Emerging investigator series: carbon electrodes are effective for the detection and reduction of hexavalent chromium in water

Abstract

Electrochemical methods are an attractive option for the detection and reduction of toxic Cr(VI) to benign Cr(III) in drinking water. Here a method is reported for the reproducible detection and reduction of hexavalent chromium in water on glassy carbon electrodes, over a wide range of pH. This study allows for unmodified inexpensive carbon electrodes to join gold and gold modified electrodes as substrates for Cr(VI) removal from water.