. The proposed procedure was applied for nickel determination in food samples. Recoveries of spike additions (5 or 10 μg g⁻¹) to food samples were quantitative (94-110%).     

An on-line preconcentration/separation system for the determination of bismuth in environmental samples by FAAS

An on-line preconcentration procedure for the determination of bismuth by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) has been described. Lewatit TP-207 chelating resin, including iminodiacetate group, packed in a minicolumn was used as adsorbent material. Bi(III) was sorbed on the chelating resin, from which it could be eluted with 3 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃ and then introduced directly to the nebulizer-burner system of FAAS. Best preconcentration conditions were established by testing different resin quantities, acidity of sample, types of eluent, sample and eluent solution volumes, adsorption and elution flow rates, and effect of interfering ions. The detection limit of the method was 2.75 μg L⁻¹ while the relative standard deviation was 3.0% for 0.4 μg mL⁻¹ Bi(III) concentration. The developed method has been applied successfully to the determination of bismuth in pharmaceutical cream, standard reference materials and various natural water samples with satisfactory results.     

Flow injection direct spectrophotometric assay for the speciation of trace chromium(III) and chromium(VI) using chromotropic acid as chromogenic reagent

A new rapid and sensitive FI assay is reported for the simultaneous direct spectrophotometric determination of trace Cr(VI) and Cr(III) in real samples. The method is based upon the reaction of Cr(VI) with chromotropic acid (CA) in highly acidic medium to form a water-soluble complex (λ_max = 370 nm). Cr(III) reacts with CA only after its on-line oxidation to Cr(VI) by alkaline KIO₄. The determination of each chromium species in the sample was achieved by absorbance differences. The calibration curves were linear over the range 3-4000 μg l⁻¹ and 30-1200 μg l⁻¹ for Cr(VI) and Cr(III), respectively, while the precision close to the quantitation limit was satisfactory in both cases (s_r = 3.0% for Cr(VI) and 4.0% for Cr(III) (n = 10) at 10 and 50 μg l⁻¹ level, respectively). The method developed proved to be adequately selective and sensitive (c_L = 1 and 10 μg l⁻¹ for Cr(VI) and Cr(III), respectively). The application of the method to the analysis of water samples (tap and mineral water) gave accurate results based on recovery studies (93-106%). Analytical results of real sample analysis were in good agreement with certified values.