Speciation of chromium in water using crosslinked chitosan-bound FeC nanoparticles as solid-phase extractant, and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Crosslinked chitosan-bound FeC nanoparticles (CCBFeCNP) were prepared, and the adsorptive behavior of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) on CCBFeCNP were assessed. At pH 6.0–10.0, CCBFeCNP is selective towards Cr(III) but hardly selective towards Cr(VI). The retained Cr(III) is subsequently eluted with 0.5 mol L−1 HCl. Total chromium is determined after reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by ascorbic acid. A new method of flow injection using a micro-column packed with CCBFeCNP as solid phase extractant has been developed for speciation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in water samples, followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The effects of pH, sample flow rate and volume, elution solution and interfering ions on the recoveries of Cr(III) were systematically investigated. Under optimum conditions, the adsorption capacity of CCBFeCNP for Cr(III) is 10.5 mg g−1 at pH 7.5. The procedure presented was applied to chromium speciation in water samples, and the results were satisfactory.