Determination of the speciation of chromium from a bicycle factory discharge

The discharge from a bicycle factory in Dar-es-Salaam was analysed for dissolved trace metals so as to monitor what was being introduced onto the environment. An X-ray Fluorescence Spectrophotometer with a Si (Li) detector connected to a multichannel analyser Canberra 40 series was used for the analysis. Computation of the peaks and results was done by a Professional Deck 350 computer. The elements contained in the discharge were Ca (596 ppm), Ti (369 ppm), Cr (11 ppm), Zn (0.98%) and Sr (73.5 ppm). Further analysis of the speciation of chromium revealed that there was Cr(III) (9 ppm) and Cr(VI) 2 ppm. The level of Cr(VI) was considered too high considering its toxicity.