Protocol for Extraction and Determination of Cr(VI) in Solid Materials with a High Cr(III)/Cr(VI) Ratio Using EDDS as a Leaching Agent for Cr(VI) and a Masking Agent for Cr(III)

A sensitive and selective protocol for the extraction of all forms of Cr(VI) from solid materials followed by determination by catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetry has been elaborated. Cr(VI) was leached to a solution with 0.2 mol L^?1 (NH₄)₂SO₄/NH₄OH+0.1 mol L^?1 EDDS (pH 9.5) and simultaneously Cr(III) was transferred to a nonactive electrochemical complex with EDDS. The method allows for Cr(VI) determination in solid samples containing even a 1000–2000 fold excess of extractable Cr(III) without its noticeable influence. The effects of several experimental variables such as the composition and pH of the extractant, the time and temperature of the solid sample mixing with the extractant were studied. At the optimized conditions more than 95% of total Cr(VI) recoveries from solid samples were achieved. The validation of the proposed procedure was carried out by Cr(VI) determination in certified reference material CRM 019 Ash, spiked and unspiked with Cr(III), and by comparing the obtained results with those obtained using other common extraction procedures.