Chromium, a misunderstood element.
Hearing that something contains chromium produces a similar reaction to announcing something contains asbestos, no one wants to touch it.
Is this fair? Not all chromium is created equal and, not all chromium is toxic. Hexavalent chrome (chromium VI) deservedly wears the label of highly toxic, and should be avoided. What many do not know, trivalent chrome (chromium III), is an essential trace metal found in many foods.
This is the reason analysis of the two chromium species is so important. It is essential food, water, industrial and environmental laboratories are able to differentiate between toxic and essential species of chromium.
Metrohm Ion Chromatography provides a number of options for analysis of chromium, depending on the limit of detection required and speciation.
Ion chromatography with UV/Vis detection is used for the analysis of hexavalent chrome in a range of industrial analyses.
At lower levels, and where speciation is required, ion chromatography can be paired with and ICP/MS to provide accurate, reliable analysis of water and foods.
