ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Ion Chromatography Method for the Determination
of Trace Levels of Chromium(VI) in Water
of HCrO4
R. Michalski
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Institute of Environmental Engineering of the Polish Academy of Science
M. Skłodowska-Curie Street 34, 41-819 Zabrze, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2004;13(1):73-77
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Chromium exists usually in the (III) or (VI) oxidation states. In contrast to Cr(III), which is essential to
mammalian systems, Cr(VI) is dangerous for humans due to its toxicity and carcinogenic properties. Cr(VI)
compounds are highly soluble, mobile and bioavailable compared to Cr(III) species. Chromium is usually
analyzed using instrumental methods such as AAS or ICP, which are accurate and sensitive, but allow
determination of only the total content of chromium in a sample. Determination of Cr(VI) still represents a
formidable challenge in analytical chemistry.
This paper describes sensitive and selective determination of Cr(VI) in water samples on ěg L-1 levels
using an ion chromatography system with UV detector, without any sample preconcentration method. The
detection limits achieved were less than 0.1 ěg L-1 in deonized water and 0.2 ěg L-1 in rainwater and drinking
water, respectively. The method was applied to determination of Cr(VI) in rainwater and water extracts
from galvanic sediments.