23rd Annual Student Research Conference
Quantitative Determination of Chromium(VI) Using Sol-Gel Encapsulated Redox Chemistry
Kevin G. Schmitt
Dr. David McCurdy, Faculty Mentor
Chromium(VI) is a rare, toxic ion. It is therefore important to determine the presence of chromium(VI) in environmental samples precisely and accurately. Most current methods for chromium determination are insufficient because they do not discriminate between the various oxidation states that may be present in a complex sample. Although methods that are selective to chromium(VI) do exist, they often either require complex and costly instrumentation or possess insufficient limits of detection for environmental applications. A new method has been developed for chromium(VI) determination that relies upon the oxidation of colorless leucocrystal violet to bright purple crystal violet. The absorbance by the crystal violet solution is measured with a simple ultraviolet-visible range spectrophotometer and relates directly to the initial concentration of chromium(VI) in the sample. Further efforts are being made to improve the limits of detection for this analysis by encapsulating the leucocrystal violet within an optically transparent sol-gel monolith.
Keywords: chromium(VI), sol-gel, spectrophotometry
Topic(s):Chemistry
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 34-5
Location: MG 1098
Time: 2:15