Main Article Content

Speciation of Chromium and Vanadium in Medicinal Plants


Isiaka A. Owolabi
Khakhathi L. Mandiwana
Nikolai Panichev

Abstract

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 μg g–1 and 9.4 ± 0.2 μg g–1 and that of V(V) ranged from 1.1±0.08 μg g–1 to 17±1.7 μg g–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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eISSN: 1996-840X
print ISSN: 0379-4350