Selective separation and determination of dissolved chromium species in natural waters by atomic absorption spectrometry

A procedure for determining the concentrations of dissolved chromium species in natural waters is described. Chromium(III) and chromium(VI), separated by co-precipitation with hydrated iron(III) oxide, and total dissolved chromium are determined separately by conversion to chromium(VI), extraction with APDC into MIBK and determination by a.a.s. The detection limit is 40 ng l^?1 Cr. The dissolved chromium not amenable to separation and direct extraction is calculated by difference. In the waters investigated, total concentrations were relatively high (1–5 μg l^?1) with Cr(VI) the predominant species in all areas sampled with one exception, where organically bound chromium was the major species.