Flow-injection extraction spectrophotometric determination of dichromate with the tetramethylenebis(triphenylphosphonium)cation

Chromium(VI) (0–5 μg) can be determined spectrophotometrically at 365 nm after flow-injection extraction into chloroform of the ion-associate, tetramethylenebis(triphenylphosphonium) dichromate. The carrier stream is distilled water and the reagent stream contains 1 M sulphuric acid and 0.5% (w/v) tetramethylenebis(triphenylphosphonium) bromide. The sampling rate is 24 h^?1. The calibration graph is linear up to 20 μg ml^?1 and the detection limit is 0.44 μg ml?1 chromium, based on injection volumes of 250 μl. The system has been applied to the determination of chromium in a range of steels.