Multi-wavelength spectrophotometric determination of Cr(VI) in water with ABTS

•Cr(VI) of 0.025-8.00 mg/L could be determined with the ABTS method.•The absorbance of ABTS+ at 415, 649 or 732 nm can be used for Cr(VI) analysis.•The ABTS method has excellent convenience, flexibility and sensitivity.•The ABTS method has a good anti-interference performance.

A new method for Cr(VI) (0.025-8.00 mg/L) determination based on the reaction of Cr(VI) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) in aqueous solutions was developed. The colorless ABTS reacted with Cr(VI) under strong acidic conditions ([H+] = 3.0 or 6.0 M) producing a stable colored radical ABTS+, which could be measured spectrophotometrically at 415, 649 or 732 nm. The absorbance increase at these three wavelengths for ABTS+ generation were all linear (less than 1.0% deviation) with respect to the amount of added Cr(VI) and the sensitivity were 1.099 × 105, 3.720 × 104, and 4.150 × 104 M−1 cm−1 of added Cr(VI) at 415, 649 or 732 nm, respectively. Cr(VI) of 0.025 mg/L below the discharge standard of drinking water could be detected with the method quantitatively and 0.002 mg/L Cr(VI) was determined qualitatively. The molar absorptivity of ABTS+ generated was determined to be (3.69 ± 0.01) × 104 M−1 cm−1 at 415 nm and the reaction between Cr(VI) and ABTS had a stoichiometric factor of 1:3 in excess of ABTS. The absorbance of generated ABTS+ was found to be stable in deionized water or wastewater and Cr(VI) spiked in wastewater could be determined accurately. The ABTS method also had a good anti-interference performance against Co(II) ions. Moreover, the ABTS method could be successfully used in the Cr(VI)-S(IV) system for Cr(VI) determination.

Graphical abstractThe graphic abstract showed Cr(VI) determination based on the reaction between Cr(VI) and ABTS.Download high-res image (286KB)Download full-size image