Abstract

OWOLABI, Isiaka A.; MANDIWANA, Khakhathi L  and  PANICHEV, Nikolai. Speciation of Chromium and Vanadium in Medicinal Plants. S.Afr.j.chem. (Online) [online]. 2016, vol.69, pp.67-71. ISSN 1996-840X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/0379-4350/2016/v69a8.

In this study, Cr(VI) and V(V) were determined in medicinal plants collected from the farm located between two smelters. Chromium(VI) and vanadium(V) were leached from medicinal plants with 0.1 M Na₂CO₃ prior their determination by ETAAS. The concentration of Cr(VI) in medicinal plants varied between 3.1 ± 0.5 g^-1 and 9.4 ± 0.2 μg g^-1 and that of V(V) ranged from 1.1 ± 0.08μgg^-1 to 17 ± 1.7μ.gg^-1. It was established that element species taken up by plants do not depend on metal content in soil but is a function of plant properties. Results of the determination of water-soluble (hot water) Cr(VI) and V(V) concentrations showed that consumption of three cups of tea prepared from medicinal plants from Zizameleni farm is safe since recommended maximum limits is not exceeded through normal consumption of tea infusion.

Keywords : Speciation; leaching; medicinal plants; sodium carbonate; electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.

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