Abstract
The adsorption of either chromium(III) or chromate(VI) by plants has been investigated by means of ESR spectroscopy. Cr(III) absorption yielded complexes, in part immobilized, of 0-donor ligands in the roots. The adsorption of chromium(VI) produced first mobile Cr(V) species, where the metal ion was bound to low-molecular weight ligands, and then also Cr(III) species. The intensity ratio between the ESR signals of Cr(V) and Cr(III) species became almost constant with elapsing contact time, but decreased as the Cr(VI) concentration in solution was lowered. Noticeably, Cr(V) species were detected even at chromium concentration in solution as low as 1 ppm. The formation of stable Cr(V) species in plants, could produce dangerous effects to ecological cycles, because, according to literature data, Cr(V) may be involved in the mutagenic and carcinogenic properties of the element.
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